Read Online INBORN (The Sagas of Di'Ghon) by J. Lawrence - Free Book Online Page B

The tiny man was about to say something when he glanced at Thaniel, and stopped, as if suddenly remembering something frightening. Had Krant been in the hall when the dra lit up?
    “Nice outfit.” Jorel sucked at his teeth.
    “It’s bad enough…”
    “So, what is going on?” His eyes said he knew but wanted to hear from Thaniel.
    Thaniel laughed nervously.
    “You gonna tell me what happened up there?”
    He was about to let him know that the Ontar’s ceremony, by Irkhir’s command, was off limits conversation when Malby, the feisty little brown haired girl Jorel had supposedly given up trying to kiss, slid onto the bench between the two of them. Before Thaniel knew it she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
    “Hey, he’s got a festival kiss.” Jorel bobbed his eyebrows and smiled, exposing a mouthful of red-cake-covered teeth.
    “Disgusting.” She shook her head. “Besides, you already got your kiss, and you’re not the Caller. Thaniel is.” Malby teased, crinkling her freckled nose, and batting her eyelashes at him.
    “Hey, Thaniel, speaking of kiss, where’s Elycia?” Jorel looked around. “Did you ever catch up to her?”
    “Yeah.” Thaniel said sheepishly.
    “Well, let’s have it. Does the Caller have a kiss?”
    Thaniel winced, remembering.
    “Why don’t you tell us about the first time you tried to kiss Malby.” Thaniel pretended he hadn’t heard the question.
    “Yeah, Jorel, tell them about it.” Malby encouraged with her fist raised.
    Jorel laughed and rubbed at his nose in mock recollection of when she had nearly broken it the first time he tried to kiss her.
    “Seriously, where is she? Don’t tell me you never caught up to her. Not even I can outrun you.”
    Thaniel grimaced, looking at Keriim, who still sat a couple tables away. The man was playfully feeding a young serving girl little pieces of bread.
    Thankfully two more of the First stopped in front of his table right then.
    “The code sings.” They said in unison, tracing two fingers across their foreheads. Odd that he hadn’t paid much attention to the strange white tattoos before. He had no idea what the whole finger thing was about, but the way soldiers were regarding him like he was some prized pig was as close to unnerving a thing as he had ever experienced.
    Thaniel’s breath caught in his throat. Behind the hulking pair, he caught a flash of bright blonde hair and blue fabric.  He dropped his cup, ale sloshing across Kant’s face.
    “Elycia!” He called, knowing it was no use. The cacophony of the dining hall in full celebration swallowed his voice the instant it left his throat. Besides, if it was Elycia… There was no mistaking what he saw in her eyes after he called the dra. He couldn’t tell what she was scared of more, the dra or him.
    “You’re not going to run off again are you?” Jorel asked sarcastically.
    “Did you see her?” Thaniel turned and looked Jorel full in the face. He and Thaniel locked eyes for a moment. They were as good of friends as could be expected in a place like Ontar Hold.  Good enough for Jorel to know there was more to the story and it was time to drop it.
    Thaniel couldn’t help it as he glanced at Keriim, who was preoccupied with feeding his serving girl dainties.
    “I really don’t see what we’re celebrating.” Thaniel said.
    “Then you won’t be wanting this then…” Jorel reached forward as Bella handed Thaniel another redcake. He winced as he got a spoon on the back of a hand for his trouble.
    “I’ve got strict instructions to make sure the Caller eats like a king, from Irkhir himself.” Bella’s cheeks shook with every word. She was taller than most men and twice as wide.
    “Fine by me.” Jorel said, “Just pile it all right here in front of him.”
    “So, Thaniel,” the rotund woman started, “Will you be leaving tomorrow?”
    The air tensed.
    “Where you going Thaniel?” Jorel asked with his mouth half full of stew.
    Thaniel didn’t