Read Online Lines of Fire (The Guild House - Defenders Hall) by Janet Lane Walters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janet Lane Walters
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together.” Coldness filtered into Alric’s thoughts. How much control of others did those with the dark lines possess?
Alric checked Storm Cloud’s hoof. The gash from the embedded nail had closed and there was no tenderness around the area. He threw a handful of apelons into the manger and strode after Robec. By the time they reached the Swordmaster’s office Alric was in the lead.
Robec knocked but didn’t wait for a summons. He pushed the door open. “Did you banish Kalia?”
The Swordmaster bolted to his feet. “Why would I do that? She’s sulking in her chamber. Been there since the day following the Ingathering. I ordered her to prepare for the bonding but seems she wants neither man."
Alric shrugged. “Her choice. And you haven’t seen her since that day.”
“Did you check the Women’s Quarters?” The Swordmaster resumed his seat.
“Not yet.” Robec used his crutches to turn. “Come.”
Alric followed and closed the door. “Why didn’t you tell him her bihorn is gone?”
“He’d tell us to check the pasture. I’m not up for a walk.” Robec led the way along the twisting corridors to the door of the Women’s Quarters. He rapped on the oak surface.
A young woman answered. “Robec, I’m so glad you’re healed. Father wouldn’t allow me to visit.” She smiled. “You must be Kalia’s bondmate.”
“If she will have me.”
The young woman grinned. “She will.”
She spoke with more confidence than Alric felt. Until Kalia wore his bracelet the bonding could be refused.
Robec tapped her arm. “This is Lasara, my younger sister. She’s in her last year of training. Go check Kalia’s chamber. We need to speak to her.”
“On my way.” She dashed away.
Robec turned to Alric. “What will we do if she’s gone?”
“Search for her without creating a commotion.”
Lasara rushed toward them. “She isn’t there. Her pack and some of her clothes are missing. She didn’t take the bonding bracelet Sando’s mate gave her for you. What will you do?”
“Calm yourself,” Robec said.
Alric nodded. “Don’t tell anyone, not even your father.”
Lasara stared. “Do you think she followed Petan to duel with him? He was a cheat. Ilna said Kalia was angry about his banishment. No one believed her.” She gulped a breath and clasped Alric’s hand. “You saved my brother. Thank you. Will you also save Kalia?”
“I’ll try.”
Robec kissed his sister’s cheek. “We’ll find her.” He closed the door. “What now?”
“We look for answers. Could she have gone riding?”
“My father won’t let her leave the hall without one of his seconds riding with her.”
“Think of where she might go.”
They set off to search. By midday they had visited the Archives and spoken to the stablemen. No one had seen her and she hadn’t left by the Defender’s gate.
Alric turned to Robec. “Rest awhile. I’ll check the other gates. If I learn anything I’ll let you know. I fear she has run.”
“What should I do while I wait?”
“Go to the supplier for food packs. If she’s run I’ll follow.”
“Maybe I should ask my father where Petan would take her.”
“Not a good idea.”
Alric entered the tunnel. He felt sure Kalia had fled. He emerged near the Healers’ gate and checked with the guard there. “Did you see a single Defender leave in the past four days?”
The guard shook his head. “Been no one enter or leave for a week.”
“Thanks.” Alric returned to the tunnel, he strode to Artisans Hall and paused to ask his question.
“Matter of fact. Three days ago I was returning from a necessary call. Saw the back of a Defender. Figured someone sent a message. Rider galloped away.”
“Which direction?”
“North.” the man scratched his head. “Don’t know why. Aren’t many farms or villages on the north road.”
“Thank you.” Alric turned back. It had to be Kalia. He half ran back to the Defenders Hall.
Once there, he sought Sando. “Put me on
Alric checked Storm Cloud’s hoof. The gash from the embedded nail had closed and there was no tenderness around the area. He threw a handful of apelons into the manger and strode after Robec. By the time they reached the Swordmaster’s office Alric was in the lead.
Robec knocked but didn’t wait for a summons. He pushed the door open. “Did you banish Kalia?”
The Swordmaster bolted to his feet. “Why would I do that? She’s sulking in her chamber. Been there since the day following the Ingathering. I ordered her to prepare for the bonding but seems she wants neither man."
Alric shrugged. “Her choice. And you haven’t seen her since that day.”
“Did you check the Women’s Quarters?” The Swordmaster resumed his seat.
“Not yet.” Robec used his crutches to turn. “Come.”
Alric followed and closed the door. “Why didn’t you tell him her bihorn is gone?”
“He’d tell us to check the pasture. I’m not up for a walk.” Robec led the way along the twisting corridors to the door of the Women’s Quarters. He rapped on the oak surface.
A young woman answered. “Robec, I’m so glad you’re healed. Father wouldn’t allow me to visit.” She smiled. “You must be Kalia’s bondmate.”
“If she will have me.”
The young woman grinned. “She will.”
She spoke with more confidence than Alric felt. Until Kalia wore his bracelet the bonding could be refused.
Robec tapped her arm. “This is Lasara, my younger sister. She’s in her last year of training. Go check Kalia’s chamber. We need to speak to her.”
“On my way.” She dashed away.
Robec turned to Alric. “What will we do if she’s gone?”
“Search for her without creating a commotion.”
Lasara rushed toward them. “She isn’t there. Her pack and some of her clothes are missing. She didn’t take the bonding bracelet Sando’s mate gave her for you. What will you do?”
“Calm yourself,” Robec said.
Alric nodded. “Don’t tell anyone, not even your father.”
Lasara stared. “Do you think she followed Petan to duel with him? He was a cheat. Ilna said Kalia was angry about his banishment. No one believed her.” She gulped a breath and clasped Alric’s hand. “You saved my brother. Thank you. Will you also save Kalia?”
“I’ll try.”
Robec kissed his sister’s cheek. “We’ll find her.” He closed the door. “What now?”
“We look for answers. Could she have gone riding?”
“My father won’t let her leave the hall without one of his seconds riding with her.”
“Think of where she might go.”
They set off to search. By midday they had visited the Archives and spoken to the stablemen. No one had seen her and she hadn’t left by the Defender’s gate.
Alric turned to Robec. “Rest awhile. I’ll check the other gates. If I learn anything I’ll let you know. I fear she has run.”
“What should I do while I wait?”
“Go to the supplier for food packs. If she’s run I’ll follow.”
“Maybe I should ask my father where Petan would take her.”
“Not a good idea.”
Alric entered the tunnel. He felt sure Kalia had fled. He emerged near the Healers’ gate and checked with the guard there. “Did you see a single Defender leave in the past four days?”
The guard shook his head. “Been no one enter or leave for a week.”
“Thanks.” Alric returned to the tunnel, he strode to Artisans Hall and paused to ask his question.
“Matter of fact. Three days ago I was returning from a necessary call. Saw the back of a Defender. Figured someone sent a message. Rider galloped away.”
“Which direction?”
“North.” the man scratched his head. “Don’t know why. Aren’t many farms or villages on the north road.”
“Thank you.” Alric turned back. It had to be Kalia. He half ran back to the Defenders Hall.
Once there, he sought Sando. “Put me on
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