Read Online Prodigal Steelwielder (Seals of the Duelists Book 3) by Jasmine Giacomo - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jasmine Giacomo
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as closely past half a dozen more, Eward let his mind play over the information Philo had included in his letter. He knew that Emperor Jaap had been in closely guarded negotiations with representatives from the Corona for some time. The sudden arrival of another diplomat, and one who was to be whisked to the Kheerzaal as quickly and as decorously as possible, unwound a worm of worry in his belly. Kiwani would probably know exactly what this means. She’d be a better escort than I would. Well, if she didn’t sulk the whole time.
His carriage eventually turned onto Ambraith, one of Renallen’s broadest boulevards. It ran through the city’s historical heart, not far from the docks. The warm, briny scent of the Teresseren Sea reached his nose, and the foul concoction of odors from the docks themselves was pleasantly masked by hundreds of enormous, street-side barrels blossoming with waskukone’yen . Still, the smell flooded his mind with unpleasant memories, and he had to take a moment to shove them back into the recesses of his mind. He fingered a pale bead on his necklace. I’ve conquered you. You can’t hurt me anymore.
His inquiry at his contact’s spacious caravan security office presented him with another dilemma, however. The lady was out. Specifically, out on the private promenade beach on the other side of Vantage Spire, upwind from the docks. “What’s she doing down there?” Eward asked, barely concealing his exasperation.
The burly Balang behind the desk crossed his tree-trunk arms. He looked more suited to hand-to-hand combat than desk work. “Walking. She bought her privilege time, like all the other rich folk.”
Eward waved his cream-colored letter of instruction as though it were his duelist flag. “I am on official business for the Minister of Information. Tell me how to reach the beach.”
The Balang complied, and Eward paid the driver and dismissed his carriage before heading on foot through the few city blocks between him and the coastline. His formal duelist attire drew plenty of attention, as did the tattoos on the backs of his hands. To his surprise, he enjoyed walking amongst the people he served. I really do need to get out more, as long as I’m not accused of rape afterward.
The sun was nearing its zenith as Eward reached the guarded entrance to the promenade beach. On the far side of the wrought iron fence, a white expanse of sand lay perfectly combed and gleaming in the sunlight. Artfully planted clusters of palms and trumpet flowers sprouted at occasional intervals, and brightly feathered songbirds, their wings clipped to prevent them from escaping, chirped and sang from the shrubbery. Eward only needed to hold up his letter and mention Philo’s name before being ushered onto the exclusive beach. Sand climbed into his sandals’ open sides and clustered under his toes. He flicked the grains away with a puff of Earth magic, then summoned his wind disc again.
Eward eased forward above the sand, studying the few people in sight. An elderly couple sat in the shade of a small gazebo to his left. On the right, two young girls in the shell headdresses and nearly see-through garments of the careless nobility giggled and waved at him from their chaises beneath a palm tree. Eward gave them as serious a nod as he could manage, then floated closer to the edge of the sea in search of Imee Magittang.
The endless blue stretch of the sea all the way to the horizon dragged his childhood fears back to the front of his mind. Frustrated, he shoved them back again . We are not doing this now. Stop it. Then he spotted a lone female figure, young and curvy, wading through the foam of the fresh waves. “Of course she’s walking in the ocean. Why wouldn’t she be?”
He briefly considered talking to her via a Wind tunnel from his current position, but that would probably be seen as rude and bizarre or possibly showing off. He didn’t want any of that associated with him by the girl who had once
His carriage eventually turned onto Ambraith, one of Renallen’s broadest boulevards. It ran through the city’s historical heart, not far from the docks. The warm, briny scent of the Teresseren Sea reached his nose, and the foul concoction of odors from the docks themselves was pleasantly masked by hundreds of enormous, street-side barrels blossoming with waskukone’yen . Still, the smell flooded his mind with unpleasant memories, and he had to take a moment to shove them back into the recesses of his mind. He fingered a pale bead on his necklace. I’ve conquered you. You can’t hurt me anymore.
His inquiry at his contact’s spacious caravan security office presented him with another dilemma, however. The lady was out. Specifically, out on the private promenade beach on the other side of Vantage Spire, upwind from the docks. “What’s she doing down there?” Eward asked, barely concealing his exasperation.
The burly Balang behind the desk crossed his tree-trunk arms. He looked more suited to hand-to-hand combat than desk work. “Walking. She bought her privilege time, like all the other rich folk.”
Eward waved his cream-colored letter of instruction as though it were his duelist flag. “I am on official business for the Minister of Information. Tell me how to reach the beach.”
The Balang complied, and Eward paid the driver and dismissed his carriage before heading on foot through the few city blocks between him and the coastline. His formal duelist attire drew plenty of attention, as did the tattoos on the backs of his hands. To his surprise, he enjoyed walking amongst the people he served. I really do need to get out more, as long as I’m not accused of rape afterward.
The sun was nearing its zenith as Eward reached the guarded entrance to the promenade beach. On the far side of the wrought iron fence, a white expanse of sand lay perfectly combed and gleaming in the sunlight. Artfully planted clusters of palms and trumpet flowers sprouted at occasional intervals, and brightly feathered songbirds, their wings clipped to prevent them from escaping, chirped and sang from the shrubbery. Eward only needed to hold up his letter and mention Philo’s name before being ushered onto the exclusive beach. Sand climbed into his sandals’ open sides and clustered under his toes. He flicked the grains away with a puff of Earth magic, then summoned his wind disc again.
Eward eased forward above the sand, studying the few people in sight. An elderly couple sat in the shade of a small gazebo to his left. On the right, two young girls in the shell headdresses and nearly see-through garments of the careless nobility giggled and waved at him from their chaises beneath a palm tree. Eward gave them as serious a nod as he could manage, then floated closer to the edge of the sea in search of Imee Magittang.
The endless blue stretch of the sea all the way to the horizon dragged his childhood fears back to the front of his mind. Frustrated, he shoved them back again . We are not doing this now. Stop it. Then he spotted a lone female figure, young and curvy, wading through the foam of the fresh waves. “Of course she’s walking in the ocean. Why wouldn’t she be?”
He briefly considered talking to her via a Wind tunnel from his current position, but that would probably be seen as rude and bizarre or possibly showing off. He didn’t want any of that associated with him by the girl who had once
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