Read Online Soul of Kandrith (The Kandrith Series) by Nicole Luiken - Free Book Online

short it showed his
mutilated ear, jaw clean-shaven, gray eyes alert for danger.
    Relief flashed over Wenda’s face. “Oh, good.” She directed her
voice at the merchant’s left shoulder. “Pray, excuse me. I need to speak to
my...envoy.”
    “Envoy? Him? Is he a general?” the merchant asked.
    Marcus moved between Wenda and the petitioner. His expression
was so polite, the merchant didn’t seem to realize he’d been dismissed.
    Wenda opened her arms. “Lance?” she asked uncertainly when he
didn’t immediately hug her.
    “I’m coming,” Lance panted. “Sprained my knee.”
    A few more hops, and he folded her into a heartfelt embrace.
Her wrist stump touched his shoulder. “Praise Loma,” she murmured, stepping
back. “What took you so long on the road? Illness, I suppose.”
    “In part,” Lance said. He should mention Sara, but he didn’t
want to spoil the reunion just yet. “It’s good to see you.” He studied her,
anxious to know how she was bearing up as Kandrith’s new leader and adjusting to
her two sacrifices, but unable to ask. The merchant was leaving, but slowly,
with many backward glances.
    “What’s this about naming me an envoy?”
    She grimaced. “You won’t like it. I don’t like it. You just got home! But,” she took a deep breath, “I need you to
go as my emissary to Gotia.”
    Lance’s heart sank. “You’re right, I don’t like it. I’ll go,”
he added quickly, “but I don’t see why you’d want me to represent you. I’d make
a terrible diplomat,” he said bluntly. He’d met ambassadors aplenty in his years
in Temborium serving as the Child of Peace. The thought of trying to emulate
their oily tongues gave him hives.
    “I don’t need a diplomat,” Wenda said firmly. “What I need is
an example, and you’ll be perfect for that.”
    “An example of what?” Lance asked warily.
    “General Pallax promised Kandrith a year of peace in return for
his worthless son, but as soon as that passes he’ll invade again. We captured
the legionnaire who scaled the Red Saints, but in an empire the size of the
Republic of Temboria there are bound to be others who can.”
    Lance couldn’t deny it. “Yes. Pallax is probably already
searching.”
    Wenda leaned forward. “So you understand why Gotia and this
rebellion are so important?”
    “Because while the Republic’s off quelling their rebellious
province they don’t have time to think of us.”
    “Yes. Politically, I’d be happy if they were mired there for
fifty years.” Her lips twisted. “Personally...do you remember living there?”
    Lance and Wenda had both been born in a village in western
Gotia. Lance had been only eleven when the Republic’s Legions finished
conquering their country, made it a province and enslaved the inhabitants. Wenda
had been even younger. “Yes and no. I remember our village, a tree I used to
climb, a stream I swam in, a dog I owned, but I have no strong feelings for
Gotia itself.”
    “I don’t remember much either, but it’s a connection, one you
can use when you go there.”
    “What do you want me to accomplish?”
    “As I said, politically all Kandrith needs is turmoil, but
they, too, are slaves. We are all Loma’s children. I want you to teach them
sacrifice magic. If even a small part of Gotia follows our example and gains
independence from the Republic, I hope it will start a string of
rebellions.”
    Lance’s eyebrows shot up. “Ambitious.” It would never have
occurred to him to think so long-term, but she was right. Once again he felt
grateful that Cadwallader had picked her as Kandrith and not him. Or his
mother.
    “I was planning to send you anyway, but this rebellion is a
godsend. Finding a group of people willing to fight for their freedom will save
us months.”
    And Kandrith only had ten months left.
    “So I’m to be your living example of how magic works,” Lance
said. “I think yon merchant is expecting gold and warriors.”
    “As if Kandrith had any