Read Online Stardancer (Tellaran Series) by Ariel MacArran - Free Book Online

instantly took a place at his feet.
    She spent the next hour trying to anticipate his needs and serve him as best she could. Nothing seemed to please. She took the dishes the woman plated, which quite honestly looked a great deal more appetizing than what she had served him the previous night, and brought them to him herself. She placed the sauce bowl by his elbow in case he wanted to use it and kept his cup full.
    At the end of the meal, the Az-kye woman tidied up. When her task was done, she bowed to Aidar.
    He let her stand there. His dark eyes flashed to Kinara for an instant.
    “Slave,” he said to the woman. “What is your name?”
    The woman was visibly startled but she didn’t lift her eyes. “I do not have one.”
    “Think you I care for your feelings?”
    “My lord,” the woman stammered, “I have none, lest it please you that I do.”
    Aidar threw a sharp look at Kinara then addressed the woman again. “Come here.”
    Hesitantly the woman approached as Aidar stood. He pulled her against him and kissed her hard. The woman remained pliant and after a moment he released her.
    “Go you now,” he ordered.
    The woman bowed, more shakily this time, and hurried out of the room.
    “See you, Tellaran?” he demanded.
    Kinara nodded. “I see very well, my lord . You are a bully.”
    His eyes narrowed. “And what is ‘bully’?” he asked, awkward with the Tellaran word.
    “A bully is someone who torments those who are weaker than themselves. Someone who orders people around who have no choice. Someone who is so cowardly they can only hurt those who cannot fight back. Someone,” she said acidly, “just like you.”
    His face flushed with fury. “You call me coward?”
    “You are a coward! You can punish that woman with a reason or without one, and she knows it too. She’s terrified of you and has no way to fight back!”
    “Be you silent!”
    Kinara was so angry she shook. “You are nothing but a cowardly, bullying savage!”
    “You have no name and no honor!” he roared. “Your words are nothing!”
    “I have honor and I have a name, and she does too!” Kinara shouted with a gesture at the door. “Oh, you scare her enough that she’ll say she doesn’t but she remembers her old life and the people she loves. She has feelings, just like I do! Tell me, are you proud of yourself, Aidar?” she demanded. “Proud for showing me what a warrior you are against a helpless woman?”
    The color drained from his face. He pushed past her and with a sudden jolt of panic Kinara saw he was going for the door.
    She darted forward and held her hand out to him. “Oh, gods! No wait!” she cried. “I shouldn’t have said— Please! My people—don’t hurt them!”
    He stopped at the door, his fists clenched. “I am not the demon you think me, Tellaran!”
    She ran after only to find he had already locked her in.
     

Aidar’s eyes narrowed as he circled Dael. His foster-brother swung his sword. Snarling, Aidar blocked it and shoved back with such force that he sent Dael sprawling.
    Aidar stood over Dael, breathing hard, his bare chest streaming with sweat.
    From the floor of the Circle, Dael blinked up at him, astonished.
    With a curse, Aidar flung his practice sword away. It bounced and skidded, echoing in the emptiness of the large room.
    Dael got to his feet and brushed his dark hair back. It had come loose from its tie during the long practice and his face was drawn and streaked with sweat. Dael leaned his hands on his thighs as he sought to catch his breath.
    “I have offended you, foster-brother, that you attack me so?” Dael gasped.
    “You have not,” Aidar said shortly. 
    “One of your warriors displeases you?”
    Aidar wiped the sweat away from his eyes. “No.”
    “Ah,” Dael straightened. “It is the Tellaran female then, the one with hair like fire.”
    “What do I care for the doings of a slave?”
    Dael shrugged. “She seems biddable enough.”
    “ Biddable? ” Aidar pushed his