Read Online Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder - Free Book Online Page A

We’ll need Opal back, though.”
      Surprised, I asked why.
      “To test the ingredients before they’re melted into glass.
      We can’t guess that the new supplies are pure. Plus we couldn’t tell the difference between the orbs. You’ll know if they’ll hold the storm’s energy.”
      “But-”
      Zitora cut me off. “What happens if it’s one of your special ingredients that are tainted?”
      “We don’t dance,” Kade said. “People die.”

      Kade’s words weighed heavy on my mind as we prepared to leave The Cliffs. Varun and Kade would accompany Zitora and me to their stockpile near Thunder Valley and remain there until they heard from us.
      I gave my little ball to the Stormdancer so he could try to communicate with Zitora through the glass. She was on the beach with her unicorn and we were in his tiny sleeping cave decorated with a cot, a chair and a desk. Piles of books lined the back wall. A small coal stove rested near the entrance, but not too close to the wood and cloth privacy screen. Kade had stored the orb-still covered with the blanket-under his cot.
      After I had glanced around his cave, Kade shrugged. “It suits me. When I spend all day in the wild vastness of sea and storms, it’s soothing to be surrounded by stone.” Kade settled on the cot, sitting cross-legged and peered into the glass.
      A heartbeat later, he yelped in surprise and fumbled the ball. I suppressed a giggle, but couldn’t stop the smirk.
      “I suppose the first time you heard a voice in your head you were unperturbed?” he asked in annoyance.
      The smile dropped from my lips. “I don’t have the magical ability to hear thoughts.”
      “I don’t, either, but Zitora does. As long as you have magic, you should be able to hear her.”
      “I can’t.” I turned away before I could see his pity. The Masters could communicate with every magician in Sitia. Except me. Even people with only one trick could hear the Masters’ call. Except me.
      “Since the test was a success, I’d better go help Zitora saddle the horses.” I ducked to leave.
      “But you can hear the orb’s call,” Kade said to my back.
      The orb’s song pierced my heart. I jerked, turning around. Kade had uncovered the sphere.
      “What does it say to you?” he asked.
      I concentrated. The orb’s song pulsed in time with the sea and hummed in tune with the wind. Among the melody moaned a name. The same name that haunted my dreams last night. “Kaya.”
      Kade froze in horror. He stared at me with such intensity I stepped back.
      “My sister’s name,” he said as if every word pained him.
      “You have a sister?”
      “Had. She died. Killed by one of the flawed orbs.”

    7

    GRIEF WELLED IN Kade’s eyes. The obvious pain of his sister’s death still ripping his insides like a broken knife. I remembered the weeks after my sister Tula had died. The pain would only dull with time.
      “I’m so sorry,” I said. “I know-”
      “You know nothing.” Kade spat the words out. “Please spare me the empty and banal responses of sympathy. They are meaningless.”
      I wanted to correct him, but from his reaction I knew he wasn’t ready to hear it.
      Kade grabbed my shoulders and dragged me close. “Did Raiden tell you her name? Hope that I would confess my woes to you?” He dug his fingers into my skin.
      “No one told me. Let go. You’re hurting me.”
      “Did Master Cowan pull the information from my head?”
      I wished I had one of my sais so I could knock sense into him. “She would never intrude on your private thoughts. The orb told me. Let go now!” I brought my arms up between his and swept them out to the side, breaking his hold on my shoulders.
      He stumbled back and I pushed him farther away with my foot. He landed on his cot. At least I had paid attention in self-defense class. Another skill learned from my four years at the Keep. Yippee