Read Online The Last Canticle: Summoner's Dirge by Evelyn Shepherd - Free Book Online

beside Balin.
    Balin set the knife down. “It’s a lovely weapon but far too ostentatious. A knife does not need to be covered in so many frivolous jewels; it just needs a solid blade.”
    “Perhaps you would like this one, then,” the merchant offered. She picked up a simpler dagger with a plain silver pommel and cross guards. Its grip was wrapped with strong but pliable leather.
    Balin took the weapon from the woman and balanced it in his hand. “It is indeed a fine dagger.”
    “It’s only a hundred lamnas,” the merchant offered.
    She had a pleasant smile across her face that Damir found very agreeable. Unlike the other merchant, she seemed at ease with her wares. Damir pulled the pouch from his side and checked to see how much he had left. They still had to go to Gooseneck like he had promised Elina, and he didn’t want to spend everything he’d brought with him, but there was enough to spare.
    “That is a fair price, but we shall pass,” Balin said and set the weapon down.
    “You said one hundred lamnas?” Damir asked as he pulled the correct amount from his leather pouch.
    “Damir, it is all right. I still have my dagger,” Balin said.
    “I want to. You’ve helped us so much around the farm.”
    Balin shook his head and set his hand down on Damir’s, giving it a quick squeeze. “No, I insist. Put your coins away. Save it for something more important. Thank you, madame. You have a fine assortment of weapons. But we shall have to pass.”
    The merchant bowed her head, ringlets of blonde hair sliding down around her face. “Thank you, good sir.”
    “Come, let us find Elina and get some lunch.”
    Balin took Damir’s arm in his hand and guided him away from the merchant stalls. Damir tried not to focus on the contact, but his mind seemed to fritz out at the feel of Balin’s hands on his body—even when it was in the most mundane of ways.
    Damir opened his mouth to argue but let it die. There was no point in arguing with Balin over something trivial. He looked through the crowd. “Elina is probably by the fountain. It’s her favorite spot.”
    “Let’s start there first.”
    As they pushed their way through the throng of townsfolk, Damir was knocked sideways by a small band of teenagers. Balin caught him before he could topple to the ground, and for a brief moment, he cradled Damir against his chest. Damir’s breath hitched. He’d fallen with his ear over Balin’s heart. He closed his eyes. Warmth seeped into Damir’s body, wrapped in Balin’s strong arms and warmed by the sunlight. Nothing existed in that moment but the two of them.
    “Are you all right?”
    Damir straightened up, reluctant to pull away. “Yes, thank you.”
     
    BALIN STUDIED DAMIR’S face, wishing he had another excuse to draw the man back into his arms. His heart raced with desire. The feeling of butterflies dancing in his stomach was alien. He was the type of person who went out and took whom he wanted. He didn’t court, nor did he get nervous. Yet here he stood, as tongue-tied and bent as a schoolboy who’d just struck puberty. He felt like a horse’s ass.
    “Be more careful,” Balin said gruffly. Damir blinked and looked away, his cheeks turning as red as iron skillets. Balin rubbed the back of his head and looked around the square. “Come on.”
    Damir followed Balin toward the fountain where Elina sat. He caught Balin’s attention, then held a finger to his lips to signal Balin to remain quiet, and carefully extracted the newly bought pendant from his leather pouch. With the chain wrapped around his fingers, Damir sneaked up behind Elina. She sat with her back to the crowd, one hand dipping down the side of the fountain into the water.
    Elina never noticed her brother until he dangled the necklace in front of her and said, “Boo!” into her ear.
    Elina let out a shriek and snatched up the jewelry. “Oh Dammy! It’s beautiful!”
    “Let me put it on you.”
    Damir grinned from ear to ear, and Balin