Read Online The Malmillard Codex by K.G. McAbee - Free Book Online

such a blade as this
spread through Val like a drug, singing along his sinews, echoing
through his muscles. The memory of feints and parries, cuts and
thrusts, came back to his arms and shoulders, reoccurred to his
dormant hands like the memory of old lovers.
    "Val, my dear?"
    Before he could stop it, Val felt his mouth
fall open at the endearment. He turned, the sword forgotten in his
hand. Baragin was grinning like a mouse at a heap of cheese, a pile
of silver and gold coins in one dirty hand. Madryn was watching
Val, her head cocked to one side, her long mouth quirked upward at
one end.
    "Master Baragin has offered us both a new
dagger, to finish the deal. Will you pick them out for us? I
surrender to your greater knowledge."
    Val tried, but could not remove the grin
that he felt plastered across his mouth. He knew his eyes must be
sparkling with delight.
    Well, he thought. I'm supposed to
be her friend, am I not? I'm supposed to be Lord Valaren
Starseeker. Why don't I thank her properly for my gift?
    Without further thought, Val ran over and
scooped Madryn up into a hearty hug, his cheek pressed against
hers, the sword hanging loose but not forgotten in one hand.
    Baragin surveyed the two with satisfied
eyes.
    Val's face was smothered against Madryn's
tawny hair. He could smell a faint scent that lingered there, a
gentle reminder of fresh air and green grass in this odorous, slimy
alley. The feel of her lean, firm body against his brought on that
sudden and totally irresistible heat, the desire that he had been
unable to control from the day he'd first met her.
    But this time, for the first time, a joyous
and remarkable thing occurred. Val felt and answering heat in the
body pressed to his, heard a faint gasp of pleasure—or was it
pain—from the mouth that was almost against his own. Was that
Madryn's heart, pounding, sending tremors through both their
frames, or was it his own?
    Madryn gently disentangled herself. Her face
was flushed, her violet-gray eyes narrowed.
    "I'm so glad you liked your present, Val,"
she murmured—in that arrogant, condescending tone that was icy
water against his passion. "But pray, let us get our daggers and be
gone."

Chapter Five
    The rest of the
day was strained and difficult for both Val and Madryn…until they
were attacked that evening after supper.
    The trip back through the crowded streets
from Baragin's shop was strangely silent for both of them. Val
spent the time wondering what Madryn must think of his clumsy,
hasty way of thanking her; wondering if she were insulted at being
touched so by a slave; embarrassed by his blatant desire for her.
He had not…he had never intended to make it so obvious, so
apparent.
    And he had never expected, never dreamed to
find that Madryn returned his desires, even in the slightest and
most unconscious degree. Perhaps that was what had angered her? The
silence that came over the two of them in Baragin's shop continued
throughout the rest of the day, and even Val's pleasure in the
shining sword that swung with such reassurance at his waist, the
sturdy feel of the specially chosen dagger that rested in one boot,
could not assuage his unease and his discomfort.
    Would Madryn leave him now? Would she go on
her way without him? She had made him no promises, had not even
told him where she was going or if she would take him with her.
But, a tiny voice whispered apprehensively in his mind, she had
brought him so far already; surely she had some plan for him? What
could she want with him; what possible use could an escaped slave
be to her, a rich noblewoman? Why, Val knew very well, she could
buy a dozen like him in the slave markets of any of the larger
cities, could no doubt find one or two of his size even here, in a
tiny backwater like Karleon.
    Still, Madryn must have a plan for him. Val
knew that must be so…no one took on the risks of traveling with
someone like him, not without some sort of pressing agenda.
    Val shook his head at his whirling