Read Online THREE DROPS OF BLOOD by Michelle L. Levigne - Free Book Online Page A

from both Efrin's
admirers and his detractors.
    Mrillis looked forward to the quieter moons of fall, even though the Warhawk's
resources would be called on to handle damage from storms, and to repel Encindi raiders who
prepared for winter's ravages by taking whatever they wanted from their neighbors, at the point
of a sword.
    "Lord Mrillis... do I have any imbrose ?" Megassa asked, when the departing
travelers had vanished into the shadowy horizon. "Because I don't want it."
    The summer had brought changes to the girl. Mrillis bit his lip against a smile, when the
absence of her discontented little pout topped the list. She stood at least two fingers taller, not
through growth, but because she walked with pride now instead of shuffling and slouching and
staying in shadows. Her skin was a golden brown from hours spent outside on the practice field,
and she wore her hair braided out of her way, instead of the tangle of curls that had been her
usual style, mostly through the neglect of her nursemaid. No one could mistake the Warhawk's
two daughters for each other now. Mrillis rather hoped Megassa would grow up to disdain
cosmetics and jewelry and dresses, opting for trousers and tunics and simplicity, like Gynefra
and her women warriors. None of the nervous council members, either Rey'kil or Noveni, could
look at the girl now and insist that she be sent away before she tried to take Meghianna's place,
as they had when the two girls first met.
    "Why don't you want imbrose ?" he asked, after a short pause to test her. The
girl stood still and calm under his gaze, not fidgeting or growing nervous as she had done only a
few moons before.
    "I see how much Meghianna works, how hard she works, everything she has to
learn."
    "Meghianna has hard duties awaiting her when she grows up. I'm sure she would say the
same about you, learning to be a soldier."
    "I like being a soldier!" A grin lit her face. "Not that I'm a real soldier yet, but I get to
ride with Captain Gynefra and learn about battles and maps and making arrows. I'm good at it.
She says I was born to be a warrior."
    "Meghianna was born to be an enchantress." He offered his hand, and a warm pleasure
tinged with a little sadness washed over him when the child took his hand without hesitating.
Both of Efrin's daughters were older than their years, forced to mature sooner and to learn faster
because of the circumstances that surrounded them. It was the only way they could survive. "Are
you happy, Megassa?"
    "Oh, yes." She bobbed her head and grinned up at him as they crossed the outer
courtyard. "I wasn't, before."
    "I'm sorry about that. We made mistakes, deciding what was best for you."
    "Gynefra says you have to be strong to admit you made mistakes." She let him release
her hand so he could open the little side door that led into the private quarters of the fortress.
    "She is right, and very wise. I hope you grow up to be like her." Mrillis pulled the door
closed behind them and tugged on the Thread that acted as a more secure lock than anything
made of iron.
    "I wish she was my mother," the child sighed. She reached for his hand again, and he
smiled down at her.
    No, she isn't Emrillian, but she and Meghianna are a gift from you, blessed Estall,
to ease my empty heart.
    "In a way, she is. I think she would like it very much if you told her so."
    "Really?" The joy that lit the child's face, her eyes wide, her mouth open in an
astonished little smile, made his heart ache.
    Blessed Estall, what have we done to the child--to both our children--that it
astonishes them when people care?
    "Then I don't want imbrose, even more. But I do have it, don't I?"
    "You are part Rey'kil, so that means there is some imbrose in you, even if it is
so faint that it will never awaken."
    "Can you take it away?"
    "Do you want to be a Valor someday?" he countered.
    "Like Gynefra and Flyrian and the others? Oh, yes!" She yanked on his hand for
emphasis.
    "You have to have some imbrose to be a Valor.