Prayers in Steel (The Skin Walker War Book 1) by Michael McClung

Author:Michael McClung [McClung, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-01-05T16:00:00+00:00

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The new guard at her door must have had words with the last, for when he saw Caida coming, he knocked quickly on the door and took three quick steps away, hand on the hilt of his sword. Caida ignored him.

The hedge mage opened the door, saw Caida, grunted and pushed past him into the hallway, leaving the door open. He saw her, leaning over a chess table. Some corner of his mind noted that many pieces had been replaced with pebbles. Suddenly uncertain, Caida hesitated.

“Are you coming in?” she asked, not looking up from the board. “If not, close the door. The draft is disagreeable.”

Caida entered, and closed the door.

“I dislike playing Heirus,” she said. “He does not play to win, only not to lose. It makes for a tedious game. Do you play, monk?”

“I know the game, princess. I claim no skill.”

“Sit,” she replied, and began resetting the board, the white pieces before her.

He unlimbered his scabbarded sword and propped it gently in a corner. And sat across from her at the board. Looking at her, head down, intent on arranging the pieces, gave him both pain and pleasure. Her perfume, the grace of her hands – below the table, out of her view, he made a fist of his own right hand and cradled it with his left. He wanted to flee this room, and her presence.

“What shall we play for, then?” she asked.

“Having nothing of value, I do not gamble, princess.”

“You have many things of value. Your faith, your sword, and your skill with it chief amongst them.”

“You wish to gamble for my loyalty? I am already sworn to protect you. You refused my protection.”

“You are sworn to return me to one owner, my father, or another, my husband-to-be.” Her lips were soft, but the set of her mouth was hard. She set the last piece in place.

He shook his head. “That isn’t so, princess. I would escort you anywhere you wished to go.”

She looked at him for the first time since he’d entered the room. Her eyes searched his.

“I believe you,” she finally said. “Alas, I am already where I wish to be. And I would prefer it if you called me by my name, rather than by a title I reject.”

“I could never be so forward,”

“Pity. But you still haven’t offered up something for your stake in the game. I think that would make a good wager.”

“My calling you lady? Very well.”

“Lady will do. Or simply Anya. And you? What do you desire, should you win?”

He clenched his fist so hard the tendons ached in protest.

“Some assurance that you have not been lying to me, princess. Some… proof about what you told me regarding the Testament of Andos.”

“I thought you might ask for something… more,” she said, with a look of disappointment. “Ah, well. I would be happy to assuage your doubts, monk, but how do you suggest I do that? What sort of proof would you accept? I do not happen to have the text with me.

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