by Jordan Rivet
Table of Contents
Start
Contents
Map of the Continent
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
City of Wind
Steel and Fire Book 4
Jordan Rivet
Copyright © 2016 by Jordan Rivet
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author.
Contact the author at [email protected]
For updates and discounts on new releases, join Jordan Rivet’s mailing list.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Cover Art by Deranged Doctor Design
Edited by Red Adept Editing
Book Layout & Design ©2013 - BookDesignTemplates.com
Maps by Jordan Rivet
City of Wind, Steel and Fire Book 4/ Jordan Rivet – First Edition, December 2016
Contents
1. Swimming
2. The Lantern Maker
3. The Watermight Artist
4. Pen Fighting
5. Far Plains Stronghold
6. Working
7. Vine
8. The Rock
9. Invitation
10. The Party
11. The Waterlord
12. Fire and Water
13. The Library
14. Headquarters
15. Port District
16. Sunset Lands
17. Secrets
18. The Pool
19. The Steel Pentagon
20. The Vent
21. Aftermath
22. The Queen's Speech
23. Messages
24. Patrols
25. Sensing
26. Latch
27. The Lighthouse
28. The Power
29. Plans
30. The Manor
31. The Bargain
32. The Bond
33. Attack
34. The Tower
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
For Whitney and Jeff
who fight together
1.
Swimming
DARA stepped into the murky water. She shivered, wishing they’d waited until summer to try this. She took another step—and her feet slipped out from under her. She landed with a terrific splash, drenching her clothes and dousing her eyes with saltwater. Nearby, Siv doubled over laughing.
“Shut up.”
“Dara,” he gasped between chuckles. “You’re one of the best athletes I’ve ever met. I don’t get why you flail like a greckleflush the minute you encounter water.”
“Easy for you to say,” Dara said, scrambling to her feet. “Your grandfather rules a city with a great-big lake.”
“Didn’t you ever play in the streams in Vertigon?”
“Those are three feet deep.”
“Still.” Siv splashed a few feet farther from the shoreline and beckoned for Dara to join him. “I expected more of you. What would Coach Doban say?”
“I’m sure Berg has a healthy respect for open water,” Dara mumbled, cheeks heating. Her dueling friends were another story. Kel would find her underdeveloped swimming abilities particularly amusing. Of course, Siv teased her enough for the lot of them.
“Come on, Dara, it’s shallow for another twenty paces. You’re not even swimming yet.”
Dara trudged after him, the cold water quickly rising up her bare legs. She wore her old trousers rolled above the knees. Wyla had given her some clothes in the Pendarkan style to wear when she was out in the city, but she didn’t want to get those wet. Firelord knew she owed Wyla enough.
The water of the Black Gulf rippled around her, cloudy with silt and unknown detritus. The volcanic rock that gave the gulf its name was rough on her bare feet. The chilly water was refreshing, though. Pendark grew warmer every day. It would be as hot as a Vertigonian summer soon, and winter had barely come to an end.
Dara and Siv weren’t the only pair taking advantage of the sunny afternoon to go for a swim—or wade, as Dara wasn’t certain she’d be going out far enough for it to count as a swim today. Children splashed in the shallows, fully clothed, and a few older boys raced each other to the beach from a large black rock sticking out of the gulf. Others lounged at the water’s edge or dug in the mud for spiny creatures that always seemed to skitter out of their reach. A handful of adults floated on their backs farther out, allowing the gentle roll of the waves to carry them along. Dara wondered if any of them worked in the Watermight practitioner’s manor overlooking this stretch of sand. Orange flags flew from its black stone walls. Siv’s pen-fighting friends had assured him the Waterworker, who controlled half of Pendark’s port, didn’t care if people used his beach. Dara was wary of getting too close to any of them. She had her own Waterworker to worry about.
“Okay.” Siv stopped when the water reached their waists. “Let’s practice dunking first.”
“I’d rather just learn to swim with my head above water,” Dara said.
“That’s cheating. Besides, you’ll never swim really fast like that. You wouldn’t want everyone to be able to beat you in a race, would you?”
Dara opened her mouth then closed it again. So she was a bit competitive. It wasn’t fair for him to use that against her. Still, if it was the best way . . .
She sucked in a breath, squeezed her eyes shut, and dropped into the water. Underneath, a cool rush surrounded her, caressing her skin, blurring sound. She felt weightless and surprisingly calm. Her pendant necklace shifted against her chest, the stone warm compared to the water. This wasn’t so bad.
Then something slimy brushed her ankle. She gasped, swallowing a huge mouthful of salty water. She scrambled to her feet, coughing and spluttering.
Siv splashed closer and patted her on the back as she gasped in air.
“Easy there. You’re supposed to keep your mouth closed.”
“Oh.” She coughed. “I didn’t know.”
Siv chuckled. “You were down there a long time. I was starting to worry you meant to set a record on your first go.”
“Maybe on my second,” Dara said, still wheezing. The saltwater burned like Fire in her throat. “Something touched me,” she said. “Something slimy.”
“Probably just seaweed,” Siv said. “Al
though I’ve heard there are krellfish and the occasional salt adder in these waters.”
Dara’s eyes bulged, and she felt a sharp kick of panic, but Siv stopped her before she could charge back to the shore. Or leap into his arms.
“I’m kidding. No salt adders.” He narrowed his eyes. “Someone’s jumpy today.”
“Let’s get this over with,” Dara said. “What’s next?”
“Try floating on your back. Once you get used to the feeling, it’s really relaxing. Watch me.”
Siv flopped backward and drifted on the surface, looking up at the clear blue sky. His bare chest floated high enough out of the water to reveal the thin scars crossing his ribs. White puckered scars from stab wounds dotted his sword arm, and a faint line slashed across his temple. All the blade wounds were old. He had a supply of fresh bruises patterning his body, but Dara was used to those as a duelist. Training could be a rough activity. She was glad to see his more grievous wounds were healed and his strength had returned. If anything, he was more muscular than ever. Kres March kept his pen fighters to a rigorous training schedule, even on the road.
“Liking what you see, eh?” Siv said, and Dara started.
“What? Oh, uh, I was studying your technique.”
“Sure you were. My technique.” Siv grinned and winked at her. Water dripped from his short beard and ran over his chest as he stood. Dara cleared her throat. Right. Technique. Swimming.
“Let me get you started.” Siv advanced toward her through the water, eyes bright, and her heart stuttered a bit. “Just take a deep breath and lie back. Try not to move, and let the water do the rest.”
He put his hands low on her back and guided her down. She eased back, letting her feet leave the bottom. Siv held her firmly, and she straightened out as much as she could.
“That’s it. You’re still relying too much on me. Let the water hold you up.” He removed one hand, and she balanced on the other, the water lapping her body and filling her ears. She could sense the water buoying her up. She was getting the idea. But she liked the feeling of Siv’s hand firm against her back, and she didn’t want him to let go just yet.
Something touched her face. She jerked up, imagining toxic salt adders, and flailed out of balance before she realized Siv had just been brushing a strand of hair from her forehead.
“Sorry. Bad timing,” Siv said, catching her as she found her feet once more. “You’re just so damn pretty. I couldn’t resist.”
Dara faced him, pressed close against his chest with his arms around her. Her cheeks flushed, and warmth from Siv’s body seeped into her, keeping the chill of the water at bay. She still wasn’t used to him saying things like this openly. Siv wanted to return to Vertigon, but he no longer seemed to care she wasn’t a suitable match for a king in need of alliances. Something huge had changed between them. After everything they had been through, it was clear they wanted to be together no matter what. Wanted each other.
She rested her hands on his chest and looked up, memorizing the lines of his face—many of them new thanks to the scar on his temple and the beard lining his strong jaw. His breath was warm on her face, his arms tight around her, their faces inches apart. The moment was so precious, she felt as if it could shatter at the slightest movement. She’d all but given up on this once. She knew Siv had almost given up on it too. But here in the waters of the Black Gulf on the opposite side of the continent from their home, they were free to hold each other where anyone could see.
They weren’t free to be together all the time, though. Dara had struck a bargain with Wyla the Watermight Artist in exchange for her help when Dara and her friends chased Siv to Pendark. Dara had committed to helping Wyla experiment with combining Fire and Watermight. She would stay with Wyla in her manor, her thrall for the next three months. Meanwhile, Siv had taken up residence in the blue house on stilts belonging to the pen fighters who’d adopted him. They had both stolen away from their respective districts for this afternoon swimming lesson.
Dara hadn’t seen much of Wyla in the five days since she arrived in the city. The Waterworker had been busy since returning from Fork Town, where they’d met. She’d instructed Dara to practice her Fireworking skills using Fire from a supply of Works she’d had brought in. She wanted Dara in peak condition before they began their research. Dara still wasn’t sure what form the research would take.
“You look solemn,” Siv said. He brushed a hand through her wet hair, tangling it in the process. “Nervous about your mad Artist friend?”
“I don’t know if she’s mad,” Dara said. “She’s dangerous, though.”
“Are you sure you can’t buy your way out of the bargain?”
“With what money?” Dara didn’t have a single coin to her name. For the moment, at least, she was at the Waterworker’s mercy in every way.
“I’ll make you some,” Siv said. “A few rounds in the Steel Pentagon ought to be enough to buy your freedom.”
“You’re not seriously going through with that, are you?”
“Why not? I’m a decent knife fighter. Kres expects me to contribute to the team if I’m going to stay there for the next few months. I can pick up a few gutter matches too. The coins will roll in.”
Dara shook her head. Wyla had used her Watermight to set some sort of bond or curse that would freeze Dara’s sword arm to the bone if she tried to leave the city. Someone so determined to have a Fireworker for a research assistant would never let her go for a pile of gold. There was no way it was worth the risk.
“You could be killed.”
“Only if I lose,” Siv said. His hand trailed from her hair to her neck, traced her jaw line. “I don’t plan to do much of that. Otherwise, I won’t get the gold anyway.”
“But—”
“I’m getting you out of here, Dara.” He dropped his hand, eyes steady on hers. “After everything you’ve done for me, I’m surprised you’re even questioning it.”
“I went through all that to make sure you didn’t get stabbed through the heart.” She tapped her fingers on his bare chest for emphasis. “Don’t undo all my hard work.”
“Look, even if I didn’t owe you my life, I’d still do everything in my power to help you. I’m not going to let you stay in that woman’s clutches a minute longer than you have to.”
“And what about Sora?”
A shadow crossed Siv’s face, pain and guilt in equal measures. “Dara—”
“My parents won’t need her as their figurehead forever. You should go back to her.”
Siv grimaced. This wasn’t easy for him. He’d only known his sister was alive for a few days, but it tore him up inside that he’d left her behind. He wanted to go to her as soon as possible. That was driving him more than any notions of regaining his former power. Dara wished she could convince him to go ahead, even though she didn’t like the idea of being away from him so soon. She herself didn’t have a choice.
“It’s a long journey,” she said softly. “You should go.”
“I won’t leave you.” Siv cupped her face in his hands, his eyes boring into her and setting her heart fluttering. “I’m counting on us saving Sora together.” Their faces inched closer, his breath brushing her lips. “Besides, we need more fighters to help us. That’ll be another good use for all the gold I’m going to win in the Dance of Steel.”
“Siv.”
“Dara.”
“What if you’re—?”
“I’ll be fine. Sheesh, Dara, are we going to kiss or not?”
Dara blinked, and Siv took advantage of her momentary silence to bring his mouth down to hers. His fingers tangled in her hair again, as if he’d never let go. She found herself twining her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
The warmth of Siv’s arms around her was nothing compared to the heat that swept through her core at the touch of his lips, brushed with salt from the gulf. This was why she had crossed the continent to find him. This was why she couldn’t bring herself to send him away. She loved
him more than she could stand, and she wanted him so much, she could hardly stand up.
She ran her hands over his face, enjoying the roughness of his beard against her skin. His mouth was soft and firm against hers.
She had been so afraid she would find him too late. She almost didn’t believe she had him in her arms at last, no longer pretending they hadn’t both been longing to do this for months—even before they were separated. She loved him with a fierceness that surprised her. And for now, at least, she had him all to herself.
Siv pulled his mouth from hers and trailed a line of kisses across her jaw and down the side of her neck, his lips brushing her collarbone. Her breath hitched in her throat, and her fingers tightened in his hair.
Then she hooked her foot around his ankle and yanked his feet out from under him.
He crashed into the water with a splash, pulling her down with him. They still weren’t out too deep, and she rested her knees on the rocky bottom with her face safely out of the water. She grinned at him as he regained his footing, still spluttering and coughing.
“Who’s flailing like a greckleflush now?” she said.
“Oh, you’re going to regret that, Dara Ruminor,” Siv said.
He swept her into his arms and tossed her through the air. She landed in deeper water and immediately kicked farther out so he couldn’t snatch her up again. He charged after her, and she let him overtake her, laughing in spite of the cold water creeping up to her neck.
“Maybe this swimming lesson was a bad idea,” he grumbled.
“You’re not a very good teacher,” she said. “Too easily distracted.”
“Only by you.”
She grinned and eased into his arms again. He held her waist and steered her farther out into the gulf. The water got deeper and deeper, but she kept her eyes on his as they advanced. Slowly, Dara’s feet left the ground. Siv still held her, his legs churning to keep them afloat.
He kissed her again, slowly and gently, as a wave lifted them up. He stared into her eyes as if they were all he ever wanted to look at for the rest of his life. Dara wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing close as he carried her deeper. The idea that she might lose him again, whether in the Steel Pentagon or anywhere else, sent hot knives of fear through her chest. But, for now, she wanted to enjoy this. Enjoy him.
