“The Ha’lasi god? You are no ku’an.”
“I swore it nonetheless. I have not been released.”
“You will never be released. How is Lord Callo to trust you, when at any moment you might betray him?”
Chiss’ face lost its taut look. He hoisted Callo’s saddlebag onto Miri’s back. “There is no point in my explaining it again.”
“By the Unknown God, you are a complicated man, Chiss.”
An unexpected smile graced Chiss’ thin face. “You say that, who knows my lord Callo? I am surprised.”
She laughed. “He is no child’s puzzle either. Perhaps you have influenced him.”
Chiss bowed to her. “I will see if Hon Arter can find us a horse, Hon Kirian. It will be a pleasure to ride with you again.”
“And me again with no baggage,” Kirian said. “It is becoming a bad habit. I must find a better cloak and at least one other tunic if I am not to disgrace Lord Callo at Northgard.”
“Of course. But you need not be concerned. We may shelter with the rebels after all, Hon Kirian. I doubt they wear the latest styles.”
Kirian did not laugh. “But I will be riding with Lord Callo, who is always so well dressed,” she said a little wistfully, and knew that Chiss understood.
“I will see what I can do,” he said. “Now finish eating, Healer, and I will see what can be done about a horse.”
When Callo burst into the barn a moment later and grabbed her hands to lift her up, she grinned at the expression on his face.
“Are you coming with us? You should not do it,” he said, but his face was alight. “Chiss thought you said . . .”
She laughed. “I did. All these close calls have ruined me for normal life. In SeagardVillage I would pine away for lack of a battle now and then, or someone trying to imprison me, or a daring rescue. With you I shall not be bored.”
He laughed. “Oh, no. Never that.” He drew her close, and she could see the golden sparks in his eyes. His hands were on her arms, firm but gentle, but she could see a flare of color magery beginning to wrap his hands, reflecting his emotion.
“Calm down, my lord color mage. Did you doubt I would come?”
“Hell yes, Kirian. Who in their right mind would join me on this fool’s journey? I am glad you do not seem to be in your right mind. Kiss me, Sweet, to seal us partners on this journey.”
“As long as you do not kiss your other partners this way,” she murmured. His lips found hers, and she thought she could feel the color magery flow from him to her, but it was only love, and desire, and a looking forward to something she had no right to look forward to.
When their lips parted, he murmured, “I can stand anything now that you’ll be with me.”
“You may have to,” she said. She pulled away a little to hide the trembling that was beginning to take her. She felt his hands slide along her arms as if he was loath to release her, and savored that feeling even while she heard the stamp of horses’ hooves and Chiss reentering the barn, making enough noise to warn them of his coming.
“We must go, my lord. We have a very long way to travel, and they may yet pursue us.”
“We have a third horse?” Callo asked, over his shoulder, still looking at her.
“Ready to go. It is one of Arter’s livestock, a farm horse only, but it will carry us as well as another.”
“I will send her two horses, if this one gets us through safe,” Callo said. He grinned a little as Kirian pulled him to the barn door. “If she will carry Kirian in comfort.”
“The mare is old and fat. Comfort will be no problem,” Arter said outside the door. “Speed will be another matter.”
“If we follow the hill trails for a ways, speed should not be necessary. Hon Arter, you know well you have my deepest gratitude,” Callo said. “If Arias should come asking, please tell him we ride to warn Lord Ander.”
“Him and no other, unless you command it,” she said. “I have no love for His Majesty Sharpeyes.”
“Which Arias must have known, to send us here. What has Sharpeyes done, to earn your enmity?”
Arter made an emphatic wide gesture with her arms. “What has he not done! Ask any of the farmholders of Righar. But you really have no time to stand here arguing politics, my lord. Go now, before it is too late.”
Callo bent and kissed the farmer’s hand. She stepped back, a little embarrassed, but she was smiling.
“Farewell, then and our thanks,” Callo said.
Kirian echoed that, smiling into Arter’s eyes. With a lightness in her heart that was wholly inappropriate for their circumstances, she climbed into the mare’s saddle. She leaned forward, stroking the mare’s thick neck. “Let us go, horse. I know you’ll carry me well.”
She followed Callo out of the barnyard, Chiss behind her.
Author Information
Anne Marie has always loved reading(and writing!), especially in the genres of science fiction and. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and an MBA, both from the OhioStateUniversity. She has worked as an office manager, an operations analyst and more recently at home raising her children.
Anne Marie enjoys reading, spendingwith friends and family, and traveling when she can.
Anne Marie was raised in the Youngstown. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and their two. Color Mage is her first novel.
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Table of Contents
Title Page Information
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Map
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
Author Information
Publisher Information
Table of Contents
Title Page Information
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Map
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
Author Information
Publisher Information
Color Mage (Book 1) Page 33
