Alaric's Bow: A Book of the Amari Read Free

sail as soon as you’re on board.”
                  Kai stopped her from darting off. “Who is this ‘we’ you keep talking of? Please, I need to know.”
                  Her golden eyes no longer held back the tears. “Olive. She’s our mother. Your true mother.”
                  He knew what was going to happen to them once it came out they helped him escape. “Holly, come with me. I know what Kaerdan’s going to do to the two of you.”
                  “I can’t.” She lifted the hem of her skirt, displaying the iron band circling her ankle. Embracing him, she whispered, “Go, my brother. One of our family needs to remain unchained.”
                  He put his hand to the lever, ready to raise it. “Holly, what’s my name? I don’t know any more.”
                  She whispered in his ear, and then pushed him out the door. 
                  Kai ran down the path, his ears straining to hear any pursuers. As promised, the small skiff waited for him. He pushed off, rowing with strong strokes. Escape mattered more than anything right now.
                  The docks were a short distance away, and he was running short on time. By now, the castle had been searched and Kaerdan would be sending out parties to find him.
                  A lone figure stood on the closest pier, a massive merchant ship bobbing gently in the waves behind him. Three men appeared near the sandy beach, grabbing the bow and pulling him ashore. Kai grabbed at his bow and pack as he climbed out. The man he first saw approached.
                  “You the passenger I was told to expect?”
                  “Depends. Are you Captain Ellory?” The two men fell into step together, quickly moving across the dock and onto the ship.
                  “Aye, that I am. I understand there’s a bit of a hurry to things. But can an old Captain know the name of his passenger?”
                  “The name’s Alaric.”
    Chapter Three
     
    The crossing would take over a week, which suited Alaric fine. He needed time to himself to decide what to do next.
                  Changing his name had been easy. Too easy. Ever since Holly whispered it in his ear, it felt right. More like who he was than Kai had ever been.
                  That first night, he’d mourned. Said good-bye to a mother and sister he’d never really known, who were most likely dead by now. If not dead, then they prayed for it swiftly. Kaerdan would punish them first. It was his way.
    As to his other family, he scarcely thought on them. The feeling he’d had his entire life of being on the outside looking in made sense now. He didn’t wholly belong there.
    Nor was he fully Amari.
                  The second day was harder. Alaric stared at the polished brass mirror in his cabin for an hour, trying to see if there was any of the telltale gold coloring in his eyes. He’d heard of this, yes. Half-bred Amari were common enough, but almost all had the eye color. He would be one of the very few who could pass as human.
                  While that would make things easier, he also knew what he couldn’t do. Going to his grandfather’s palace was out of the question. Even if a messenger didn’t make it before he did, it wouldn’t be far behind. No, Kai had to die. Disappear. Never to be seen or heard from again.
                  The crew left him alone, which suited him just fine. How Holly procured his passage he’d never know. He needed the time and solitude right now.
                  A light knock at the door to his small cabin roused him from his thoughts. He turned his head around as the door swung open, the wood creaking slightly. Captain Ellory slipped into the room, closing the door behind him.
                  “Pardon the intrusion, but