Darkness on Fire Read Free

occasional acquaintance as she did. By the time she reached the far end of the room, she had a jumbo-size case of nerves.
    The Paladin was busy studying the menu. She waited impatiently for him to acknowledge her presence, unsure of how he would react once he got a good look at her. Finally, she cleared her throat.
    Without looking up, he said, “Can you give me another couple of minutes? I’m expecting someone.”
    “I know. I’m the someone.”
    Fierce blue eyes glared up at her, widening in shock as he got a better look at her. “Holy shit!” he blurted.
    At least he hadn’t immediately gone on the attack. Considering he killed her kind for a living, she supposed she should be grateful for that. Now that the moment was upon her, she wasn’t sure what to say.
    “Mr. Bane told you to expect me?”
    He nodded, still looking at her as if she’d grown a second head. Was he just going to sit there and stare up at her all night?
    Finally the Paladin blinked a couple of times and shook his head as if to clear it. “I’m sorry, it’s just that you’re Kalith.”
    He stopped and tried again. “I don’t mean that I’m sorry you’re Kalith. I just wasn’t expecting that—although maybe I should have.”
    At least he hadn’t called her an “Other,” the usual epithet his kind used for hers. “I wasn’t sure you’d come if you knew.”
    He looked past her. “Are you here by yourself?”
    Why did he want to know that? She had opted for the diner as a meeting place because she wasn’t eager to be alone with this man. She backed away a couple of steps. “Yes, I am. Is that going to be problem for you?”
    “Not at the moment.” He gestured toward the other side of the booth. “Why don’t you sit down? People are starting to stare. We’ll eat and then you can tell me what’s going on.”
    She slid onto the opposite bench and picked up the menu, not that she needed it. Betsy knew without asking what Jora would order. Being known to everybody in town was one of the benefits of living in a small town, but one of the downsides, as well. By morning, everyone would’ve heard about Jora’s dinner with a strange man.
    She fought the urge to smile. Her friends and neighbors had no idea how really strange this guy was. Her, too, for that matter, so she’d have to keep his secret to protect her own.
    The waitress appeared with her notepad in hand. “What can I get you, mister?”
    The Paladin looked to Jora for advice. “What would you recommend?”
    Her friend laughed. “I wouldn’t depend on her for recommendations ’cause all she ever eats is salad. She’s one of them vegetarians.”
    For the first time there was a glint of humor in those blue eyes. “I should’ve guessed that.”
    Betsy pounced on that remark. “Really? You never said how you know our Jora.”
    “You might say we have some mutual acquaintances.” He looked back down at the menu. “I’ll have the meat loaf. Is that blackberry pie I spotted as good as it looks?”
    That was one recommendation Jora could make. “Better. Betsy, make it two pieces of the pie with ice cream on mine.”
    “Mine, too,” the Paladin added as he handed the menu back to Betsy.
    Jora waited until she was out of hearing before speaking again. “You know others of my kind?”
    “Several.”
    How could that be? Who were they? Paladins hunted down and killed any Kalith who made it across the barrier. This man’s hands had calluses from swinging a sword, marking him as a Paladin warrior. Her father’s weapon hand had looked just like that, and she had a matching set herself.
    Her companion tore open three sugar packets and dumped them into his coffee. “What’s your name?”
    “I was born Jora b’Larth, although the people here know me simply as Jora Larth. And you are?”
    “Penn Sebastian. Are there other Kalith living in this area?”
    Despite his casual tone, his interest was anything but. “There is no good answer to that question.”
    He arched