Epic Of Ahiram (Book 1) Read Free

feelings; feelings that did not capture her heart but seemed intent on forcing themselves upon her will.
    Ahiram was speechless. The medallion had a dull, dark-gray appearance with a plain surface, and a thick, outer ring where a small, black peg protruded. It looked and felt like a trinket parents buy for their children. A shark fisherman might earn two gold coins after six months of hard work, and for a port worker two years.
    “Thank you, sir,” he replied calmly, “it is a generous offer, but I cannot sell it. It is a gift from my mother.”
    Impossible, how can this boy resist my spell? The stranger could not have known that the moment his powerful Control Spell reached Ahiram, it was met by the boy’s temper. The two forces clashed and had quickly reached a stalemate; the spell became a soothing balm over Ahiram’s fiery temper, leaving the young boy free to think clearly.
    I can control my temper , Ahiram thought to himself. Hoda was right.
    “I offer you twelve pieces of gold,” said the stranger with mounting frustration.
    “Thank you, sir,” said Ahiram reveling in patience he never knew he had, “but a mother’s gift cannot be sold for all the gold in the world.”
    “Incredible,” muttered the man, “how are you…” He shook his head and yelled, “Are you slow? I am offering you twelve gold coins for a simple medallion.”
    “If it is so simple, why do you offer me this much money?” retorted Ahiram calmly.
    Had their faces been any closer, their noses would have touched. “It is for my daughter. She likes medallions,” countered the stranger.
    “Well, this is one medallion your daughter will not have,” cut in Ahiram sharply. “Would you like some shark meat instead?”
    Karadon laughed. The enchantment was definitely broken.
    Mortified, the man lifted his hand to strike the insolent boy, but Karadon stayed his arm, saying in a casual voice, “Careful, High Riders are behind you.”
    The man snatched his arm away. “I am not done with you,” he snapped at Ahiram before disappearing into the crowd.
    “What was all that about?” exclaimed Syreen, looking intently at the medallion. Quickly, Ahiram slid it back under his shirt.
    “I don’t know,” replied Hoda. “Mother gave my brother this medallion at birth to ward off the evil eye.”
    “Well, no harm was done,” replied Karadon smiling. Hoda met his gaze and felt her heart explode. Inwardly, she chided herself, You’re being silly, Hoda, focus. She noticed her brother looking at her, and she knew instantly what his question was: “Did I do well?” She smiled, and that smile was all that he needed.
    “Why don’t you go run on the beach now?” she suggested. “You earned it.”
    “But the booth— I must help you clean up.”
    “Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll take care of it.”
    “And Karadon and I will give your sister a hand,” added Syreen, grinning. For a split second, Ahiram thought the grin meant she was about to take revenge because of the spiders.
    “Go on now,” said Hoda. “Don’t worry, I will take care of the booth.”
    “I know how to scrub,” said Karadon. “I am a very good scrubber. I mean, I can scrub this entire plaza and all the adjoining rooms. No wait— this is absurd, there are no adjoining rooms here. What I am trying to say is that I could scrub anything else that needs scrubbing: your house, if you’d like me to, or, well, actually, your house’s door, or the entrance to your door, or…”
    Syreen handed him a brush.
    “Scrub, then. Hoda, do you realize that Karadon has uttered more words now than he has ever said to me since we were children?”
    Hoda’s heart skipped a beat, and she kissed her brother to hide her red cheeks. He sprinted toward the beach. “Don’t be late for supper,” she said, but he was already gone.
    “Syreen, I am certain you’re exaggerating,” she said, glancing at Karadon who had rolled up his sleeves. Good, not too hairy, she thought,