Wielder of Tiren (The Raven Chronicles Book 3) Read Free Page A

Y’Dürkie coughed, “They say ‘yummy’. I do not know vhat it means.”
                  Arwenna stopped in her tracks, her head lowered in an attempt to hide the smile that formed involuntarily on her face. Her sister was serious! Raising her head, she looked at her friend. “Y’Dürkie, do you remember the first time you met Hugh?”
                  The auburn-maned woman nodded. “Of course. He vas recommended to me by the innkeeper in Tanisal. I needed to have my armor repaired.”
                  “And what exactly did you think, in your mind, the first time you actually saw him at the forge?” A slight bit of amusement crept into Arwenna’s voice as she waited for her friend to connect the dots.
                  Y’Dürkie’s brow furrowed in thought, “Vell, I saw him and I thought…OH!” Her face flushed slightly, then grew determined. “Vell, then. Ve vill need to find other thinks for these young ladies to do. They have too much free time.”
                  The ring of the forge reached her ears long before they got to the building. As they approached, Arwenna could see what Y’Dürkie was talking about. Leaning against one of the safety rails that ringed the smithy, a small group of young women stood together. Judging from the giggles and nudges, they weren’t there just to get a pot repaired.
                  She saw Hugh first. His black hair now tinged with gray. His arms were crossed, his face full of concentration as he watched Liam working on something on the anvil in front of them.
                  Liam’s back was to her, his bare skin rippling with muscles as he swung the hammer. He’d grown so much in the last six months. The last time she’d seen him was after his birthday. He’d spent a good month with them. Despite herself, she could understand why the group of girls had begun to find reasons to go to the smithy.
                  Hugh held up a hand, and Liam’s arm stopped in mid-swing. Arwenna forced a smile on her face as Hugh pointed at her and her son turned to see her. Her stomach churned a little. This was not going to be easy.
                  She made her way into the open building, taking her time. Liam removed the thick leather apron and threw on a shirt before he turned to face her, “Mom,” he said, his voice settled into a deeper register than she’d last heard it. He went to embrace her, and she gladly returned it. “What are you doing here?” He pushed her away from him, holding her at arm’s length. “You should be home, with Dad. What’s wrong? Is Sera okay?”
                  “She’s fine.” She wasn’t sure, but didn’t want to scare Liam. Not with what she had to tell him already. “I’m heading there next.” Arwenna’s voice trembled slightly. “It’s your father.” She swallowed hard, “He’s dead.”
                  Shock and disbelief crossed Liam’s face. His gaze bored into her, “No, he can’t be. Even if there was an accident, Lexi....”
                  “This wasn’t an accident, Liam. And she can’t help him. It was his third death.” She bit her lip, the words bringing a fresh wave of grief with them. She needed to comfort her son, not the other way around.
                  Liam broke away from her, his hands rubbing at his face. His movements were slow, deliberate, as he headed toward a table filled with tools. With a scream, he hurled the table toward the massive fire at the center of the smithy.
                  “No! Who…when…” He leaned against another table, his hands balled in fists.
                  Arwenna moved toward him, placing a hand on his back. “About ten days ago. I rode as fast as I could, after…” She couldn’t say she buried Joss. Not yet. She didn’t bother to try and keep the tears from her