Ruein: Fires of Haraden: Action/Adventure Necromancy Series (Books of Ruein Book 2), G.O. Turner [little bear else holmelund minarik txt] 📗

Liv’s want of a quiet exit stumbled.

With an easy glide, towel and bather rose. There was a grace in how he turned, the bolt of fabric wrapping a lithe torso. One could easily confuse him for an elf if not for the all-too-human ears and height. Fair skin, clean of hair save for the cropped-short dark locks. Dipping his head, he smiled at Liv, more from his eyes than his lips.

“I…um,” Liv stammered. Her held breath released in a puff. “It’s…not his heart…I was referring to.”

Leafar poked at Ceer’s arm. “His swollen muscles?”

Twigs held his goblet before him as an offering. “No, no. It’s his big sweaty ass b—”

Ceer knocked him with an elbow. “Liv mean Ceer’s huge orcan organ!” His brawny arm jutted out before them. With a splash, two drowesses leapt to hang from his outstretched arm, the revelers busting guts in laughter.

“And here I was thinking a ki was possibly more…transcendent. Leads me to wonder what you had in mind.” Glistening bare feet took steps forward as the fair-skinned human closed the distance.

The boisterous festivities fell away to a hum in the background. What is it about this… Shake it off. “Certainly. I always thought of his ki as something…more. You know… The way he—”

“Ascribes to being shared by all?” The dripping figure paused before her. Liv’s eyes followed the rivulets of bathwater down his form, steam rising off his shoulders.

Liv’s chest rose. Her pulse quickened. The humidity of the room—became stifling.

Damn.

She snapped back to his expression.

“Well, Ceer does like to share.” Liv pulled her eyes from him long enough to see the half-orc in a bout of drowess grappling. Of course, the lout wasn’t putting up much resistance.

The dark-haired man leaned closer. “I did get that sense. There’s something to be said for a charitable spirit. So few among us are.”

There was something. More than beautiful eyes, and damned if they weren’t, there was an uncanny depth to them. No doubt, from the many leagues in this place. Yet, she couldn’t be sure. Somewhere within… Might this one have retained an inner light of his own?

Liv crooked a grin. “What? Your lot seems giving enough.”

“Well, giving is one thing. It’s what is implied, or the lack thereof, where one makes a difference. I’d say it’s more…a spirit that moves.” His eyes lowered to Liv’s chest. “Your amulet, is it magic? Are you a fire mage here for the azers?”

“Fire? I…I suppose, in a distant way. The medallion is a simple oak. It is through me, I share in his great divinity. This is a token of a higher light. One where our sun shines as the Dawn Father’s greater truth.”

“Sun? Ah yes, I’ve heard of this.”

“Shit.” Liv’s shoulders sagged under the realization. “You’ve never seen it? Of course you haven’t. You’ve spent your whole life either here or some bowels below. I mean…”

Clasping her sun medallion, Liv eyed it before holding it up and raising a finger for him. “That opening in the sky overhead, you’ve never seen this above?”

The warmth in his eyes fell to shadow as his gaze lowered to the floor. “Our night skies twinkle, and some days are blue. I fear Haraden may be too distant for your gods.”

“Pfft. I got here with just a fucking coat and a wagon.”

He cocked a look back up to her.

You’ve a blessed example to set. Might as well begin here. Drawing herself up, Liv externalized her rightful position in the clergy. “I am a Lightbringer. So long as I hold to my path, he is with me. Always.”

“I see. Neither wizard nor mage. Yours is a source more direct.” His brows rose. The light returned to his eyes. “He is here with you now?”

“This is a big world. It might be better to say I am in his presence.”

“You’re soul-touched?” His eyes danced over her.

“I’d harken you back to Ceer there. Ki, soul, yes. We’re all gifted. It’s how you wield what was born to you that ultimately colors it. Some choose a path in higher service.”

“Such as yourself.”

She nodded.

“As a child, I was told I have one.” The man’s all-too-pleasing smile drifted. “Precious and pure. Lost in the dark, it became a delicacy for their loath goddess. We were toys, to be twisted and consumed. Dire hours would often wrack my mind. If such was this, I wondered if there could be an other. Then the azers came.”

He looked back to her, laying a gentle hand upon Liv’s shoulder. “Good to be so blessed. You’ve your half-orc, gnome, and sister companions, as well the light of…your sun. Such a wealth must leave little for wanting—yet, something brought you here,” His fingers slid down the chain to her pendant. “…some need of Haraden?”

Aw, fuck. Already? If they’re going to be checking for her silence about—

He drew in closer. “Do you test your mettle? Seek riches? What calls you to look for what you’ll not find in your own homelands?” Cinnamon notions and spring breezes lit her mind as he leaned into a whisper. “Or is it a quiet thirst which you’d not enjoy for others to know?”

Oh, that’s about enough of that. Nostrils flared as Liv summoned a lungful. “I did not come to whore.”

Twigs pitched from the bath. “Ho! Take it from me, Tolrah. That’s one fish out of water with no wish to be wet.”

Liv scowled. “Get bent, Twigs.”

The gnome spread open hands. “Whoo. Easy to do. We’re already in hot water!”

Ceer dislodged himself from a drowess’ kiss. “Twigs not slight Lightbringer Liv’s ki saving. Maybe has little to share?”

From the lap of another whore, Leafar propped himself up. “Heh. Ya think the ki-well run dry?”

Her brow knotted, Liv’s eyes narrowed to slits. In truth, she’d not stab them. No. Not her friends. Yet, the unseen daggers that fired from those slits were more than piercing.

“Sometimes life sets you on a path with little say.” Tolrah turned from the rowdy batch. He looked back to the Lightbringer. “Funny how giving yourself over