Duel of Fire (Steel and Fire Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

only been amplified when they discovered Dara’s lack of Spark. She had spent so much of her life trying to make up for something beyond her control, but she was close to breaking free on her own merits. She had to move forward, even if her parents couldn’t.
    The shop door opened, and a stocky man entered wearing a coat embroidered with ornate threads of Firegold. He swept off his matching hat and bowed.
    “Afternoon, Lima.”
    “Corren. You’re early.”
    “I never keep Rafe waiting. This is my new assistant, Farr.”
    He waved his hat at the taller, younger man who accompanied him. He had muddy-brown hair and long, bony arms. Dara was reminded forcibly of the scraggly trees that grew on the tougher slopes of the mountain.
    “A pleasure.” Lima rose and swept forward to offer her hand. The two men took it in turn, and Dara noticed that Farr had burn marks on his fingers. “Rafe didn’t mention the purpose of your visit.”
    “Guild business,” Corren said, shrugging his broad shoulders. Corren was a prominent Fireworker, like Dara’s father. He specialized in spinning fine threads of Firegold to adorn shoes and other leather and fabric goods. He wasn’t a direct competitor, and he had been helping Dara’s parents with the Fire Guild for years.
    “Anything I should know about?” Lima asked.
    “A couple of the Smiths had their supply cut off again yesterday. We need to talk about how to respond. I don’t want to interrupt your work, though. I’m sure he’ll fill you in.”
    “It’s all right,” Lima said. “Rafe is in the workshop. Dara, would you walk these gentlemen down there? Come right back.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Dara leapt up, eager to escape her desk. She worked her wrists to loosen the tension in her pen hand.
    “You’re getting tall, Dara,” Corren said as they walked through the back of the shop and down the long corridor that went from wood to stone as they descended into the mountain. “How’s the dueling?”
    “Not bad. I’ve got the Eventide tourney coming up in a few weeks, but I’m mostly getting ready for the Vertigon Cup.”
    “I remember when you first picked up a sword. It was almost as long as you.” Corren chuckled. “And now you’re all grown up. Any marriage prospects on the horizon?”
    “I’m too busy for that at the moment with training and helping out with the business,” Dara said.
    “Ah yes. The business,” Corren said. “You’ll make someone a good match, Dara.” He gave Farr the assistant a significant look. “I can find my way from here. Farr, give me a few minutes in private with Rafe before I introduce you. You can chat with Dara here.” Corren grinned widely and nudged her arm. They had reached the end of the stone tunnel, where half a dozen steps led to the door of her father’s workshop.
    Dara kept a polite smile plastered on her face as Corren disappeared into the workshop, a wave of heat spilling out into the tunnel. This wasn’t the first time he’d brought one of his many assistants to meet her. Corren had long been vocal about his desire to more closely align his business with the Ruminors’. Once he had even suggested that if Dara couldn’t Work the Fire herself maybe she could produce a Firesparked baby or two. Her parents had laughed, but they hadn’t dissuaded Corren from bringing around his most eligible assistants.
    “So,” Farr said after a minute, shifting his feet on the smooth stone of the passageway. He opened and closed his bony hands, knuckles cracking. Dara sighed. The last apprentice had been much more charismatic.
    “You’re a Firegold spinner?” she prompted.
    “Trying to be,” Farr said.
    “Right.”
    He looked at her mutely, a hulking shape in the corridor. There wasn’t quite enough space for her to slip past him and return to her mother. She wondered how long Corren had meant by “give me a few minutes.” He probably expected they’d need at least five to agree to marry and make Firesparked