The City of Towers: The Dreaming Dark - Book I Read Online Free Page B

happen,” Daine said. “We only have a few coins to our name. I hate to waste even one.”
    “You worry too much, my captain. Once we arrive at Lord Hadran’s estate, Lady Lei has promised to see us well-compensated from his lordship’s treasury.”
    “I know Hadran will look after you,” Lei said. “He’s a good man, and—Oh, there’s one!”
    She waved, and a vessel dropped from the air to meet them. At a glance, the skycoach was a long, narrow rowboat built from firepine and darkwood. A figurehead of a swan was embedded at the prow of the ship; the image of its outstretched wings was engraved along the length of the boat, glittering in the cold light of the mystical torches. The driver was a young woman dressed in a simple white gown bearing the emblem of a swan on the left breast. Her short, silvery hair and wide eyes hinted at a touch of elven blood.
    “How may I help you?” the driver inquired.
    “There’s four of us,” Lei replied, stepping into the floating boat. “To Round Wind in Dalan’s Refuge.”
    Money exchanged hands, the rest of them climbed in, Daine taking the seat next to Lei. Jode and Pierce sat across from them.
    The boat rose into the air. The skycoach rose along the central core then entered a tunnel. Within moments they emerged into open air, skimming past the bridges and smaller spires ofTavick’s Landing as they ascended toward the heavens. It gave Daine an eagle’s eye view of the city. There were towers upon towers, buildings that dwarfed the tallest tree he’d ever seen, and bridges ran between many of them, spanning chasms that would mean certain death to anyone foolish enough to climb the guardrails.
    “Round Wind?” Daine asked, turning to Lei.
    “People give their mansions names. You know, like ‘Friendly Arms’ or ‘ Welcoming Light.’”
    “I’m familiar with the tradition. But Round Wind? What does it mean?”
    “Oh, don’t argue over trivialities. This is
it
, Daine! It’s over! All those years of war, all the blood, the death … it all ends here. I’m going home.”
    Daine’s mouth tightened. “This isn’t your home.”
    Lei dropped her eyes and looked away for a moment. “Look, I’m angry too. My parents, my closest friends … I lost them, too. I know this isn’t Cyre. But our old life is gone, Daine, and it isn’t coming back. You’ve seen what’s left of our homeland. It’s time to move on. To start again.”
    Daine said nothing. Pierce and Jode stared out at the spectacle of the city stretched before them, staying well out of the conversation.
    “Have you thought about my offer? I’m sure there’s a place for you in the household.”
    “As what?” Daine snapped. “A guard? Patrolling Round Wind and making sure no hippogriffs crap on his lordship’s roof?” Daine slammed his fist on the railing.
    “Would it be so different—”
    “Don’t, Lei,” Daine warned. “I fought for Cyre. You may think you know me, but you have no idea what I’ve sacrificed or why I served the Queen. I’m no sword for hire, and the last thing I’m going to do is work for a dragonmarked house.”
    Lei looked away. When her temper was hot, she was more than a match for Daine, but clearly her heart wasn’t in this battle. “Why? What do you know of the houses? Is Lord Daine too good to work for a craftsman’s daughter?”
    “How can you of all people ask me that? Have you forgottenwhat happened at Whitehearth? Do you expect me to forget?”
    She looked back at him, and he saw the glitter of a tear in her eye before she turned away again. “Have you?”
    Her words were cold water on Daine’s fiery temper. “Lei … look, Lei, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.” He paused, trying to find the right words. “There’s a lot about me you don’t know. You and Jode are the only ’marks I’ve ever had as friends. And I … I’m no sellsword, all right? I’ve got to find another path. I just don’t know what it is yet.”
    He held out his