Free Chased By Fire (Book 1) by D.K. Holmberg Page A

them. After what happened yesterday, you’d think you’d know better. Your pa would have, and I don’t mean that to hurt you, but it’s the truth. Didn’t I warn you about the hounds?”
    “Hounds? What are you talking about?”
    Cobin jabbed him in the shoulder with a thick finger. Tan winced. “You went off on your own and killed three wolves. Thought you said it wasn’t wolves you tracked yesterday. You’re the one who got me fired up about the hounds, and then you leave the wolves. Not sure why you felt the need to burn them.”
    “Cobin,” Tan began, backing into the wall, “I didn’t kill any wolves.”
    Cobin’s hand froze in the air. “Not you? Then who?”
    Tan shrugged.  
    “Then what were you talking about?”
    Tan slumped onto his bed. “I thought you knew.”
    Cobin leaned against one wall. As small as the room was, he practically filled it with his bulk. “Knew what?”
    “When I went after the Aeta, I met someone.”  
    Cobin’s eyes narrowed. “Not sure I like the sound of that.”
    “One of the Athan. Here for the king.”
    Cobin snorted. “Definitely don’t like the sound of that. Last time we had a messenger from the king—”
    Tan nodded. “I know.” He’d tried not to think about the last time. A letter sent, sealed with the king’s own sigil, asking his father to return to service. And his father had gone, giving everything.
    Cobin’s face softened. “Of course you do, Tan. I don’t mean to keep throwing that at you. Great Mother knows how hard all this must be on you. Wounds still fresh and all.” He looked as if he wanted to either punch him or hug him. Either seemed awkward with Cobin. “Why did one of the Athan come to Nor?”
    Tan shrugged. “Don’t know. He met with Lord Lind and was sent to my mother.”
    Cobin coughed. “I’m sure that went over well.”
    “It was…strange. Almost like they knew each other.”
    “Well, your parents both spent time in Ethea back when they studied at the university. Could be they knew him there. What’s his name?”
    “Roine. Gray-haired. Older. Something dark about him, though.”
    Cobin frowned. “Can’t say I recognize the name, but not that I would. Darkness probably comes with the job, too.” He paused. “Wait—what did he need from your ma?”
    “He needs help getting through the passes quickly. He’s after something—he didn’t say what—and thinks Incendin is after it too.”
    Cobin scrubbed a hand across his face. “Incendin?” He shook his head and a pained look pulled at his cheeks. “First the hounds and now this. Can’t help but think they’re tied together, but we haven’t heard anything from Incendin in over twenty years, and even then the passes kept us pretty protected from the war.”
    Tan’s parents spoke rarely about the war with Incendin, other than to say how bloody it had been. Fire shapers from Incendin battling with the warriors of the kingdoms, each pushing against each other. The war was the reason they’d been allowed to study at the university. Anyone with potential had been allowed to study.  
    Cobin studied him. “Don’t worry. Incendin hasn’t had the strength to fight us in a long time.”
    “And we haven’t had the strength to fight back in a long time. There haven’t been any warriors since then.”
    “We still have plenty of shapers. That’s enough to keep the barrier between the kingdoms and Incendin intact. Not much can cross the barrier.”
    “The Aeta did.”
    Cobin nodded. “They’re given free reign. That’s how it is with their people. They can travel freely and trade so long as they don’t stay too long or settle.”
    “Other traders aren’t given the same freedom.”
    “Other traders aren’t the Aeta,” Cobin said.  
    Tan didn’t push. There was more to the story of the Aeta but he’d never really gotten a clear understanding. Traveling merchants, but more than that. They traveled as familes, each caravan connected to the Aeta whole. Most