Free The Treason Blade (Battle for Alsaar Book 1) by Jenny Rebecca Keech

me? You have only just met me but as warriors, I know our
instant reactions tell us much.”
    Traevyn
stopped mid-step and stared at the holding. He turned around and glanced at her
with a frown. “You are not what I was expecting,” he said slowly. Then he
turned back and continued up the slope.
    Ishar stood
there for a moment, her mouth open in surprise. “I am not what you were
expecting,” she mimicked in confusion. Her head drew back. “That is it?” Ishar
charged up the slope after Traevyn with a frown of her own. “Wait, you have
nothing more to add beyond that cryptic expression?”
    “No,” Traevyn
stated, without breaking his steady stride. He added with a sideways tilt to
his head, “But when I decide how I feel about your being here, you will be the
first to know.”
    “And what
does that mean?” Ishar asked warily.
    Traevyn
shrugged as he walked. “If I think you are here to cause trouble like Ber says,
I will kill you myself. If I think you are here to help with the peace,” he
shrugged, “I will not.”
    Ishar stopped
at his words. She stared at him now, her mouth open. When she had asked for
honesty, was this what she had expected?
    Traevyn
looked back. He halted his progress when he saw that she was stopped. He
frowned. “Well?”
    She closed
the distance between them, anger flaring within her. “So if I am still alive in
the next few days, I have your trust and blessing. That is what your words
mean?” She was not certain why she was so mad. Was it Traevyn’s quick casual
reply to her question? Or was the anger at herself because for some unknown reason he had so quickly managed to rile her? Whatever the reason, the sudden fury within her simmered near
boiling.
    “I would not
go as far to say my blessing—” Traevyn begin, annoyance flashing across his
eyes.
    In an
uncharacteristic move, Ishar shoved him hard enough in the chest that he took a
step backward to catch his balance. “You know,” she stated through clenched
teeth, “Trust is a two way position, Traevyn,” She moved past him and continued
up the slope, continuing, “To be given and received. And sometimes, one must
just take a chance on uncertainties.”
    Traevyn’s
voice floated up to her. “What?” She heard him ask in surprise as she continued
on up the hill. “What did I say?” He asked again.
    Ishar ignored
him and made her way back to the holding. Traevyn caught up with her at the
gate. He walked with her but kept his silence as they made their way into the
outer hold and through the second gate. Ishar focused on heading toward Simi
and ignored Traevyn. It was not easy. She tried to ignore the silent shadow at
her rear. It worked, until they entered the horse shelter. Ishar stalked down
the hallway but not before Traevyn slid around to her front, bodily picked her
up and shoved her against the closed door to one of the stalls. He was pressed
tight to her to prevent her from reacting and he held her level with those coal
black eyes of his. Traevyn, Ishar realized, was angry.
    “Listen to
me,” he hissed, “you crazy Haaldyn. I do not know what I did to upset you. You
asked for honesty, I gave you honesty. I expected you to appreciate it.”
    “What?” Ishar
ground out, “That you would let me know if you found me worthy enough by your
standards?” Her breath came in gasps. She was angry too. “You are all about
seeing if I am the one trustworthy enough for an alliance. What about yourself
and those warriors with you? Do you think I do not have to decide if they or
any of these people here are worthy of an alliance with my people? I am not the
only person being judged.”
    Traevyn’s jaw
was tight. He set her down, released his hands and backed away as if he did not
want to touch her, as if he was afraid of what he might do. He narrowed his
eyes at her. “You seem to forget our past. The only Haaldyn I have ever met
were in combat when they fought the Lute. They were vicious and without