Free Stormseer (Storms in Amethir Book 3) by Stephanie A. Cain Page A

circuitous route through the city, and everywhere they went, the street was lined with cheering citizens. Hawk began to wonder if anyone was left to run the shops or guard the city walls. There were plenty of children, to be sure, many of them throwing flower petals and dancing alongside the horses, but even so, the city away from their parade route must be completely empty.
    "And you thought you weren't a war hero," Ayowir said to him, just loudly enough for him to hear over the shouting.
    But I'm not, Hawk wanted to protest. Why did they cheer for him? He had been good at leading soldiers, but he had also been wounded badly enough to be captured. He had spent years living among their enemies. He had gotten very bad at hating those enemies over the past six years. And he had been replaced by competent commanders after his capture. It wasn't as if his return to Tamnen would mean anything. There would be no place in the new army for an old veteran with a bad leg.
    He wanted to stare at the crowd, but he was also afraid to look at them. Why did they celebrate his return? What could he mean to them? The children couldn't understand what they were cheering for, of course, but their parents knew. Did they expect Hawk to take command of the army again and lead Tamnen to victory? Did they believe he would return Salishok to the prosperity it had known twenty year ago?
    I am not the person you think I am , Hawk wanted to scream at them. I am not a miracle. I am not a hero.
    He had to keep swallowing against a swell of anxiety. The longer they rode, the more afraid he grew. With this set up, the prince must be planning something elaborate once they arrived at the palace. What would he say? What would he demand of Hawk? And what would be the price for all this later?
    It was every bit as bad as Hawk had feared. Prince Razem made a great show of his deep affection for Commander Jacin Hawk, proclaiming him a national hero and declaring that babes yet in their cradles would grow to adulthood on stories of his gallantry and daring. He made a great deal of noise about this unique moment in history, where Strid and Tamnen were able to put aside their long hostilities to allow the dying Duke Anyet Oler to return to his home. Commander Ayowir, who appeared to be the highest-ranking person Strid had sent, gave a short but eloquent speech about the value of having learned from each other during the six years they had spent together, and how she hoped this could signal the beginning of a new, international understanding. Hawk, standing at Prince Razem's left hand, heard someone to the other side of the prince snort at this. He glanced over, curious who could be willing to show his skepticism so brazenly in front of the prince and was left feeling as if he'd been punched in the gut when he recognized the unmistakable features of his former superior, Venra Burojan.
    After a moment, he realized it couldn't be Venra--he was older, for one thing, even older than six years would have made him. And Venra had never worn his hair so short, nor had he carried a prominent godsmark on his temple. But this must be his brother, then, the Lord Burojan. Hawk couldn't remember his name, but he swallowed hard against a sudden tightness in his throat. If he were here instead of Venra, who should by rights be standing in that place of honor next to the prince...
    Prince Razem cleared his throat and Hawk realized his attention had been drawn away from the ceremony. He made a mental check of his facial expression and was satisfied he had shown none of his shock and grief, but his inattentiveness must have been obvious. He took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders, directing his gaze back to Commander Ayowir.
    When she was finished, Razem glanced over at Hawk. "A few words from you would be good, Commander Hawk." His voice was gentle, but his gaze was implacable. Hawk realized it was not a request.
    He cleared his throat and nodded once. What could he say that