Free Blades of the Old Empire by Anna Kashina

or green when it’s true. And red or pink when I think it’s a lie.”
    “What about the times when you cannot tell?”
    “They kind of shimmer. And when I think harder they can turn any color I want.”
    “Now he’s really looking at you,” Odara Sul said.
    Ellah made a move to rise, but Mother Keeper’s hand held her in place.
    “Try to tell if this one is true. Then you can look.”
    Ellah relaxed back into the blanket. She tried to think, but when she imagined that he could see her sprawled like this, with her hair in disarray, with the collar of her shirt folded away showing too much of her neck, she couldn’t possibly think straight. She tried to tell herself that no one could possibly see such details looking from the brightly lit fire into the darkness, but it was hard.
    “Probably a lie,” she finally said.
    The hand let go. She rose up to a sitting position and looked.
    Mai’s head was turned her way. It was far, and the blaze of the fire was right in front of him, but she could swear that he looked all the way to where she sat and met her eyes. Then he smiled and turned away.
    Ellah blushed so deeply even her neck went crimson. Mother Keeper watched her intently.
    “He’s quite dashing,” she said quietly. “But you must be careful around him, child. Remember, he’s a hired killer, cold-blooded and ruthless. If he gives you any attention, it’s either for his amusement or to serve some hidden purpose.”
    Ellah looked away. She knew Mother Keeper believed her words to be the truth. But what if she was wrong about this one? What if Mai really was different?

9
NIGHT-TIME ENCOUNTER
    “These hazels are too young,” Egey Bashi said. “It would be hard to find any firewood.”
    They had been riding well into dusk and camped at the edge of a hazel grove beside a small brook, tethering their mounts to the low hanging hazel branches with enough leeway to reach the water and the rich grass pasture on the other side. A semicircle of stones piled waist-high on the far side of the glade created a primitive shelter to protect travelers from the bitter flatland winds. A pit filled with old coals lay in the center of the protected area. A small pile of firewood was propped under a protruding stone ledge, an aid to stranded travelers trying to start a fire.
    “This should be enough for a bit,” Raishan said. “But we’ll need more later on. It’s going to be a cold night.”
    “I’ll go gather some wood,” Kyth volunteered.
    “I’ll go with you,” Kara said, exchanging a short glance with Raishan.
    Kyth laid down his pack next to Alder, busy unpacking their food supplies, and wrapped himself tighter in his cloak before following Kara into the deep hazel growth.
    It promised to be a cold night. As they picked their way along the uneven ground, Kyth could see his breath coming out in thin streaks of vapor. The hazel branches spread above them, their deep shade making it difficult to see ahead. Kyth strained his eyes to focus on Kara’s cloaked figure creeping away into the gloom.
    “There really isn’t much dry wood in here,” she said after a while.
    “Maybe we should just cut some fresh branches?” Kyth suggested.
    She shook her head, her hair a pale gleam in the forest dimness. “Fresh wood would never burn. Let’s go further. Maybe we’ll find a dead tree or something.”
    Further ahead the trees were scarce , letting in enough moonlight to illuminate the eerie landscape with a suffused, silvery glow. Kyth caught up with Kara, watching the soft line of her profile, barely visible in the forest shade.
    “When Nimos looked at you,” he said at length. “I… I…” He took a deep breath. “I was afraid,” he confessed.
    “Afraid?”
    “I don’t want anything to happen to you because of me.”
    She let out a short laugh. “Me? What could possibly happen to me ?”
    Kyth hesitated. On one hand, it seemed ridiculous to fear for her; she was one of the best fighters in existence. Only