A Karthan's Kiss Read online




  Contents

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  A Blacksmith's Beloved

  Meet the Author

  Acknowledgements

  by C. E. Higgins

  Copyright © 2018 by C. E. Higgins

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval without permission in writing from the author.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-7324526-1-9

  ISBN-10: 1-7324526-1-9

  Cover design by RebecaCovers

  Editing by Jannalee Rosner

  Interior design by C. E. Higgins

  www.cehiggins.com

  Give feedback on the book at:

  [email protected]

  Leave a review at Amazon.com and/or Goodreads.com

  Twitter: @ce_higgins

  First Edition

  Printed in the U.S.A

  Dedication

  To Eric

  My guiding star and anchor

  Chapter 1

  Blake stepped from the shadows into the crowded city square. Ka’rin glided soundlessly next to him, her smoky shadow body constantly reforming and shifting, though no wind blew through. He approached the group of karthans standing in a semicircle around the recently filled Contracts Wanted board, yawning at the early hour. The scales on his black serpent boots clacked as he walked over the tiled ground and onto the large elemental colored shards of glass embedded in the ground.

  They look so young. Did we ever look innocent and bright-eyed? a soft, lilting voice spoke in Blake’s head as she looked at the crowd. The rest of Harmonia knew her as his shadow elemental but to Blake she was Ka’rin.

  Blake bit his tongue to keep from smiling. Sometimes he regretted his decision to hide Ka’rin’s sentience from the rest of Harmonia; he couldn’t answer her without looking like an idiot.

  When the karthans finally noticed him, they viewed him with a mixture of reverence and awe and parted, granting him straight access to the board and a clear view of the six sectioned glass circle on the ground; each element had a representative color and section. Blake stood on the black shards, his boots blending in perfectly.

  Guess they’re not worried about you taking their contracts. Congrats Blake, you’ve finally graduated. Ka’rin said.

  Blake struggled to keep a straight face. Graduated? He hadn’t taken a lower level contract in years.

  “Nightshade, over here.” A booming voice drew him to the posted contracts. Blake squinted at the pale blue figure standing near the board. The early morning sun bounced off the white and yellow glass section. Blake squinted until he stood next to the figure who’d shouted and the glare lessened.

  Whirlwind has a new tattoo. Wonder what he did to earn that one?

  Whirlwind inclined his shaved head as Blake approached. His intricate, swirling tattoos mimicked the light blue swirls embroidered on his simple, formfitting tunic. “It’s been awhile. Good to see you are back from your yearly trip around the elegions. Did you answer the summons or is it coincidence?”

  “I answered the summons.”

  “When did you return to Arava?”

  “Last night.”

  Whirlwind raised an eyebrow. “Should you be returning so soon? Don’t you need to sleep?”

  “Absolutely. I’m exhausted.”

  Whirlwind laughed. “But restless? Yes, I know what you mean. Well, you’re in luck. They’ve posted a level eight. Care to bargain with me?”

  Blake stretched his stiff arms and cracked his back. “A level eight, huh? What is it?”

  Whirlwind nodded at the lone holo recording chip posted under the large black eight, ignoring the plethora of requests under the lower difficulty ranges. The rest of the karthans could fight over those.

  Blake stared at the level eight chip. That’s why the other karthans had stuck around so long. The crowd wanted to see who won the contract. Two master bondeds fighting over a level eight. New karthans lived for such drama.

  Blake pulled the chip off and pressed the button. A disembodied head and chest flickered to life. An elderly man with long, wavy hair and a kind face inclined his head.

  “Greetings, Masters Glacius, Nettlefang, Whirlwind, and Nightshade. My name is Arenus Vallin. Thank you for answering my summons. I know your time is valuable, so I’ll get right to the point.

  “My childhood was a rebellious one. This would have been fine. However, I grew up in Canya City where the separation between elegion and society is thin. On a dare, I snuck into a dryad restoration ceremony. Out of shame, I hid the truth and for a while everything was fine. But I can no longer deny what is happening.”

  Blake paused the recording. “Do you know much about what he’s referring to?”

  Whirlwind rubbed his jaw. “A little. I remember seeing signs posted around Canya when we visited on a knowledge trip as a lad, but the details are fuzzy.”

  “Keep listening. He explains.” A smooth baritone voice interrupted them. Master Glacius pushed through the crowd. His short curly hair and pearl necklace with a few razor thin teeth bounced as he walked. He leaned against the board, his tan, broad chest bare but hardened from the salt of the sea.

  “Nice pants.” Blake raised an eyebrow at the shimmery sea green blue pants. His eyes hurt just looking at them.

  “Thanks,” Glacius winked. “Made them myself with ground sea serpent scales. Just ask and I’ll make you a pair. You could use a bit of color.”

  Blake snorted. “No thanks, black suits me fine.”

  I don’t know. Ka’rin mused. A pop of color could be nice. Something blue to match your eyes possibly?

  Whirlwind sighed. “I guess this means we’ll have to include you in the bargain.”

  “No,” Blake said.

  Whirlwind cocked his head.

  “Glacius has already heard the recording, yet it’s still here.”

  “Ah. Above your skill level, Master?”

  “Out of my comfort zone.” Glacius shot a small ball of water at Whirlwind, who redirected it at Blake with a wave of his hand. The sun hadn’t quite risen yet, allowing Blake to put up a mini shield in front of him to block the attack. Glacius grinned at Blake’s glare. “You’ll see. Keep listening.”

  Blake turned his glare at Whirlwind who simply winked at him. Blake pushed play again and the floating head resumed speaking.

  “If you are not aware of the consequences of the dryad restoration ceremony, know that it is not pleasant. I am slowly turning into a tree. Already my legs past my thighs have transformed. It is too late for me, nor would I bother you with a request for myself. But my children should not have to pay for my mistak
e. They have complained of stiff joints and sore hands and feet. I recognized the same signs in myself.”

  “There is a cure, a tonic made from the crushed leaves of the bellabud flower, but the healers used their last supply years ago. This flower only grows in the deep oases of the sand dunes.”

  Blake paused it, resting his free hand on his hip. “The sand dunes.”

  Whirlwind swore. “That cursed place? This request couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

  “Still think it’s above my level, Whirlwind?” Glacius tapped the chip. “He’s offering one fist-sized gem from each elegion, one hundred thousand credits, and a weekend trip to his spa resort at the hot springs.”

  Whirlwind whistled. He bit his lip, his gaze on the chip in Blake’s hand.

  What do you think, Blake? We’ve never been to the sand dunes.Could be fun, right?

  Blake tapped his finger on his hip. He had wanted to visit the sand dunes, but no contract worth his time had caught his attention. Blake smirked and held out the holo chip. “Well, Whirlwind? I’ll give you first stab.”

  Whirlwind rubbed his bald head and traced the tattoos around his face. “Raging winds—if I hadn’t earned my patience tattoo, I would be annoyed.”

  Glacius rolled his eyes. “There’s no such thing as a patience tattoo, Whirlwind. Just say you can’t do it.”

  “Don’t get all worked up, Glacius.” Blake said. “Whirlwind’s mad because he knows I can. Why else would I give him first stab?”

  “You can? Really?” Glacius eyed him doubtfully.

  “Not because of his power though.” Whirlwind glared at Blake whose eyes lit up in smug delight. “Unless you’re going to have your elemental carry you the whole way.” Whirlwind and Glacius eyed Ka’rin. Despite his joking tone, both masters knew she wasn’t to be messed with.

  “Funny, but no. I have something better. Glacius, do you remember when I rescued Whirlwind’s sister?”

  “When Maisha had been kidnapped by a banshee? I read about it in Karthan Weekly.” Glacius said with a half-smile as Blake’s smile turned to a scowl.

  Aww, they read Karthan Weekly Isn’t that awesome?

  Glacius pretended to think. “What headline did they give it? Oh, right. ‘Dark Master saves Gustivus’s daughter, gets magical car as payment.’ Oh, the car. Is that…?”

  Whirlwind nodded and crossed his arms. “Best raging car Dad’s ever made. Should have been mine.”

  Blake tossed the chip in the air and caught it. “Too bad I dealt with the banshee not you. Maybe next time. Well, as much as I’d love to stand here and chat with you boys all day, I have a contract that requires my attention.”

  Glacius, however, saw an opportunity to pounce. “Oh, come on, Nightshade. You won’t be leaving till tomorrow, right? Have dinner with Whirlwind and me. We’re going to meet in the southern dancing square.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but as I said before, I’m exhausted. You can’t tell because my eyes are open, but I’ve been awake for forty-eight hours.”

  Glacius rolled his eyes. “I’d be a lot more sympathetic if that weren’t self-inflicted.”

  Blake grinned and waved as he turned and sauntered off.

  Come on, Blake. Be nice to your friends. Dancing sounds fun.

  Blake waited till they were far enough away for him to answer her. “You know I don’t have friends, Ka’rin. I have people I tolerate. Besides, I don’t dance.” He scratched his ear.

  A small smile touched her eyes. Right. I forgot. Twenty-three, by the way.

  Oh, no. Not again.

  What was your count?

  “Ka’rin, I’m not going to play this game anymore. I’ve told you before that you’re deluding yourself into thinking that women are trying to get my attention. None of them can replace you so the point is moot.”

  Uh-huh. But what was your count?

  Blake gritted his teeth. Don’t answer her, Blake, it will only encourage her. Don’t answer. He broke. “I counted twenty-four. The girl selling flowers.”

  Oh! How could I have missed her?

  “Nightshade, wait.”

  Blake stopped before reaching the alleyway he’d entered through. Whirlwind floated over to him, kicking up little dust clouds. “I have something I wanted to ask you. Have you seen any other dark bonded in your travels?”

  “No, they usually stay close to the Twin Cities, Arava and Avara. Why?”

  Whirlwind rubbed the back of his neck. “They’re disappearing. I haven’t seen any in a few months.”

  “Last I checked being a karthan is dangerous, Whirlwind.”

  “Glacius pulls off sarcasm, you don’t. If there had been record of them taking contracts I wouldn’t be worried.”

  Blake paused. “They weren’t on contract?”

  “No. Have you…received any personal requests?”

  Blake narrowed his eyes and shifted his weight. “You mean an off-the-record summons?”

  Whirlwind nodded.

  Those were strictly forbidden but that didn’t mean that people weren’t willing to pay for discretion. “I have. I ignored it.”

  “That may be why you’re still around. Watch yourself, Nightshade. I overheard my father talking to Sage Celestia. Some thing’s happening, and the sages are growing restless. Keep your ears and eyes open.”

  Sounds like the sages are finally catching up to what we already know.

  Blake nodded. “I will.”

  Whirlwind fidgeted with the tassels hanging from his cloak but didn’t leave. Blake eyed the alleyway. Should he go? Was Whirlwind done?

  Finally, Whirlwind took a step closer, his face burning. “Listen. If you tell anyone about this, I will throw you and your car off the nearest cliff, got it?” Whirlwind reached into his cloak then shoved something into Blake’s hand. “May the wind guide you,” he said, blew a soft breeze at Blake, turned, and floated back to the contract board where Glacius was showing off his new pants to a group of—mostly female—adoring karthans.

  What is it!? Ka’rin quivered with excitement.

  Blake looked at the card in his hand. It was a flowery pink and gold business card that said Love Is in the Air, Inc. Turning reality into fantasy. Book cover photographer Ailya. Handwriting on the back said, “Stop teasing me and let me take your picture already.”

  Blake choked and shoved it back into his pocket, his face heating. But it was too late; Ka’rin had seen.

  Wasn’t that the Cloud City photographer who wanted to use your picture for romance novel covers?

  “I told you never to mention that!” Blake shot her his fiercest glare.

  She smiled at him with her glowing eyes. I don’t understand why you’re so averse to the idea. A little publicity wouldn’t hurt.

  Blake purposefully ignored her comment. “Come on, Ka’rin. I need to stop by the Knowledge Keep. Can’t go looking for this bellabud flower untill I know what it looks like.”

  *****

  “This way, sir. Keeper Drayfield will be with your shortly.” The underkeeper opened the conference room door for him. She wore designer glasses and the black coat used in the Arava Knowledge Keep. She also waddled slightly and Blake suspected she was pregnant. A rare occurrence these days since the unveiling of the age-reducing serum.

  Blake glanced at her nametag. “Thanks, Delia. Keeper Drayfield? What happened to Keeper Carinus?”

  “He retired. But don’t worry. Keeper Drayfield knows her business. She’s like a walking database.” Delia laughed, nodded and left.

  Blake circled the familiar conference room. Despite not seeing it for a few months, it hadn’t changed; the simple leather chairs and hardwood table, the paintings of the Keep that looked original, the short, black carpet, the console that Keeper Carinus had never used. Blake sat in a cushioned chair then had to stand again when sleep threatened to overtake him. He hadn’t been lying when he’d refused Glacius’s offer.

  Out in the front area, Blake heard Delia call out.

  “Keeper Dray
field, over here.”

  “Morning, Delia. How are you?” A gentle voice answered. It rolled down Blake like honey.

  “Fine, the morning sickness has passed. The Lemroot pills you told me about saved me those first few weeks.”

  “Wonderful. I’m glad I could help. Before I forget, if any of Keeper Shein’s students ask for me, double check that they think my DNA is number seven. If they point to that one, sign off on it for me, okay? Thanks!”

  “Wait, Elle! I have a karthan who needs your help.”

  “Didn’t you check my schedule? I have to meet my sister for her doctor’s appointment.”

  “I saw, but this shouldn’t take too long. You have to wait for your ride anyway, right? Please, it would help me out. I won’t have to lug all those books…”

  “All right, Delia, but you owe me a sandwich.”

  “Absolutely. Room C.”

  Blake waited, listening as footsteps crossed to his room.

  “All right, sir. What can I help you with?” Keeper Drayfield walked around the corner and smiled at him.

  “I needed…” Blake choked on his words. Sweet dreams, she was beautiful. He’d seen plenty of woman with freckles and a slender body but not like hers.

  And she was staring at him like he was a lunatic.

  He cleared his throat. “Uh, yes, bellabud flower picture. Contract. Sand dunes.” Idiot! None of those were even sentences. Look what you did. She can’t even stand to look at you. She’s embarrassed for you. Blake cringed at his awkwardness. This wasn’t like him. What was happening? Thank the stars he’d left Ka’rin out in his car! She’d never let him live this down.

  Keeper Drayfield glided over to a console and logged in. “You want a picture of the bellabud flower for a contract. You’re in luck, sir. I created a recent field guide on the sand dunes. I can upload it onto a chip for you to take.”

  “Thanks. That would be great. I’m glad Keeper Carinus retired.” She shot him a strange look, her cheeks a lovely shade of pink as her full lips tightened into a line. “Because he always insisted on hand writing everything out for me.” He hurriedly explained, mentally punching himself at how ridiculous he sounded. “He’d make me return a few days later for my order.”