Once We Were Kings (Young Adult Fantasy) (The Sojourner Saga) by Ian Alexander, Joshua Graham

he must never forget to show mercy and honor."
    So much death.
    In the past few days she had gone from a carefree girl, simple in understanding, innocent about the ways of the world, to one whose life now had come into turmoil.
    She put her hand upon Lao-Ying's and patted it.  Then she stood and looked him over.  "What happened to you?  Are you hurt?"
    He frowned, looked down and shook his head.  "No."
    "Then why—?  Well, you did help me with that last wolf."
    "You underestimate your own combat skills."
    "I didn't do anything.  Was it not you who set the wolf on fire while—?"  She looked into his eyes.  A knowing smile creased the corners of his mouth and three distinct lines grooved his shiny forehead.
    "From your heart, Ahndien.  From there did you fight."  He was gazing at her hands. 
    Even before she looked at them herself, she began to understand.  She held up one hand, palm up.  And from her fingertips, tiny flames continued to stream.
     
     

 
    CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
     
     
     
    Render's new life so consumed his time and thoughts that he barely realized that three months had passed.  Now that he and Kaine had found each other, on the rare occasion, they'd steal away in the middle of the night to explore—like they had back in Talen Wood—and find secluded locations such as rooftops, where they'd play tricks on passersby walking below, or just talk about their new lives.
    Tonight, Render was not in the mood to pour water from the roof onto the people in the street.  So Kaine suggested a contest to see who could knock over the most jars or earthen pots lined up on a tree branch, using nothing but small stones.
    But even this didn't hold Render's interest.  Something had been troubling him. 
    Thoughts.
    Dreams.
    "You're not concentrating."  Kaine handed him another rock.  "What's the matter with you?"
    "Wrong?  I don't know what you're talking about."  Render tossed a stone at the first jar and it flew clear of the entire branch.  "Sometimes, I just have this feeling that we'll see her again one day."
    "Who?"
    Render looked down at the rock in his hand.  After a false start or two he answered.  "Mother."
    Kaine's smile remained for a while, but gradually faded.  He threw a stone, missed a jar, and clicked his tongue.  "Even if she were still alive, why would you want to see her?"  Kaine took another shot.  This time, with a crisp crack the pebble broke a tiny hole in the center of the smallest jar on the branch, and clinked around inside without so much as tipping it over.
    "Good shot."
    "I for one have no interest in even remembering her." A smug expression came over Kaine's face.
    Render grabbed his shoulder and turned him.  "But, she was our mother."
    "It's your turn.  Stop making excuses to cover your poor aim."
    "I'm not joking.  How can you speak that way of our mother?"
    "I don't want to talk about her, all right?  Now, throw your stupid rock or I'll throw you."
    "Fine."  He did, and this time it struck a large goblet.  It made a ringing sound and fell over into the back alley where a cat shrieked in disapproval.  "You never want to talk about her."
    "A fair assessment."
    "Why not?"
    "We are not going to discuss it."
    "But I want to."
    "It doesn't matter what you want, this discussion is over."  Kaine got up and climbed down from the roof, leaving Render beyond frustrated.
    "Wait!"
    But Kaine marched down the alley, not heeding him.  By the time Render got to the ground, Kaine was halfway to the open street.  "I said wait!"
    When he caught up to Kaine, he shoved his shoulder.
    "I'm in no mood for your annoyances." Kaine shoved Render back, sending him to the ground.  As he turned around to walk off, Render hooked his foot and tripped him.
    "I am sick of your arrogance—all these years, treating me like a child!"
    Kaine got up, grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him up.  "You blathering idiot!"  He slammed Render's back against the wall so hard, it knocked the wind out