Read Online A.L. Jambor by The Tower in the Mist - Free Book Online Page A

victim of his objectivity. He could always see both sides, and it almost drove him crazy. But now he looked like he regretted taking Mace’s side.
    “Where’s my daughter?” I said.
    “She’s here,” Mace said. “She’s in her room.”
    “Oh, she has a room here?” I said.
    “She’s always had a room here. As have you.”
    “I want to see her.”
    Mace looked at Geezer then back at me. He was weighing his options. He knew the wizard could take Ceil and disappear. But would he take me, too? Would I fight? Would Geezer kill Mace?
    I looked at Geezer. He was waiting for Mace to answer, too. I felt the sting of tears in my eyes and I tightened my face. I wouldn’t start crying now.
    “Come,” Mace said.
    He led us down a hallway. I thought it might be a trap. He could kill me. Geezer and I never talked about Geezer’s mortality. I didn’t know if he could die. Lucanus had given him eternal life, but he was still flesh and blood. If he was caught off-guard, would a sword end his life?
    We passed several doors. The fortress was long but not wide. It was shaped like a very thick circular wall with rooms in the center. We came to a door with a guard. He opened the door.
    Ceil squealed when she saw me. She ran to my arms. I held her close to my chest.
    “You found me! Mace said you would. We were playing a game he called hide and seek. And Mama, he’s not silly at all. He’s very smart.”
    She was so happy. Mace had worked his charms on her.
    “She’s a bright girl,” Mace said. Geezer was standing at the doorway.
    “She’s like her mother,” Geezer said.
    Mace knelt down. He was next to me. Ceil stepped back and looked at us. She smiled.
    “I like it here, Mama. Can I visit Mace again?”
    I didn’t want to say no. She’d never understand. If Mace had told her he was her father, she would have said so. She would have been curious. What if she did visit? Would he let us keep her if we promised to let her visit?
    “She must come home now,” Geezer said. “It’s getting late.”
    Mace leaned against me.
    “She’s welcome to stay the night,” he said. “Margaret, too.”
    “I think it’s best they come home,” Geezer said.
    “What do you think, Margaret?” Mace said.
    I didn’t want to look at him. I was afraid I’d forget who he really was. Ceil liked him. I was so confused.
    “I think we should go home,” I said.
    Mace stood. I saw Ceil walk toward him and I looked up. He had his arms out. She jumped into them and he held her. She looked down at me.
    “Please, Mama.”
    She looked like him. I hadn’t seen it before. I just thought it was her eyes.
    “No, Ceil,” Geezer said.
    He walked over and tried to take her from Mace. She pushed his hands away.
    “No, Papa. Please. I want to stay here.”
    “It’s cold here, Ceil,” I said. “It’s warm at home.”
    I was trying to understand why she was being so difficult. Had he promised her something if she got me to stay?
    “I don’t care. I want to stay here!”
    “Why?” Geezer said. He must have wondered about her behavior, too.
    “I like it here. I like Mace. I want to see my pony.”
    The bastard had promised her a pony.
    “We can take the pony home, can’t we, Mace?” I said. “She can ride it home.”
    He looked at me and I could see the anger. There was no pony. He had told her that to keep her here.
    “You’re hurting me,” Ceil said. He was holding her too tightly. “Oww. Put me down.”
    She began to push against his chest. I stood and reached for her, but he moved back. Geezer came up behind him and Mace turned.
    “I think we’ll go for a walk, Ceil.”
    He knew Geezer wouldn’t hurt him if he was holding Ceil. He went to the other side of the room and a guard opened another door. Mace went out the door and Geezer suddenly disappeared.
    I tried to run out the door but the guard blocked my way. I pushed at him, but he knocked me down. I could hear Ceil screaming. I tried to stand up, but he knocked me down