Read Online Angelica by Sharon Shinn - Free Book Online Page B

as if he’d have been willing to cheer the combatants on if there hadn’t been more sober company watching. But catching Gaaron’s gaze, Nicholas nodded, and they waded into the fray to separate the fighters. Gaaron hauled Zack to his feet with an almost effortless lift, and Nicholas caught the squirming Silas in his arms.
    â€œIt’s his fault! He started it!” Silas was wailing.
    â€œI don’t care who started it,” Gaaron said calmly. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re all equally guilty and you all deserve an equal punishment.”
    â€œHey! We didn’t—”
    â€œBe quiet,” Gaaron snapped, and they all shut up. “I know Esther has some boxes she needs hauled from the upper levels to the storerooms. You’ll help her for the rest of the day, and tomorrow, if she needs you, and you won’t complain about it once.”
    â€œOh, I’ve got lots of boxes,” Esther said.
    â€œAnd if you give her any trouble,” Gaaron said, “I’ll think of some additional chores that need to be done.”
    â€œIt’s not fair,” Jude muttered. “Not my fault.”
    â€œWell, it is your fault, and would you like me to explain it to you?” Gaaron asked pleasantly. “One, you chose to associate with companions who would rather steal than request permission to use something that they would happily be allowed to borrow. Two, you didn’t inform any elder that a theft had taken place. Three, you joined in an unfair fight against opponents who are smaller than you, younger than you, and outnumbered by you and your friends. Frankly, I can’t see that your behavior has been anything but abominable.”
    â€œWell, I didn’t do anything,” Silas said.
    â€œYou’re a jerk,” Zack burst out.
    â€œYou chose to steal instead of informing an adult, and, if I guess correctly, you took the flute back not to return it to its place, but to annoy Zack. Not exactly a commendable motive. Sometimes we’re judged by our intentions as well as our actions.”
    â€œYeah, but I—”
    â€œOne more word from any of the six of you and I’ll add to your duties,” Gaaron said. “I know Enoch has some cleaning that he needs done down in the food pens. Would you like to help him?”
    They all looked mutely up at him. Jude shook his head.
    â€œGood,” Gaaron said briskly. “Then you all go with Esther. Except you, Zack,” he added, raising his voice slightly.
    The other five turned away, Silas with a malicious and triumphant gleam in his eyes. Zack stayed behind, chin up, defiance in every line of his body.
    â€œAnd you’ll take on an extra task,” Gaaron said. “You’ll go find Ahio, wherever he is, and tell him you need to learn a song.”
    â€œA—song?” Zack said, clearly caught off balance.
    Gaaron nodded. “On the flute. Tell him you’ll need to be proficient enough to perform at least once piece in public in eight months.”
    â€œBut I—I can’t play the flute,” Zack said.
    â€œWell, no, I suppose you can’t right now. But you will in eight months. You’ll perform at the Gloria, after we’ve sung the mass.”
    Zack looked pale. “I haven’t—I can’t—I don’t—”
    Gaaron smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll do just fine,” he said. “You have a long time to get ready. But not today. Or tomorrow. You’ve got boxes to move.”
    So there was the morning gone; and the afternoon consisted of another bitter encounter with Miriam and the writing of a reply to Adriel. And then he had to make time to see some of the petitioners who had arrived yesterday, only to find him gone. Some required a simple adjudication of a dispute between themselves and a neighbor; others had more pressing concerns that took more time to consider and settle. The problems