Read Online Broken World Book Four - The Staff of Law by T C Southwell - Free Book Online
Authors: T C Southwell
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around for her
basin, cursing her rebellious stomach.
“ Kieran is most likely similarly occupied this morning,”
Chanter informed her while she retched and choked, apparently in an
effort to cheer her up, but the thought of another suffering the
same humiliation only made her heave more.
Law sat on the
soft sand and listened to the sound of the sea. He toyed with the
sand, letting it run through his fingers as he enjoyed the
sunlight’s warmth and the wind’s playful caress. Two weeks of
wandering had brought him to this shore, where he found a new
wonder to explore. The sea crashed upon the beach, hissing over the
sand to lap at his feet. Gulls mewed above, their cries mingling
with the soft humming song of some creatures of this world that
frolicked amongst the waves.
Sometimes he
thought about Letta and Vosh, but already their memory dimmed,
along with the hive and the horror of his eviction. Like all Mujar
his age, Law’s memory was short. He remembered the lessons of life
without the details of their teaching. This ensured that by the
time he reached adulthood he had no recollection of his youth. He
was eager to learn more and explore until his education was
complete, whereupon memories of events would linger. His blindness
put obstacles in his path that no other Mujar had ever had to
overcome before. He could not fly without becoming lost in the
sky’s vast realm, and was forced to remain earthbound and
vulnerable to the tainted Dolana that flowed through the land.
The sea
offered a new world in which he might be safer, and able to find
his way through its glittering blueness. He hesitated to enter it
only because of his immaturity, which imbued a lack of confidence
that would wane in the coming years. His short black hair indicated
his youth, and as yet he had not sprouted a beard. Although
physically full grown, Law was still a child of the world, who had
already experienced pain and been tempered by it. He tended to be
more timid than was normal for his age, and more inclined to avoid
the unknown than to explore it. Having learnt that there were
beasts that would not hesitate to harm him, which was something his
instincts had not warned him of, he was wary of what he might
encounter in the vast watery domain before him.
Twice during
his wanderings, he had heard the drone of filmy wings and hidden as
manants flew overhead. He had shunned the company of friendly
animals, fearing that they would draw the manants to him, and his
loneliness grew each day. The tainted land and the knowledge that
all was not well with the world increased his unhappiness. His hope
for a better life in the sea was mixed with fears that it might
prove more dangerous than the land.
Rising to his
feet, he walked down the beach. The cool waves lapped at his legs,
tugging at him as he waded deeper. Its touch brought new knowledge
rushing into his mind, and he paused to study it. Racial memories
of strange, finned shapes came to him. He chose one at random as he
dived into the waves, and transformed into a sleek grey ray that
slid through the water, powered by undulating wings as graceful as
a bird’s. In Shissar’s gentle embrace, Law discovered peace and the
magical song of the sea, which banished his loneliness long before
he found new, playful friends and took their form. After his
experience of the land, this wild realm welcomed him, and he knew
happiness once more within it.
A few days
after Chanter healed her, Talsy was well enough to leave her bed
and explore the city with her friends. She was still sick first
thing in the morning, but Merina assured her that this was normal.
The good food King Ronos provided helped to strengthen her, and
within a week she was able to travel. By that time, Queen Larina’s
black army had returned with a company of Truemen warriors,
manbulls and manhorses, and made camp outside the city. They
brought wagonloads of provisions and plundered the cultivated lands
for what they
basin, cursing her rebellious stomach.
“ Kieran is most likely similarly occupied this morning,”
Chanter informed her while she retched and choked, apparently in an
effort to cheer her up, but the thought of another suffering the
same humiliation only made her heave more.
Law sat on the
soft sand and listened to the sound of the sea. He toyed with the
sand, letting it run through his fingers as he enjoyed the
sunlight’s warmth and the wind’s playful caress. Two weeks of
wandering had brought him to this shore, where he found a new
wonder to explore. The sea crashed upon the beach, hissing over the
sand to lap at his feet. Gulls mewed above, their cries mingling
with the soft humming song of some creatures of this world that
frolicked amongst the waves.
Sometimes he
thought about Letta and Vosh, but already their memory dimmed,
along with the hive and the horror of his eviction. Like all Mujar
his age, Law’s memory was short. He remembered the lessons of life
without the details of their teaching. This ensured that by the
time he reached adulthood he had no recollection of his youth. He
was eager to learn more and explore until his education was
complete, whereupon memories of events would linger. His blindness
put obstacles in his path that no other Mujar had ever had to
overcome before. He could not fly without becoming lost in the
sky’s vast realm, and was forced to remain earthbound and
vulnerable to the tainted Dolana that flowed through the land.
The sea
offered a new world in which he might be safer, and able to find
his way through its glittering blueness. He hesitated to enter it
only because of his immaturity, which imbued a lack of confidence
that would wane in the coming years. His short black hair indicated
his youth, and as yet he had not sprouted a beard. Although
physically full grown, Law was still a child of the world, who had
already experienced pain and been tempered by it. He tended to be
more timid than was normal for his age, and more inclined to avoid
the unknown than to explore it. Having learnt that there were
beasts that would not hesitate to harm him, which was something his
instincts had not warned him of, he was wary of what he might
encounter in the vast watery domain before him.
Twice during
his wanderings, he had heard the drone of filmy wings and hidden as
manants flew overhead. He had shunned the company of friendly
animals, fearing that they would draw the manants to him, and his
loneliness grew each day. The tainted land and the knowledge that
all was not well with the world increased his unhappiness. His hope
for a better life in the sea was mixed with fears that it might
prove more dangerous than the land.
Rising to his
feet, he walked down the beach. The cool waves lapped at his legs,
tugging at him as he waded deeper. Its touch brought new knowledge
rushing into his mind, and he paused to study it. Racial memories
of strange, finned shapes came to him. He chose one at random as he
dived into the waves, and transformed into a sleek grey ray that
slid through the water, powered by undulating wings as graceful as
a bird’s. In Shissar’s gentle embrace, Law discovered peace and the
magical song of the sea, which banished his loneliness long before
he found new, playful friends and took their form. After his
experience of the land, this wild realm welcomed him, and he knew
happiness once more within it.
A few days
after Chanter healed her, Talsy was well enough to leave her bed
and explore the city with her friends. She was still sick first
thing in the morning, but Merina assured her that this was normal.
The good food King Ronos provided helped to strengthen her, and
within a week she was able to travel. By that time, Queen Larina’s
black army had returned with a company of Truemen warriors,
manbulls and manhorses, and made camp outside the city. They
brought wagonloads of provisions and plundered the cultivated lands
for what they
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