Read Online Daegan (The Age of Alandria: A Companion Novella) by Morgan Wylie - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Morgan Wylie
Ads: Link
Maleina together, could maintain. Was he seeing hallucinations? Suddenly, the words that came through Rheina echoed in his head about really seeing ... could this be what she was saying?
Raking both his hands through his hair, gripping the top of his head, and even tugging at his hair for clarity, Daegan took a deep breath. He needed to focus. There was much happening here and he needed to understand what it was in order to properly fight it. But, having just seen Feraánmar in such a state of death shook something deep inside him. This was his home and he could not let the darkness destroy it. Even if that darkness was from him.
Checking his vision once more to ensure he was seeing properly, he continued back up the hill toward the castle and the only home he remembered.
✠✠✠
Daegan took his time as he entered Elnye—they often commonly referred to the castle itself as “Elnye.” Growing up, Halister felt that their home should have a name but they could never agree on one. So they settled on simply calling it “Elnye.” It seemed most of those living in the village did as well.
Daegan spoke soft and simple greetings to those working in the kitchen, nodding to those coming and going quickly about their business. So much had happened since he had so abruptly left earlier that morning, but he did not want to disrupt the daily happenings around the castle to alert anyone yet of anything wrong. As he may, in fact, be the only thing wrong . It was his burden and he would bear it to whatever end necessary.
Walking purposely down the hall so not to draw attention to himself, he wandered the castle a bit before retiring to his own suite. One of the few places within the castle that he enjoyed spending time in was the library at the end of the lower level east wing. Part of that wing had begun to fall into ruin, but it was sealed off and mostly on the outside, so the family had simply left it.
Looking out the window opposite the large stone fireplace that rose from the floor to the high ceiling, Daegan could see parts of the original castle left as a tribute to its ancestry. Daegan actually enjoyed looking at the ruins that were once a part of this very old place. He would imagine what it once was like in its beginning stages. In his imaginings, Daegan could see the beings of Feraánmar dwelling peacefully together and living in harmony with the land, not demanding of it. There would be Ferrishyn on guard as they were now, but not against its own people. Elnye would be a place of strength and freedom as opposed to its current constant state of fear and agitation. He did not have the time to dwell on his personal thoughts of the past or what he hoped for the future.
Daegan sighed and stepped in to the library briefly to check on its state only to find Master Wren—his uncle—sitting in one of the large high-back chairs that were normally by the window, but had been pulled up in front of the fire. Wren favored that chair. It had become quite worn over the years. Daegan did not understand why he constantly replaced it by the window after each time he used it simply to appease Maleina. She rarely visited the library these days. It used to be a place for family gatherings, but no more.
If he was honest with himself, he had seen changes in Maleina as of late. She had grown further away from the family and always seemed to carry an air of supremacy upon her that had been growing immensely. He had even seen her be cruel to some of the staff. Daegan did not understand how Wren had stepped back and allowed her to take reign of the land. Daegan was not of the mind that a woman could not rule, but they had started together and Wren was once a powerful man in his own right--now he was complacent and absent. Both Hal and Rheina suffered from it, he could see it.
Daegan walked silently toward the tall library window, so as not to disturb his uncle from his reading.
“Fine day today, Daegan?” his uncle
Raking both his hands through his hair, gripping the top of his head, and even tugging at his hair for clarity, Daegan took a deep breath. He needed to focus. There was much happening here and he needed to understand what it was in order to properly fight it. But, having just seen Feraánmar in such a state of death shook something deep inside him. This was his home and he could not let the darkness destroy it. Even if that darkness was from him.
Checking his vision once more to ensure he was seeing properly, he continued back up the hill toward the castle and the only home he remembered.
✠✠✠
Daegan took his time as he entered Elnye—they often commonly referred to the castle itself as “Elnye.” Growing up, Halister felt that their home should have a name but they could never agree on one. So they settled on simply calling it “Elnye.” It seemed most of those living in the village did as well.
Daegan spoke soft and simple greetings to those working in the kitchen, nodding to those coming and going quickly about their business. So much had happened since he had so abruptly left earlier that morning, but he did not want to disrupt the daily happenings around the castle to alert anyone yet of anything wrong. As he may, in fact, be the only thing wrong . It was his burden and he would bear it to whatever end necessary.
Walking purposely down the hall so not to draw attention to himself, he wandered the castle a bit before retiring to his own suite. One of the few places within the castle that he enjoyed spending time in was the library at the end of the lower level east wing. Part of that wing had begun to fall into ruin, but it was sealed off and mostly on the outside, so the family had simply left it.
Looking out the window opposite the large stone fireplace that rose from the floor to the high ceiling, Daegan could see parts of the original castle left as a tribute to its ancestry. Daegan actually enjoyed looking at the ruins that were once a part of this very old place. He would imagine what it once was like in its beginning stages. In his imaginings, Daegan could see the beings of Feraánmar dwelling peacefully together and living in harmony with the land, not demanding of it. There would be Ferrishyn on guard as they were now, but not against its own people. Elnye would be a place of strength and freedom as opposed to its current constant state of fear and agitation. He did not have the time to dwell on his personal thoughts of the past or what he hoped for the future.
Daegan sighed and stepped in to the library briefly to check on its state only to find Master Wren—his uncle—sitting in one of the large high-back chairs that were normally by the window, but had been pulled up in front of the fire. Wren favored that chair. It had become quite worn over the years. Daegan did not understand why he constantly replaced it by the window after each time he used it simply to appease Maleina. She rarely visited the library these days. It used to be a place for family gatherings, but no more.
If he was honest with himself, he had seen changes in Maleina as of late. She had grown further away from the family and always seemed to carry an air of supremacy upon her that had been growing immensely. He had even seen her be cruel to some of the staff. Daegan did not understand how Wren had stepped back and allowed her to take reign of the land. Daegan was not of the mind that a woman could not rule, but they had started together and Wren was once a powerful man in his own right--now he was complacent and absent. Both Hal and Rheina suffered from it, he could see it.
Daegan walked silently toward the tall library window, so as not to disturb his uncle from his reading.
“Fine day today, Daegan?” his uncle
Similar Books
