Read Online Elysium. Part One. by Kelvin James Roper - Free Book Online

assumed that Mortehoe and Woolacombe were the last habitable places on earth, but his father had shown him the world as it was, the unrest that had gripped humanity in an attempt to seek answers and mete retribution on an unaccountable, non-existent enemy.
      He opened the door and said a few words to Baron, then waited in the doorway until his return.
      ‘What’s the rope for, then?’ Priya asked, folding her arms.
      ‘I know it seems drastic, but for all I know you haven’t told a single truth. We’ll decide in the morning whether you’re simply castaways or something else.’
      Priya was about to step forward; Selina could hear her breath hard close to her. She began to say, ‘No, wait just a...’
      Selina reached out and touched her back. ‘Priya, don’t make it worse. We should do what he says and get through this as quickly as possible. Like he says, in the morning he’ll find out what we’re saying is true and he’ll let us go,’ she turned to Semilion. ‘Right?’
      He nodded, and looked expectantly at Selina, as though she might hold her hands out to be tied by way of example. Her heart sank, but she stepped forward as Priya stared at her incredulously. ‘I thought we were trying to avoid being thrown in jail,’ she sighed, offering her wrists also.

Chapter Six .
     
    South-easterly wind.
     
    Eighteen knots.
     
     
     
     
     
     
      Eryn called on Boen early in the morning. Her mother had sent her across the village to fetch empty bottles, and on the way she called in on the Waeshenbach household. The house was close to the shore as the family was one of two responsible for catching seafood for the community. She stepped through a decaying gate and passed two small boats stored beneath a camouflaged shelter, over which grew vines and trailing moss. The boats bobbed quietly, touching one another with a rhythmic grind as the tide lapped at them placidly.
      Boen’s mother answered the door and smiled anxiously at Eryn. She welcomed her in, eager for news. Though their families had their differences, Eryn had always secretly admired Samantha, who, for a woman who primarily spent her day to her elbows gutting fish, always smelt of fresh lavender.
      ‘So who are those women?’ Samantha said, dragging Eryn into the kitchen and thrusting her into a seat. ‘Have you spoken to them?’
      ‘No, I… Pa wouldn’t talk about them when they returned from the cells, and this morning he and Baron went back at first light to question them. Ma and me have been sent around the village to tell everyone not to worry though, and that we should get on with things as normal. There’s a council at midday. I think everyone’s going to that.’
      Samantha stared into the middle-distance for a moment, as though she were actively pushing back the fears that had kept her awake all night. ‘That’s something, at least.’ She said, distantly, before brightening.
      Did you hear Dawn gave birth to a boy?’
      ‘Yes, that was the other thing. I’ve been sent to pass the news around the village, but it seems everybody knows already.’
      ‘Oh! It’s such good news! Especially after what she’s been through. She deserves a little boy.’
      ‘They’ve named him William.’
      ‘After Reighn’s grandfather? How sweet!’ She poured a tankard of water and leant forward surreptitiously. ‘Who’d you think they are then, these women?’
      ‘I don’t know…’ Eryn said slowly, and it was true, though she couldn’t help but think that with Kelly being killed by an outsider, the women’s appearance couldn’t be a good omen.
      Samantha heard the uncertainty in her tone. ‘Do you fancy a tea, love? It’s not very warm, mind.’
      ‘Thank you, but no, I really came to see…’
      ‘You will, won’t you? I boiled some water before dawn. I couldn’t sleep, what with…’ She stood and fetched a thermos. ‘Doesn’t hold the heat like it used to,’ she explained,