Read Online Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut - Free Book Online Page B

at the door, he glanced over his shoulder. “Finn, I’ve an apprentice about yer age—Asher O’Neill.” He looked at Gideon. “What do ye say we take these two hunting soon, eh?”
    â€œName the place and time and we’ll be there,” replied the Knight.
    â€œHow about a night hunt by the river? Where it runs along the edge of the city. Say, in a couple of weeks?”
    â€œSo, ye’ve gotten over yer fear of the dark, have ye?” Gideon said with a straight face.
    â€œAye. About the same time ye learned which end of yer weapon to use.” The Knights both laughed, then Mac Roth waved good-bye. “I’ll see meself out.”
    They sat listening to his heavy tread, then the thud of the front door closing. After a moment, a vehicle roared to life, the growl fading as he drove away. Gideon walked over to the window. Strange, that after all these years, talk of the Spear is surfacing again. But Mac Roth is mad to think I’ll ever trust: lona, much less listen to her . The voice of his apprentice brought him back from his thoughts.
    â€œGideon? Do you think the Amandán are out there right now? Hunting us?’
    â€œI do.”
    â€œSo what do we do? To protect ourselves?”
    The Knight pulled out his knife and ran a thumb along the blade, then held it up to the light. He glanced back over his shoulder and smiled grimly. “Why, we hunt them back.”

Ten
    The Journal of Finnegan MacCullen: June 15
    It seems like all we’ve done these last two weeks is eat, sleep, train, and do chores. Not always in that order.
    Gideon said he’s never run into so many Amandán. Even though we’re not looking for them. That’s because they’re looking for us. Waiting for us to let our guard down.
    We’re going hunting tonight with Knight Mac Roth and his apprentice. I hope I don’t screw up in front of everyone.
    What I Learned Today Lately :
    I found out more about the Spear. It is somehow connected to mortals. According to the legend, after the humans broke their alliance with us, a mortal and a De Danaan who had remained friends decided to make the Spear together. They intended it to be the ultimate weapon against the Amandán. No one knows who the mortal was, but the De Danaan was this gifted blacksmith named Gideon Black Hand. That’s why we sometimes call it Gideon’s Spear. The problem is, we don’t know where it is anymore.

    â€œIs that them?” Finn asked, peering through the truck’s windshield across the almost deserted parking lot. An old Jeep with a crumpled fender waited in the light of the single streetlamp. As he watched, a massive figure stepped around the back end of the vehicle and waved them over. A shorter figure followed.
    Gideon wheeled the truck around and pulled to a stop, the brakes grinding. As the engine died with a grateful sigh, he turned and fixed Finn with a stern eye. “Remember, ye and Asher are to watch and learn. Stay where we tell ye. Do what we tell ye. Or I’ll tan yer backside.”
    â€œOkay already. You told me that like a hundred…” Finn stopped and swallowed the rest of the sentence at his master’s expression. “I mean, yes, sir.” He waited until Gideon stepped out of the truck before rolling his eyes. He hopped out, shoved the door closed with his shoulder, and joined the trio standing between the two vehicles.
    Mac Roth gestured toward the sandy-haired boy next to him. Finn noted that the boy was about his height and had the same compact build. “Finn, this is my apprentice, Asher O’Neill. Asher, meet Finnegan MacCullen.”
    â€œHi, Asher.” Finn put out his hand like Gideon had coached him and waited.
    â€œHow’s it going?” Asher nodded once in greeting, his eyes the ancient De Danaan blue. He hesitated for a moment before shaking hands with Finn.
    â€œRight. Now, for the hunt.” Mac Roth turned and led