Read Online Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta - Free Book Online Page A

is it that you'd like to discuss, my lord? As we have mentioned each time we return here, the only hope for Lumatere is land for our exiles."
    "And as I have said to Sir Topher year after year, why would the king of Belegonia be interested in carving up his land?"
    "You contacted us," Finnikin said, not hiding the anger in his voice. "We came here because you invited us. Why waste our time, my lord? Our people are dying, and you make us travel all the way here to see you."
    "Give me information I don't already have, Finnikin. Tell me that you're attempting to return home and I will ask for the king's assistance."
    "We don't have a home," Finnikin snapped. "Push for land, Lord August. That is all we want. A piece of Belegonian land by the river. We will settle there and fend for ourselves, and the Belegonians need not worry."
    "If we have our Guard, I will bet my life that Balthazar comes out of hiding," Lord August said in a low tone.
    "The Lumateran Guard no longer exists."
    "As long as Trevanion lives, it exists."
    Finnikin pushed back his hair in frustration. "Are you trying to trap me, my lord? Has my father escaped from one of the land's prisons and are you trying to locate him?"
    Lord August laughed with little humor. "Escape? Not for want of his Guard trying. I've told you before, I have no idea where
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    he is. They transferred him in secrecy one night seven years ago. All I know is that they took him to Yutlind Nord, but he no longer seems to be there. I suspect the ambassador knows, but he refuses to speak of Trevanion. He says he honors the wishes of the captain."
    Finnikin dug his fingernails into his palms.
    "I remember the times I would visit him in the prison here," Lord August continued. "He would only ever ask one question: 'Is my boy safe?' As long as the answer was yes, he did not care what happened to him. But he could be persuaded by you, Finnikin. If Trevanion was found and freed, his Guard would come out of hiding, and then we would have the most powerful men of Lumatere to lead us home."
    "Even if we had my father and the Guard and the heir, have you forgotten that we're actually missing a kingdom?" Finnikin said sharply.
    "The truth lies with the heir, Finnikin. Balthazar will know how to get us inside. The gifted ones among us are speaking. They sense something. Someone."
    "Let me talk to the king," Finnikin repeated.
    The duke shook his head, a look of angry disappointment on his face, and suddenly Finnikin felt as if he were facing his father.
    "The king will want a favor in return," Lord August said dismissively.
    "They can afford to have us here, my lord. It is why we have chosen Belegonia and not Osteria. Look at all the open space in this kingdom. We traveled five days to arrive here, through the most lush and fertile land. All empty. Wasted. While our people live in overcrowded camps."
    "They will say it is not their responsibility, Finnikin."
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    "Then whose responsibility are we?"
    "They will say that they have done enough! That our people need to help themselves. To integrate. They claim they have no control over the outlaws who harrass some of the camps. No control over their own people, while ours are at the mercy of the oppressed of each land who relish the opportunity to be an oppressor."
    "Is that what you believe?"
    Lord August stared at him. "Do you think I don't continually ask myself if I could have done more? Do you think I don't visit the people in those camps and want to take every one of them into my home? But whom do I choose, Finnikin? The motherless child? The pregnant woman? The man who has lost his entire family?" He shook his head, and Finnikin knew he was being dismissed. "Tell the king something he might find useful, and he may come to your aid."
    Finnikin stood, hopelessness rendering him speechless.
    "Then tell him this."
    The voice came from behind him. A strong voice, yet hoarse as if it were new to speech. She spoke in the Lumateran language, and it sent a shiver