Read Online Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria: Book One) by Morgan Wylie - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Morgan Wylie
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“If any of this foolishness proves true, let caution guide you, my lad. It will likely mean the end of us all.” Then smiling, he turned to Hal. “My son, your sister will be so happy you are here.” Patting his shoulder, he turned and left the chamber.
Hal turned to Daegan once they got outside. “Are you all right? You flinched when Mother touched you.”
Absently placing his hand on his shoulder, Daegan replied, “I’m fine. It was just a shock.” He shrugged and Hal left it.
“Well, that wasn’t exactly the outcome we were going for, was it? I was planning on going with you,” he added, sounding frustrated.
“No, that wasn’t what I thought she would say. It makes me wonder if she was suspicious of me for some reason. We will have to go with it, though, and come up with an alternative.”
“If she was suspicious of you, then why not send me instead?”
“She has her reasons, I’m sure,” Daegan practically growled as he turned to walk away. He was finished talking about it. Maleina knew he would never leave Halister; they were too close. She was using her own son as insurance that he would return. He was almost sure of it. When they were younger, some of the older Faeries would pick on Halister and beat him up. Daegan had been there but had been unable to help him, and she knew that he felt responsible. She preyed upon his guilt and made him swear an oath to always protect and serve Hal, unbeknownst to him. Hal himself would never have asked that of Daegan and Daegan knew Hal would be furious if he ever found out. Daegan had trained harder and given himself more to the guard than any other to make sure that he could keep his end of the oath. He had ever since and would continue to the best of his abilities. She knew that. Hal was like Daegan’s brother, but if Hal knew that was a burden that he bore, he would not allow him to be who he was, his warrior.
“I am NOT staying here! I’m going with you. What if you need help? We are in this together.” Hal’s volume was getting louder as his short fuse was about to ignite.
“You need to stay here to make this work—at least for now,” Daegan replied calmly but sternly. “I will send you word when you can find us, if you still want to.” Hal was not happy and was ready to fight about it, but before he could speak Daegan added, “I need you to keep up appearances here, keep Maleina distracted, and give her messages from me when I send them. I’ll send for you as soon as we re-enter Alandria and find shelter. Plus, it is important that at least one of us is here for Rheina and her party; she is your sister. The old man said as much,” he said, referring to Arileas. Daegan was pacing now with his hands on top of his head as he did when he was lost in thought.
“I believe it is especially important for you to be the one here,” Daegan said, “though I am not sure why. I’m sure Maleina knows nothing of that and we should keep it that way. Give Rheina my love.” Daegan left abruptly, heading for his room to pack whatever essentials he might need for the journey. “Don’t do anything stupid!” he yelled over his shoulder to Hal, who was still standing where he left him brooding. He’d get over it; he always did. Daegan knew it would break Rheina’s heart if her brother missed her party and so did Hal; he wouldn’t miss it. She had always been like a little sister to Daegan, and he regretted not being able to be there for her, but she would understand.
It was a few days’ ride to the entrance to the mortal realm, and then however long it took him to locate this girl, which, by the way, he had no idea how to do. Daegan also couldn’t help noticing that the Elder had only spoken of her as a girl in his mind. Arileas apparently didn’t want that information widely known. So that helped eliminate a great number of the population in the mortal realm. Right . The Elder, Arileas, instructed him to ask The Orchids to show him
Hal turned to Daegan once they got outside. “Are you all right? You flinched when Mother touched you.”
Absently placing his hand on his shoulder, Daegan replied, “I’m fine. It was just a shock.” He shrugged and Hal left it.
“Well, that wasn’t exactly the outcome we were going for, was it? I was planning on going with you,” he added, sounding frustrated.
“No, that wasn’t what I thought she would say. It makes me wonder if she was suspicious of me for some reason. We will have to go with it, though, and come up with an alternative.”
“If she was suspicious of you, then why not send me instead?”
“She has her reasons, I’m sure,” Daegan practically growled as he turned to walk away. He was finished talking about it. Maleina knew he would never leave Halister; they were too close. She was using her own son as insurance that he would return. He was almost sure of it. When they were younger, some of the older Faeries would pick on Halister and beat him up. Daegan had been there but had been unable to help him, and she knew that he felt responsible. She preyed upon his guilt and made him swear an oath to always protect and serve Hal, unbeknownst to him. Hal himself would never have asked that of Daegan and Daegan knew Hal would be furious if he ever found out. Daegan had trained harder and given himself more to the guard than any other to make sure that he could keep his end of the oath. He had ever since and would continue to the best of his abilities. She knew that. Hal was like Daegan’s brother, but if Hal knew that was a burden that he bore, he would not allow him to be who he was, his warrior.
“I am NOT staying here! I’m going with you. What if you need help? We are in this together.” Hal’s volume was getting louder as his short fuse was about to ignite.
“You need to stay here to make this work—at least for now,” Daegan replied calmly but sternly. “I will send you word when you can find us, if you still want to.” Hal was not happy and was ready to fight about it, but before he could speak Daegan added, “I need you to keep up appearances here, keep Maleina distracted, and give her messages from me when I send them. I’ll send for you as soon as we re-enter Alandria and find shelter. Plus, it is important that at least one of us is here for Rheina and her party; she is your sister. The old man said as much,” he said, referring to Arileas. Daegan was pacing now with his hands on top of his head as he did when he was lost in thought.
“I believe it is especially important for you to be the one here,” Daegan said, “though I am not sure why. I’m sure Maleina knows nothing of that and we should keep it that way. Give Rheina my love.” Daegan left abruptly, heading for his room to pack whatever essentials he might need for the journey. “Don’t do anything stupid!” he yelled over his shoulder to Hal, who was still standing where he left him brooding. He’d get over it; he always did. Daegan knew it would break Rheina’s heart if her brother missed her party and so did Hal; he wouldn’t miss it. She had always been like a little sister to Daegan, and he regretted not being able to be there for her, but she would understand.
It was a few days’ ride to the entrance to the mortal realm, and then however long it took him to locate this girl, which, by the way, he had no idea how to do. Daegan also couldn’t help noticing that the Elder had only spoken of her as a girl in his mind. Arileas apparently didn’t want that information widely known. So that helped eliminate a great number of the population in the mortal realm. Right . The Elder, Arileas, instructed him to ask The Orchids to show him
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