Read Online The Defiance (Brilliant Darkness) by A.G. Henley - Free Book Online

feel any different about me? If they got rid of me, they'd have Peree back and all would be right in their sunny, leafy little world again. But how could they involve Eland?
    I want to believe that family means the same thing in the trees that it does on the ground. We take care of each other; we don't betray one another. But family has never included Lofties when you're a Groundling. Or vice versa.
    The wind dashes and dodges through cracks in the shelter around us. Fingers of rain begin to drum against the roof. I hold Eland's hand, ignoring the filth.
    "I think she knew she was going to die. Mother.” He stops. From his choked tone it sounds like he's wanted to let go of this for a while. When he speaks again, his voice is halting, and haunted. "She looked bad at the end, Fenn. Really bad. Kind of shriveled, like a thirsty plant in the garden. She didn't smile anymore, not even for me. I was scared, because Moray's brother and his knife were always hanging around me, but I was just as scared about what was happening to her." I squeeze his hand, letting him know I'm listening.
    "She came to me a few days before the Reckoning. She told me she thought there was a chance you'd still come back. That she trusted you and knew you would do whatever you could to help our people. She said if you came back, you would take care of me, and I should take care of you. I didn't know why she was telling me all that stuff. She sounded . . . like she'd given up. Mother never sounded like that." He sniffles.
    "And she said something else. Something I haven't told you, because I didn't know why she said it. It didn't make any sense. But it makes more sense now, after you told me what the Three did to you.” He hesitates. “You know, to your eyes."
    A foreboding feeling slithers through me—one I've learned the hard way to pay attention to. The rain beats on the wood over our heads now, and thunder snarls in the distance. The storm sounds louder and feels closer this high up in the air.
    "What did she say?" I have to raise my voice over the noise.
    "She told me, 'Don't trust the Three. Not now. Not ever.’"
    I only have a moment to wonder at Aloe's message before lightning explodes over our heads, and the door creaks open.
    "Groundlings, listen to me. We don't have much time."
    I try to place the voice, but I don't think I've heard it before. She sounds younger than me, and her tone is soft and rushed. "I'll help you get out of here, but I need you to promise me something first. Promise you'll take a message to someone. One of your people."
    "Who are you?" I ask, totally confused.
    "It doesn't matter."
    "Who's the message for?" Eland asks.
    "Moray," she says.
     I almost snort. " Moray? You want us to give him a message? About what?"
    "We'll give him the message, whatever it is," Eland says quickly. "Please help us."
    The eagerness and relief in his voice brings me to my senses. Of course he's more frightened than he was letting on before. He's twelve. And he's right. Whatever the message is and whomever it's for, we need to deliver it so we can get out of here. So much for not relying on other people to rescue me.
    "I want your word, too, Water Bearer," the girl says.
    I can't imagine what a Lofty would want to tell Moray, but I say, "We'll bring him your message. I promise."
    She's quiet for a moment, probably deciding if she can trust a couple of dirty Groundling hostages. "Then follow me. Quietly . Osprey and the others are sheltering from the storm, but the moment it stops they'll be coming for you."
    Her words focus me. We have to get out of the trees. Now. Eland helps me up and wraps my hand around his arm. Goosebumps rise on his skin like spirits called forth by the howling storm. The branches scrape and groan around us, whipped into a frenzied dance by the wind, and the rain soaks us in a matter of moments.
    We move forward, the sound of our footsteps thankfully drowned out by the storm. I have to rely on Eland's sight because I