Read Online The Devil's Deuce (The Barrier War) by Brian J Moses - Free Book Online

harm it through any means.”
    “Normally I’d agree with you,” James said, nodding, “but
it’s unlikely The Three are to be found together, else we’d have found more
than just Sal here. Which tells me they’re split up and causing mischief, and
if one is in Nocka influencing the Prismatic Council, that leaves one of them
unaccounted for. They’ve already thrown the dwarven nation into chaos by
destroying the capital, which I imagine was the reason the trap was sprung here
rather than on the road somewhere. Two birds, one stone. Stirring Merishank
would be an ideal diversion and way to cause chaos, especially if they’re doing
what no one would ever expect. We should assume the one on the Council will
hinder the Prism’s involvement in any engagement, so if Merishank attacks
Nocka…”
    “No one will stand against them but the city’s defenders,”
Birch finished for him. He shook his head. “It’s circumstantial and sketchy at
best, and I hate to say, but it all makes an unfortunate amount of sense. The
mere possibility that one of The Three is guiding the actions of a nation as
powerful as Merishank is disturbing, but to think of what he might actually do
with that power is downright terrifying. In that case, I’m glad of the route
you chose.”
    “Vander’s the one who put it together,” James said, looking
at Birch with unusual intensity.
    Birch shrugged. “He’s an Orange. That’s what they’re
supposed to do.”
    “There was a lot more to it, Birch,” James said, obviously
trying to get something across to Birch. He wouldn’t belabor something like
this without a purpose. “You really don’t give him much credit.”
    “I really don’t know him all that well, James,” Birch said a
bit defensively.
    “And whose fault is that?”
    It was a simple question, but once more, Birch saw to the
heart of James’s arguments and saw he was right.
    “Mine, of course,” Birch said softly. His shoulders squirmed
slightly in a display of discomfort few besides James would have been allowed
to see. “He makes me edgy,” Birch said finally. “There’s something about him I
just don’t like.”
    “Tell me,” James said. “I’ll not say a word to him, so
please don’t hold back.”
    Birch frowned in thought, trying to pin down what it was
about the Orange paladin that set him on edge.
    “He gives off this feeling that everything revolves around
his problems, and he seems almost secretive,” he said finally. “No, that’s not
right. It’s more that he thinks there’s things about him no one will
understand, so he doesn’t bother talking to anyone about them.” He knew Vander
was James’s friend, so Birch quickly added, “It’s nothing he really says, mind
you. It’s just a feeling I get from him.”
    James sighed, then laughed softly in a bitter tone.
    “Birch, believe me when I say that nobody else in the world
actually likes Vander Wayland. I’m the only person who really does, and I
honestly don’t expect that to change much any time between now and the day he
dies.”
    “Why are you the only one who likes him?” Birch asked,
curious and almost offended in a way.
    “It’s because I know his secret,” James said seriously, but
with a smile, “and once you know it, your dislike either becomes more intense
or it disappears entirely. If you figure it out, you’ll know what I’m talking
about.”
    “So what’s his secret?”
    “That’s for you to discover,” James replied. “Don’t bother
asking him, either, because he won’t know what you’re talking about.”
    When Birch was silent, James turned to go. He took only two
steps before stopping, then he looked back over his shoulder.
    “And terribly fierce as he is, you don’t have to be afraid
to talk to Perky either,” James said jokingly. “He and Garet are friends, but I
sometimes feel he gets a bit lonely, and he looks up to you.”
    Birch nodded, smiling at the description of Perky as fierce.
Perky, or