Read Online The Inner Circle: Holy Spirit by Cael McIntosh - Free Book Online Page A

already too late. Having regained his senses, the
Elglair Elder seized the Ways and sent Ilgrin racing across the
room like a fearful child.
    ‘ Miss Eltari.’
Gez-reil straightened out his gowns and released Ilgrin’s aura.
‘And Mister . . .’ He trailed off, blushing. ‘I’m sorry, it would
seem we haven’t been properly introduced.’ Gez-reil smiled at
Ilgrin and offered his hand.
    ‘ I’m a silt,’ Ilgrin
said slowly, his expression one of distrust.
    ‘ I know what you are,
my boy.’ Gez-reil frowned. ‘My question was as to who you
are.’
    ‘ Ilgrin. Ilgrin
Geld.’ The silt took a step back, staring suspiciously.
    ‘ Well, Mister Geld.’
Gez-reil twittered as he looked over the innumerable cuts and
scrapes on Ilgrin’s arms. ‘I can see our dear Far-a-mael has
introduced you to the somewhat unique levels hospitality all too
frequently demonstrated by the Elglair. On behalf of him, I must
apologise for your terrible misfortune. Now, I must ask the pair of
you, what have you done to our sweet El-i-miir?’
    ‘ She was struck on
the head.’ Seteal knelt to push aside El-i-miir’s hair.
    ‘ I’ll check nothing
has been too badly damaged, shall I?' Gez-reil strode over to stare
into El-i-miir’s aura. ‘She’ll be fine,’ he chuckled. ‘In fact,
she’s going to wake up around about . . . now.’
    ‘ You found him,’
El-i-miir said softly, her eyes opening. ‘How?’
    ‘ Never mind that,’
Gez-reil said warmly. ‘We have matters of much greater importance
to discuss.’
    ‘ High Elder
Gez-reil.’ El-i-miir became very flustered and tried to get
up.
    ‘ Don’t be a fool,
child.’ Gez-reil put his wrinkly old hand on her shoulder and
pushed her back to the ground. ‘Just lie still for a
bit.’
    ‘ If I may.’ Ilgrin
stepped forward. ‘I’m a little confused.’
    ‘ About what?’
Gez-reil raised his eyebrows.
    ‘ Your reaction to my
presence isn’t like that with which I’m accustomed.’
    ‘ What reaction is
that exactly?’ Gez-reil scratched at his beard.
    ‘ Well . . . fear.’
Ilgrin frowned.
    ‘ Fear?’ Gez-reil
chuckled. ‘My boy, I’m a little shy of two hundred years old. I was
a trained gil before your grandparents were born. I needn’t fear
you. I could snap you like a twig.’ He chuckled and gave a little
wink. ‘But rest assured, Mister Geld, you needn’t be concerned. I’m
not all twisted up with hatred like a certain other gil with whom
you’ve spent much time. Some of us are able to see
reason.’
    ‘ What do you mean?’
Ilgrin asked suspiciously.
    ‘ You were raised by
outlanders in Abnatol, correct?’
    ‘ Yes.’ Ilgrin’s face
lit up. ‘You believe me.’
    ‘ I know how ruthless
the inquisitors can be.’ Gez-reil shrugged. ‘You’d have caved had
you actually known anything. Far-a-mael . . . is a changed man.
He’s no longer the compassionate boy I knew in my youth. Anyone not
completely blinded by hatred can see that you’re a simple farmer’s
boy. And that brings me to the reason I’ve asked you all to come
here.’
    ‘ And why is that?’
Seteal asked with renewed interest.
    ‘ This is for you,’ he
answered, handing Seteal a thick black book.
    ‘ The Holy Tome?’ She
recoiled. ‘My father already has one of these.’
    ‘ It was your
mother’s,’ Gez-reil stated.
    ‘ Thank you.’ Seteal
clung to the old book, it having instantly become
precious.
    ‘ Read it,’ Gez-reil
advised. ‘It may be of more use to you than you think.’
    ‘ I doubt that.’
Seteal frowned. She didn’t appreciate the sermon.
    ‘ Seteal doesn’t
believe in the Tome,’ El-i-miir explained apologetically, her eyes
averted.
    ‘ How ironic.’ The
elder chuckled more to himself than anyone else. ‘Well . . . keep
it all the same.’
    ‘ I will,’ Seteal
replied. ‘How did you come to find it?’
    ‘ Your mother used to
stay at my house on the odd occasion when Far-a-mael was away on
business,’ Gez-reil intoned.
    ‘ How