Read Online Voice Of The Demon (Book 2) by Kate Jacoby - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kate Jacoby
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her a quick hug and they continued back to Martha’s rooms.
*
‘By the gods you should have seen her!’ Finnlay almost spun around the room, filling up wine cups as he went. Arlie, Martha, Fiona and Patric were all absorbed by his story, even though Jenn was sitting quietly by the fire, none too amused. ‘Wilf didn’t know what to say. You’d think she’d already Stood the Circle.’
‘And the hand mark?’ Patric quizzed. ‘Is it permanent?’
‘Unfortunately, yes.’ Jenn grunted. She drained her newly filled cup and reached out for more. ‘Mineah only knows what got into me.’
‘Well, he won’t make that mistake again,’ Finnlay laughed.
‘Oh?’ Jenn snapped, eyeing him dryly. ‘And you think it was a good idea that I should challenge his authority so openly? Don’t you see that I’ve just made exactly the same mistake Robert made? Wilf feels threatened by both of us and in his way, all he was trying to do was make us accept his leadership which, when you think about it, he has a perfect right to do. Now all I’ve done is alienate him – and branded all of you at the same time. Go ahead and gloat, Finn, but I’m the one who’ll have to pay the price in the end. I made a promise I’ll have to stand by. I can only hope Wilf lives a long time.’
Finnlay’s smile vanished and he took a deep breath. He came back to her and slowly refilled her cup. ‘I’m sorry. I should have helped you more. I should have said something so you didn’t have to go so far.’
‘It’s not your fault,’ Jenn glanced up at him and gave him a weary smile. ‘I don’t know why you’re sorry, though. You once tried to convince me to Stand the Circle. You should be happy, wondering if this means I’ll be able to find the Calyx one day.’
Finnlay couldn’t find an answer to that one. Instead, it was Martha who spoke. ‘I think you’ll find that Finnlay’s ambitions have changed a little. Besides, it would dent his pride somewhat if he wasn’t the one who discovered the Calyx himself.’
‘Oh, Martha, I never said that. Besides, if I’m lucky, I might find the Calyx long before Jenn has the chance.’
Fiona took that moment to stand. She moved to the door but paused, her wary gaze sweeping over everybody except Finnlay. ‘Well, this has been very nice, but it’s late and I’m off to bed.’
As she vanished down the corridor, Finnlay started after her, but went no further than the door. He said nothing for a moment, but then his shoulders dropped and he turned back to face Jenn. ‘So what are you going to do?’
‘You’re asking me now?’ Jenn shook her head and got to her feet. ‘Serin’s blood, Finn, haven’t you done enough for one night?’
Jenn didn’t wait for a reply but headed out of the room. She couldn’t think any more. There was only one thing she needed right now. Sleep.
4
Micah waited atop the gatehouse tower. From there he could easily see the procession as it came towards Dunlorn: Deverin and a dozen of his best men, all wearing their livery with pride, surrounding Robert and the horse and cart he towed behind him. As they came closer, Micah could actually see the long wooden casket in the back of the cart.
In the courtyard behind him were gathered the inhabitants of Dunlorn, together with all those who lived close by. All had come to pay their respects, almost five hundred of them. They stood in silence, like Micah, waiting.
The gates were open, the guards lined on either side as Robert approached. He glanced up at Micah once. Was that a warning?
Micah turned and dashed down the steps to greet Robert. Orders were given to take the casket into the family chapel, an honour guard to stand by – and for no one to open the box.
Robert began to climb the steps to the hall. There was nothing in his face, no hint of what had happened. Just a dark shadow around his eyes, the long hair blown back from his brow, his mouth set in a line. His black clothes were muddied and his
*
‘By the gods you should have seen her!’ Finnlay almost spun around the room, filling up wine cups as he went. Arlie, Martha, Fiona and Patric were all absorbed by his story, even though Jenn was sitting quietly by the fire, none too amused. ‘Wilf didn’t know what to say. You’d think she’d already Stood the Circle.’
‘And the hand mark?’ Patric quizzed. ‘Is it permanent?’
‘Unfortunately, yes.’ Jenn grunted. She drained her newly filled cup and reached out for more. ‘Mineah only knows what got into me.’
‘Well, he won’t make that mistake again,’ Finnlay laughed.
‘Oh?’ Jenn snapped, eyeing him dryly. ‘And you think it was a good idea that I should challenge his authority so openly? Don’t you see that I’ve just made exactly the same mistake Robert made? Wilf feels threatened by both of us and in his way, all he was trying to do was make us accept his leadership which, when you think about it, he has a perfect right to do. Now all I’ve done is alienate him – and branded all of you at the same time. Go ahead and gloat, Finn, but I’m the one who’ll have to pay the price in the end. I made a promise I’ll have to stand by. I can only hope Wilf lives a long time.’
Finnlay’s smile vanished and he took a deep breath. He came back to her and slowly refilled her cup. ‘I’m sorry. I should have helped you more. I should have said something so you didn’t have to go so far.’
‘It’s not your fault,’ Jenn glanced up at him and gave him a weary smile. ‘I don’t know why you’re sorry, though. You once tried to convince me to Stand the Circle. You should be happy, wondering if this means I’ll be able to find the Calyx one day.’
Finnlay couldn’t find an answer to that one. Instead, it was Martha who spoke. ‘I think you’ll find that Finnlay’s ambitions have changed a little. Besides, it would dent his pride somewhat if he wasn’t the one who discovered the Calyx himself.’
‘Oh, Martha, I never said that. Besides, if I’m lucky, I might find the Calyx long before Jenn has the chance.’
Fiona took that moment to stand. She moved to the door but paused, her wary gaze sweeping over everybody except Finnlay. ‘Well, this has been very nice, but it’s late and I’m off to bed.’
As she vanished down the corridor, Finnlay started after her, but went no further than the door. He said nothing for a moment, but then his shoulders dropped and he turned back to face Jenn. ‘So what are you going to do?’
‘You’re asking me now?’ Jenn shook her head and got to her feet. ‘Serin’s blood, Finn, haven’t you done enough for one night?’
Jenn didn’t wait for a reply but headed out of the room. She couldn’t think any more. There was only one thing she needed right now. Sleep.
4
Micah waited atop the gatehouse tower. From there he could easily see the procession as it came towards Dunlorn: Deverin and a dozen of his best men, all wearing their livery with pride, surrounding Robert and the horse and cart he towed behind him. As they came closer, Micah could actually see the long wooden casket in the back of the cart.
In the courtyard behind him were gathered the inhabitants of Dunlorn, together with all those who lived close by. All had come to pay their respects, almost five hundred of them. They stood in silence, like Micah, waiting.
The gates were open, the guards lined on either side as Robert approached. He glanced up at Micah once. Was that a warning?
Micah turned and dashed down the steps to greet Robert. Orders were given to take the casket into the family chapel, an honour guard to stand by – and for no one to open the box.
Robert began to climb the steps to the hall. There was nothing in his face, no hint of what had happened. Just a dark shadow around his eyes, the long hair blown back from his brow, his mouth set in a line. His black clothes were muddied and his
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