Abendau's Heir (The Inheritance Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

care of nothing, made nothing all right.
    His father walked steadily, but he looked small, lacking the authority he normally carried. His pilot’s suit hung on him; his shoulders were tense, his hands shaking a little. Silently, he waited until the sealed door opened, and then stepped through, Darwin following.
    Major Berne waited for him and Karia to pass through. Her face showed no emotion, nothing to say she was sorry about the decision she’d taken. He stopped at the bottom of the walkway onto the ship, the same walkway he’d run from two weeks ago, sure he’d reached safety. He didn’t want to go onto the ship; there’d be no going back.
    “Dad…” he said, and didn’t know what he was trying to ask. Stop it happening, he supposed: change their minds.
    His dad gave something of a nod, and turned to Darwin. “Please.” His voice was strained and husky. “They’re only children. Let them stay.”
    Darwin’s face softened, giving hope, but Rjala cleared her throat and he shook his head.
    “If it were up to me…” His voice tailed off, and he straightened. “This is the right thing to do. They won’t have any life here.”
    “You know that’s a lie.” Dad faced Darwin, seeming a little stronger. He pointed at the ship. “They didn’t have much of a life there, either. They don’t need much.”
    “We can’t.” The soft words were more final than the look on Darwin’s face.
    “Do what you want with me, cast me out, whatever you need," said his dad. "But keep them here. It’s the only home they’ve ever known, apart from the ship.” He grabbed Darwin’s arm. “Didn’t I earn that right for them? When we built the Banned up from the rabble it was? When I trained the flight teams that still defend the base, built your fleet from scratch? Does that mean nothing?”
    “Oh, Ealyn.” Darwin’s eyes flicked from Dad, to Karia, to Kare. “It means everything. It’s why we’ve given you shelter. It’s why we’re making sure the children have somewhere safe to go.” His gaze stopped at Kare. “We can provide two safe houses, you know.”
    “No.” Dad dropped his hand. “We do it as agreed– we choose one each. It’s safer.”
    Karia started and Kare felt her realisation, in tandem with his own. They were going to be separated. That couldn’t be. He could face anything, if he had to, as long as she was there.
    “You can’t.” Karia faced Darwin, arms crossed, eyes flashing fire. “You can’t do this to us. We’ve done nothing wrong.”
    Kare joined her, standing side by side. Solidarity had been the only thing they’d had in life. “I won’t leave. Not unless we’re staying together.”
    “Enough.” Rjala stepped forwards, away from the door. “We can’t keep you safe here. Not with our current defences.” She didn’t say she was sorry, didn’t show any emotion. It was as if she was talking about checks on a tick-flick board, not people. Kare glared at her but she didn’t look at him, didn’t look at anyone except Dad. “You know that, Ealyn. You led the flight teams during the Empress’ last raids. You knew when you left that we had to build up the inner system defences. I’m five years away from them being operational. Until then, I can’t guarantee the twins’ safety. And they’re too important to risk.”
    He gave a curt nod. He held his hands out, but they were shaking. “Come on, kids. Let’s go.”
    Dad took their hands, closing them in his own. They started up the walkway, side by side. Behind, there was silence. They reached the top, and his dad stopped and turned back.
    “Whatever happens– ” he said. Kare saw his throat bob as he swallowed. “You did this. You sent us away. Remember that, Rjala. If anything happens, you did it.” He looked at Darwin. “And you? You didn’t fight for us.”
    “I tried.” Darwin’s voice raised, but he didn’t sound angry, more resigned. He stepped closer, almost onto the walkway. He spread his hands.