Flight of the Nighthawks Read Online Free PDF Page A

you can’t very well marry both of them.”
    â€œI wouldn’t marry either,” said Ellie. “They’re like brothers to me.”
    As he moved behind her, placing his hands on her waist and then following her steps, he said, “They obviously don’t think of you as a sister.”
    â€œOh, they would if there were more girls around,” she said, turning to face him before standing still as he bowed before her, ending the dance. She slipped her arm through his and said, “It’s just not fair, the other girls are already spoken for, or too young.”
    Caleb knew what she was thinking. Many children their age had been killed during the last troll raid. There was still ill feeling from the parents of those lost children toward the magicians for not acting sooner. Caleb had been up in the Eastern Kingdoms, working on behalf of the Conclave at the time of the raid. It had occurred nine years ago, when Ellie, Zane, and Tad had been little more than babies.
    Caleb walked Ellie back to the boys slowly, reaching them just as the second song commenced. He planted a strong hand in the middle of Tad’s chest as the blond boy began to protest again, and said, “Son, don’t spoil a perfectly fine festival. You’ll get your turn.”
    Tad seemed ready to argue, but seeing Caleb’s serious expression, he simply let out a slight sigh and nodded. “Yes, Caleb.”
    Caleb was glad it was Zane who had won, for he was the more hot-tempered of the two and would possibly have ignored Caleb and forced him to do something the older man didn’t want to do: stop him physically.
    He studied Tad while Ellie and Zane danced, and watched the boy seethe. Ellie was right; they were acting contrary to their nature.
    When the song was over, Ellie returned and it was Tad’s turn to dance. As he had before, Caleb watched the boy not dancing with Ellie. Zane could barely contain his jealousy.
    When the third song had ended, Caleb said, “I’m in the mood for something to drink, why don’t you three come along?”
    Ellie readily agreed for all of them, and slipped her arm through Caleb’s, leaving the boys to follow. They went to the table where four men were filling flagons of ale and then passing them out as fast as possible. Ellie declined the strong drink, instead accepting Zane’s offer to fetch her a fruit-scented water. Tad volunteered to bring her something to eat, and she declined until she saw him wilt, so said, “Perhaps something light, until we all sit down to eat?”
    He ran off, and Caleb sighed. “What are we going to do with those two?”
    â€œI don’t know, but something. They sit around all day with little to do. They’re not the sort to take to strong drink…yet.”
    Caleb understood. Stardock Town was big enough to support a fair amount of commerce and a little bit of industry—an ironmonger had opened a shop the year before, working ore brought down from the foothills—but most of the work was done by family members. There were always more men than work to be done, and without fathers to teach them a craft, Tad and Zane were growing up without skills. They were becoming wild and feckless.
    He knew them both to be bright, able young men, but without a direction to their lives, they were in danger of becoming lost. More than one younger son had ended up as a bandit, or working hand to mouth in the city.
    Caleb was pondering the matter when Marie reappeared. He nodded to her and moved away from where Zane was anxiously awaiting Ellie’s favor. He kept his voice low so that the boy couldn’t overhear, and said to Marie, “I mistook your meaning before. I thought you meant that you were worried about the boys today. I see what you mean now.”
    She studied his face, then said, “Do you?”
    He nodded. “Let’s keep an eye on them for now and try to have some fun. We’ll speak