The Nemisin Star Read Online Free PDF Page A

until this is over,” Torrullin said. “Tris has
probably made that clear already, to Skye.”
    “About Tris
and Skye …” Taranis began.
    “Leave it,
father. When it gets to that point I shall decide.”
    Matt said,
“Cat’s chafing at the inactivity. She’ll agitate to be in the thick
of things.”
    Torrullin
squinted at the Dragon doors on the other side of the courtyard. No
sign of Saska. “Then she must be set to rights now.” He rose.
    Taranis and
Matt locked gazes.
    “Is that
wise?” Matt dared.
    “Yes, son. Let
Matt talk to her.”
    “I have stayed
out of her way, but not for this.” Torrullin walked off.
    Matt muttered,
“If he and Saska were okay, I’d have no issue.”
    “I know what
you mean,” Taranis said. “Will Cat read the situation?”
    Matt grimaced.
“She already has.”
     
     
    “Cat, I would
like a word.”
    She glanced at
the Dragon doors and followed Torrullin. “Welcome home.”
    “Thank you.
Are you settling in well?”
    “Yes. What do
you want to say?” she asked.
    “You are to
stay here.”
    “At the
Keep?”
    “Yes, for
safety.”
    “Thanks a
lot.” Cat arched an eyebrow.
    “I am not
going to argue this with you. Skye will be here, Lowen obviously,
and Caballa. Saska will be in and out. The Elders will be around
and Camot’s soldiers.”
    “I thought the
valley was protected.”
    “It is, but
Margus is unpredictable.”
    “We’ll be a
bunch of old men and women.”
    “Gods, don’t
be difficult.”
    Cat looked
away. “Have you told her?”
    “No.”
    “Don’t. You’ve
left it too long now.”
    He did not
respond.
    “I’m right,
you know.”
    “Probably.”
    “I’ll be
circumspect.”
    “Cat.”
    “Relax. I want
to do something.”
    He nodded.
“Good. There will be enough to do here.”
    She threw him
an angry look and stomped from the chamber.
    He jerked
around and returned to the dais.
     
     
    “I need to
talk to Lowen,” Torrullin said.
    “We are off.
Keep in touch,” Vannis said, gesturing to Caltian.
    Taranis said,
“I do not want to start guessing your moves.”
    Torrullin
nodded. “I will keep you up to date.”
    Taranis and
Matt left also.
    As far as I
am able to , Torrullin thought , and gave his attention to
the girl. “Are you happy here on Valaris, Lowen?”
    “I like it
here. It’s nicer than Luvanor.”
    “I am glad.
You call it Luvanor?”
    “That is
Atrudis’ real name.”
    “True names
are important. Yes, I know that well.”
    “You
understand.”
    “I do, and
shall make it clear when I return to Luvanor.” He would not again
think of Atrudis as anything other than Luvanor, that he already
knew. He hunkered. She was not a little girl anymore and yet he was
better able to deal with her when lower than her. “Lowen, you know
who Pretora is?” She nodded. “Pretora has had a message from your
father. It was addressed to me, a while ago, and Pretora held it.
Your father asked for news of you and sent word that matters come
to a head on Xen. He says he is well, he loves you, and maybe your
time apart will be shorter than expected.”
    Her father was
Le Moss Mar Dalrish, Matt and Cat’s cousin. He was Dall Mossen, the
crime lord of Xen III. Dall Reni was his father, and there was only
enmity between the two. Dall Mossen’s sole purpose in life was to
bring Reni to a fall, and Reni desired his son dead. A volatile
situation developed on Xen.
    Lowen’s eyes
glowed.
    “Would you
like to send a letter?”
    “Yes!” she
whispered, hugging herself.
    Torrullin
smiled. “Then go to it, young lady, and when you are done hand it
to Pretora; he will see it arrives safely.”
    Lowen twirled
to charge away, changed her mind and placed a kiss on Torrullin’s
cheek before running out, skipping with every step.
    Torrullin
touched his cheek.
    His sons had
never displayed that kind of affection.

Chapter
4
     
    Know from the
outset every relationship, whether of love or friendship, is
fraught with possibilities and danger.