The Starfall Knight Read Online Free PDF Page A

native, Tayu had an even closer association with the field than Devan.  “I can’t say much more.”
    “Anything?”
    “I can’t.”
    “Secret ranger business, then.”  Tayu mimed vomiting.  “Well, I heard that it’s a body.  The starfall knight.  Moons above, that’s a long drop, wouldn’t it be?”
    “If it’s even true in the first place,” Devan replied.
    “But people saw the falling star in the sky.  Was the ground hot, like the falling star that hit Masteney a few years back?  It was only a small bit of rock but still lit up the sky with all that fire.”
    “If it fell so far, there wouldn’t have been anything for us to recover,” Devan said.  “That’s why I don’t think it came from the sky.”
    Tayu grunted.  “All right, then.  We’ll find out soon enough.”
    “Aye, soon.”
    Tayu nodded, seemingly satisfied.  Like Devan, he had never had a chance to study at the Centaran university but the faculty’s public lectures and presentations were still as fascinating.  They were bound to present the knight in the interests of public education.
    “So,” Tayu said, “are you scheduled to check the armoury for storm damage?”
    Devan glanced sidelong at his childhood friend.  “I am.”
    “I’ll come with.”
    “They’re not toys!”
     
    Alessa shook out the bedsheet, savouring the quick moment when the scent of the freshly washed linen overpowered the stale virid smoke that permeated the shack.  The sheet fluttered to rest on the cot and Alessa folded it with practiced ease.
    Sitting with his feet on the single rickety table, Leonus inhaled deeply from a ceramic pipe.  It was never too early in the morning for virid.
    “You want some?”  Leonus puffed out another breathful of the acrid smoke.
    “No, thanks,” Alessa said.  She reached for another sheet to fold.
    “Suit yourself.”  Leonus took another hit from the pipe and tapped out the ashen remnants of virid.  As he exhaled, he left his seat and crouched over the crate of food that had been delivered the previous evening.  Leonus picked out a bunch of carrots that appeared more like crooked orange fingers.  “I’m off to trade for more virid.”  He gestured to the table, the ashes and the mud from his boots.  “And clean all of this shit, will you?”
    “Of course.”  Alessa affected a timid curtsey and Leonus left, slamming the door behind him.
    She continued folding the sheet and hung Leonus’ clothes near the fireplace.  Alessa glanced out of the window, finally satisfied that he wasn’t returning unexpectedly.
    Alessa swept the table perfunctorily and hunkered next to the crate of food.  Leonus was an insufferable bastard most of the time but when he had items to trade for virid, he was tolerable.  Strange that such a little leaf could be such a help.
    She rummaged through the crate, searching for items that Leonus would not trade for virid.  Yet, while he was intoxicated, he wouldn’t bother eating.  Alessa pulled out a half-loaf of bread, a handful of dried beef and a wedge of goat cheese.  She wrapped the items in one of Leonus’ clean shirts and shoved them into her hessian laundry bag – some dirty clothes and old rags on top for good measure.
    Alessa spared a glance at Leonus’ knife collection – no, he would definitely miss one regardless of his condition – and scurried out of the cabin.
    With her head bowed at the appropriate level, Alessa headed back to her own shack, little more than a box attached to her father’s.  She ignored the mud splattering her legs with every step.  The bounty in her laundry sack felt as if it would burn through and expose her theft.
    The mood of the shanties had considerably lightened with the influx of food, drink and captives.  Alessa knew from experience that the elation would last for a few days, at least hunger returned and the Tarians rejoined the misery of the Ceres and Serpens gangs.  For now, the leering gazes that followed her