The Subtle Beauty Read Online Free PDF Page B

Xander felt that he should be shut away. Sickly and weak he was not. Where most babes grow out of some shortcomings at birth, the years had not improved or been kind to Eoghan. His crumbled nose had grown black and dead. The twisted spine stretched beyond his bottom. He never allowed Maeb to trim his nails. Whenever he got away with something, he behaved as though it were a giant joke. Maeb tried to keep him in line, but she was no match for his savage strength. He was smart, too. Xander saw it clearly. The boy knew how to throw his weight around and when to use someone else’s moment of weakness to his advantage. He could act dull and helpless, but there was no mistaking the intelligence in his eyes.
    He grunted and whimpered as he ate Xander’s food, possessive as though he had never been fed. Xander stared into the fire. His shoulders rose to his ears in disgust. His jaw clenched. His fists tightened. A roar rose in his throat.
    “ Maeb! ”
    The nursemaid hurried in.
    “Get him out of my sight.” Xander pounded the fireplace mortar, glancing sideways at the animal that was his son.
    Maeb scurried to the boy and scolded him softly in his mother’s tongue.
    Eoghan bared his teeth and growled.
    “Naughty boy. Come now, Eoghan.” Maeb tried to reach him. Eoghan ducked away, ham bone in teeth, spilling what little food was left with a clatter.
    Maeb chased him, hand splayed to catch him, but the boy was too quick.
    Xander spun on his heel with an angry holler, snatching Eoghan by the scruff of his neck. He lifted the boy and glared eye to eye with him. Eoghan blinked, chin trembling. He proffered the ham bone to his father.
    Xander grabbed it and flung Eoghan to the floor then hurled the bone into the fire.
    Eoghan crab-walked across the floor, his eyes never leaving Xander.
    “Honestly I do not know why I keep you, Maeb,” Xander spat.
    Maeb wiped her tears away. She knelt beside Eoghan and stroked his hair.
    “If you cannot control him…”
    Maeb kissed Eoghan’s temple, caressing his ruddy cheek.
    “I should just shut him away,” Xander said quietly.
    “Aowyn would never forgive you,” Maeb choked bitterly.
    Xander could barely swallow. His eyes rose to Idegwaed. “She never will.”
    Xander’s hand shot to Idegwaed’s hilt. He took her from the mantle and rounded violently. “I should have sent you with her. Aowyn is gone, Maeb… and so shall you be come morning.”
    Eoghan rolled and scuttled from the room with wide eyes. Maeb stared up at her master helplessly. “What are you going to do?”
    Xander raised the blade and felt the blood cry of old rising inside of him. “I’m going to end this.”
     
    Rhun plodded wearily through the swamp of Morgorth until he refused to go further. Xander dismounted and swung the reins over the stallion’s head. Rhun resisted being led at first, but gave in and followed. Xander hoped he could still find Sylas in this dark and vile place. What if the shack was abandoned? What if Sylas had been killed by some new creature Xander had brought upon the land?
    A dull pain in his hip reminded him of the power Sylas wielded and promised death was not likely for the warlock. The crackle of campfire and the sway of lichen ahead put aside any doubts Xander had remaining. He ground-tied Rhun near a log and a patch of green and made his way into camp.
    “I summon thee, Sylas Mortas!”
    Sylas appeared a moment later in the doorway of his little shack. A slow, thin smile snaked across his face. “I was beginning to wonder when you would return. Are you satisfied with yourself?”
    Xander drew Idegwaed and cast her into the ground. She stuck a few feet away, wobbling slightly.
    “No deal.” Xander crossed his arms.
    Sylas’s black, almond eyes narrowed. The gills on his neck opened and closed slowly. “I’m afraid it’s too late for refunds.”
    Xander remained firm. “I said, ‘No deal.’ Your blade has brought me nothing but heartache and strife. It has cursed my