Exile's Return (Book 1) by Kate Jacoby Read Free Book Online Page B

played about his brother’s face for a moment. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve been practising. Oh, Finn, if only I’d known.’
    ‘But you did know. You started shielding almost the moment you arrived.’
    ‘Did I?’ Robert pulled the stopper out of the flask and held it out to him. ‘The last of the Rennish ale. Would you like some?’
    Finnlay stared at the flask. Yes, something wasn’t right here. Robert was behaving as though he’d never been away – as though he’d seen Finnlay only last week. He was acting as if he’d never promised never to return to Lusara.
    Taking the flask, Finnlay swallowed the bitter liquid, using the time to get his thoughts back in order. Regardless of what his brother was thinking, there were still important matters to discuss. There would be time to work out what was wrong later.
    Finnlay handed the flask back and tried again. ‘Robert, I have to tell you something.’
    ‘Oh?’
    ‘It’s about Marcus, Robert. I’m sorry, but he’s dead.’
    Robert froze in the act of taking a drink from the flask. Slowly he lowered it from his mouth and closed his eyes.
    Micah came around the horses and stood between them. ‘When? How?’
    ‘Almost two weeks ago, from a fever. He fell ill then three days later he was gone.’
    ‘Mineah grant him peace,’ Micah whispered.
    ‘Aye,’ Robert looked back at Finnlay. ‘And Ayn? Have you seen her? How is she?’
    ‘I don’t really know. She sent me a message. She seemed to be taking it well.’
    ‘Aye, she would.’ Robert turned away, his head lowered.
    Finnlay glanced at Micah then, unable to help himself, blurted, ‘Robert, there’s to be a Gathering, to choose a successor to Marcus. You must come.’
    Robert kept walking until he reached the fallen log. There he sat, resting his elbows on his knees. ‘I know what you’re about to say, Finn. I don’t want to discuss it again.’
    ‘But you know what will happen if you don’t—’
    ‘I said I don’t want to discuss it,’ Robert interrupted wearily. ‘If you’ve exerted yourself to find me only to have an argument, then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.’
    Finnlay stared at him. Suddenly, all his calm, all his good intentions – all the peace of the last three years drained away – and was instantly replaced by the same blinding anger which had always dominated their relationship. Anger from Finnlay and a flat calm from Robert.
    He strode forward, his heart racing. ‘I don’t believe it! After three years you still care so little?’ He spat the words out, daring his brother to respond.
    And Robert did. He glanced up from his seat and pinned his younger brother with a gaze of steel. ‘Then you haven’t changed, have you? For a moment there, I allowed myself to believe the impossible. Still, you have your heart fixed on an argument, brother. By all means, don’t let me stop you.’
    Finnlay couldn’t hold the gaze and looked away. He saw Micah take up the horses’ leads and move them away fromthe stream. As always, Micah was either unconcerned or unaffected by the obvious rift between the brothers. For some reason, Finnlay found that comforting – just enough for him to get a hold on his fury. When he finally turned back to Robert, his anger was under control – mostly.
    ‘You know the Enclave needs you, Robert,’ Finnlay began, still determined to have his say. ‘And with Marcus gone, they need direction – your direction. You must Stand the Circle and take his place.’
    ‘I must?’ Robert whispered.
    ‘By the gods, yes! How long is this to go on?’ Finnlay shook his head, totally bewildered. There was no fight in Robert at all! With growing fear, he continued insistently, urgently, ‘While you still had a seat on the Council we could understand the good you could do – if not the means by which you chose to do it. And when Berenice died it was understandable. But it’s been three years, Robert. How long will you keep up this …’ Finnlay’s