Kastori Tribulations (The Kastori Chronicles Book 3) by Stephen Allan Read Free Book Online

springing to mind: politics.
    It was a word which he feared would haunt and shackle him in a way nothing else ever would.
    In what world should a bitter old lady ever keep someone like me from their goals?
    “Tell me what you plan to do tomorrow for your birthday.”
    The new topic shifted Typhos into high gear, who not only lost track of time, but also the surroundings. He talked about his plans for magic shows, competitions, and hunting expeditions. He became grossly enamored in discussing what he and Pagus would plan—even dropping the bet with asking out Hanna. His father laughed and, much to the pleasant surprise of Typhos, followed it up with normal breathing and not the hacking of the dying.
    “Remember, she may say no, but better to have no girl than no legs,” Adanus said with a warm smile. “I wouldn’t make our fittest Kastori climb half of Mount Ardor.”
    “Is it possible to scale the whole thing?”
    Adanus smirked.
    “You’ll die before you even get halfway up. So it’s as possible as surviving a fall from the peak.”
    Typhos laughed and turned at the sound of footsteps. Figuring Pagus wanted to tell him something, he turned over his right shoulder first but saw nothing. He turned back the other way and saw his mother coming. She walked wearily and with a slow, deliberate pace. His father stood and gingerly walked over, just out of earshot of the boy. The two exchanged a soft, tender hug as Adanus kissed Aida. The two turned back to their only son, holding hands.
    “Adanus is looking good, isn’t he?” his mother said, with something of desperation in her voice.
    Not really. Worse, probably.
    Typhos opened his mouth and hesitated for just a second when he saw his father wink.
    “Yeah, much better,” Typhos said, trying to sound uplifting but the effort too apparent.
    “Our son has done much today, Aida, and has an even bigger day tomorrow. We’ll need to officiate some magic competition and help set up some other things. Think you can do that?”
    His mother smiled.
    “Not only do I think I can do that, I know I can do that all day!”
    Typhos rushed over and embraced both his parents tightly in a group hug, so overwhelmed he nearly cried. He still couldn’t remember the last time he had both parents together for the entire day.
    “Thanks, Mom,” he said, his voice quivering.
    “Anything for my little boy,” she said, causing a rolling of Typhos’ eyes and laughter from his father.
    “I’m fifteen, not five. I won’t be so little anymore.”
    “As long as you’re my son, you’ll always be my little boy.”
    Typhos groaned jokingly as he squeezed his parents tighter.
    Finally.
    Nothing could possibly bring down tomorrow.

 
     
     
     
    7
    Typhos’ eyes opened from the few hours of sleep he had mustered as an uncontrolled, wide grin formed on his lips.
    The perfect day.
    Outside, the sounds of aviants cawing and flying filled his ears. A gentle breeze whooshed outside, loud enough to be heard but not disruptive enough to have woken anyone else in his tent. He glanced over and saw his parents still asleep, cuddling each other. His mother’s right arm lay over his father, who lay on his right side, facing away from Typhos. Wake up! Wake up!
    Remember. Entitlement. Don’t have it. Let them rest. The sun hasn’t even risen yet. When it’s time, they’ll be there. They promised.
    Typhos quietly removed the blankets from his body and rose. He glanced once more at his parents, who both slept like an ursus during winter. He decided if they had not woken by the time Pagus came out, he would gently shake them awake. That gave them at least a couple more hours.
    Typhos walked gently toward the flap of his tent, making sure each step landed softly, and emerged outside to see a brightening sky, but one without the sun this early. He looked at the woods, and his stomach growled once. My day. My style. Ursus time.
    And Pagus doesn’t get any unless he likes my cooking.
    Which he doesn’t.