Nightfall: Book Two of the Chronicles of Arden by Shiriluna Nott, SaJa H Read Free Book Online

meeting, it was probable Gib would also be in attendance. What would it feel like to lay eyes upon him after so many moonturns apart? Would Gib be as excited to see Joel as the mage was to see Gib?
    The sound of a door flying open drew Joel’s attention to the end of the long hallway. He looked up, heart racing in his chest, as men began to pour from within the arched frame leading to the council chamber. It appeared that he and Cenric had arrived just in time. Peering down the hall, Joel hoped to catch a glimpse of familiar faces within the crowd.
    Unfortunately, it was the face of Joel’s uncle, High Councilor Neetra Adelwijn, which first came into view. With his lips pulled back in a scowl and dark eyes glinting, Neetra conversed with another councilor, snide voice traveling down the corridor, and despite knowing it would be considered impolite not to greet him, Joel stepped back and kept his head lowered so he’d go unnoticed by the High Councilor.
    Joel didn’t dare look up again until his uncle had already stormed past. Good. It appears Neetra didn’t notice me—or didn’t care to stop and say hello . Breathing a sigh of relief, a smile crossed his lips when he next looked down the hall. There, by the open door, his father stood between King Rishi and Marc Arrio.
    “Father!” Joel called, mage robe billowing around his body as he swept toward the men.
    Koal Adelwijn must have heard him, for the seneschal’s head shot up. His blue orbs darted across the crowded hall before settling on Joel, eyes lighting up at the sight of his son.
    Small creases formed around the corners of Koal’s mouth as he smiled and raised a hand in greeting. As Joel drew nearer, he hesitated. Should I—will it be all right to hug him here in front of everyone?
    He wasn’t left fretting for long as Koal took the step forward to put his arms around his son. “Welcome home. Do you feel old yet?”
    “Older perhaps, but none the wiser.” Joel laughed and took the briefest moment to enjoy his father’s affection.
    As the embrace came to an end, Joel noticed Cenric bowing and quickly followed suit. You imbecile. Way to be respectful . Joel wasn’t sure how he’d managed to forget the King was standing right there.
    King Rishi flicked a wrist, motioning for the pair to stand. With a smirk, he turned to Koal. “Fantastic. Your good son has returned.”
    Aodan Galloway, the King’s personal bodyguard, snorted from behind the King, and even Koal’s mouth twitched as though he wanted to laugh.
    A chuckle tickled the back of Joel’s throat, but he knew it would be best to keep quiet. Straightening his back, he rose to his full height just in time to see Koal tense.
    “Brother.”
    Joel stiffened when Liro’s cold voice cut through the room like brittle ice. The older Adelwijn brother stood at the base of the gallery staircase but made no move to come closer. As always, his blue eyes were hard and critical. Joel’s heart pained as he recalled a time when Liro hadn’t looked upon his brother with such condemnation. They’d been friends once.
    “Hello, Liro,” Joel whispered in as civil a tone as he could muster. “I’m glad to see you’re well.”
    “Likewise.” The words held not a trace of warmth.
    “We shall have to catch up sometime soon,” Joel risked, hoping maybe Liro had had a change of heart while Joel had been away.
    Liro locked his jaw. “I have an appointment at the Healer’s Pavilion. I must take my leave.” He gave their father a curt nod and reserved a bow for King Rishi. “Father, Highness.” Turning on his heels, Liro departed without another word.
    When did our relationship become so broken? Joel swallowed his despair and turned toward Marc Arrio next, who gave Joel a hearty clasp on his shoulder. Dean of Academy and longtime friend of the Adelwijn family, Marc had been one of the first people to accept Joel when the mage trainee, then fourteen, admitted to the rest of the world his preference of liking