Ways of Power 1: Power Rises by R. M. Willis Read Free Book Online

out to retrieve something to eat for the mid-day meal, it turned out to be a very good day. Finally, as evening approached, Dorbin turned to the young man for whom he actually cared a great deal and asked, "So laddy arre you gonna tell me why you'rre still herre?"
    With a look of confusion, Rancoth replied, "What do you mean? I thought I was helping you."
    "Yes, you arre, but you norrmally go home long beforre this time o' day. So theirr must be something wrrong."
    Rancoth sighed, and looked at his feet. He hadn't realized until Dorbin broke the silence that they had finished working some time ago, and had been sitting in silence ever since.
    "It's nothing, I'll just go." Rancoth stood to leave, but Dorbin blocked his path.
    "Eh' don't go feeding me any shite, what's the matterr?" Dorbin had a look of fierce determination and concern on his face; he was not going to let the young man go until he spilled his guts.
    "All right, all right--it's my father. He’s supposed to be meeting Grecrum and me for dinner tonight. I was hoping if we got caught up working for long enough I might miss it. I have no desire to see him."
    Dorbin's features softened, a look of understanding dawning across his face. "Ah, I see…"
    "So…what else can I do to help you?" Rancoth asked with more than a hint of desperation in his voice.
    "I'm sorrry lad, but I think you should go and see yourr fatherr."
    Rancoth knew that Dorbin hated not being able to rescue him, but he knew deep down that he needed this. It was time for him to face at least some of the ghosts of his past.
    "But you'rre morre than welcome to come back tomorrrow." With that Dorbin winked and left him to his thoughts.
    Rancoth watched as Dorbin went from the dingy workroom back to his sleeping area with a feeling of affection for the little man. Next to Grecrum, Dorbin was his favorite person in the whole world. He sighed and began the short, but impossibly long, trek back to the tower.

8
     
    As he approached the private dining room Rancoth could hear hushed voices in deep conversation within. He decided to pause, and try to make out what he could before entering.
    "…you're his father, and it was your home."
    "I know, but what if he refuses? What if he doesn't even come back here tonight? You know he hates me, and rightly so. I can't do it alone--I can't go back in there."
    "Rancoth has grown into a kind-hearted, respectable young man. You would be proud of him, Adroman. He's a bit arrogant at times, but weren't we all at that age? Trust me, when he knows what is at stake, he will do it."
    "Do what?" Rancoth asked, Grecrum’s praise finally giving him the nerve to walk through the door. At that moment he knew no matter what happened, or what was said this evening, Grecrum was proud of him.
    He paused and looked at the two of them; faces twisted with surprise and a hint of embarrassment. Other than the shared expression on their faces the men were strikingly different in appearance, and the years had been kind to only one of them.
    Both were tall and bald. But where Grecrum's light complexion was soft and round with a friendly clean-shaven face, Adroman's dark face was creased with lines, and his once muscular physique was now rail thin. His features were sharp and gaunt, with a thin gray-streaked mustache and goatee. Grecrum's glowing blue eyes radiated with wisdom and confidence, while Adroman's dimly lit yellow ones betrayed his emptiness and sorrow.
    In that moment Rancoth's heart was no longer filled with anger and loathing for the man he once called Father. Instead, it was replaced by pity for the broken shell that sat before him. Rancoth was not entirely sure which was worse, but he thought at least he would be able to make it through the evening.
    Grecrum was first to breach the awkward silence. "Rancoth, please. Come in, sit down. How long were you out there?"
    Rancoth approached and sat opposite them, unconsciously using the table as a barrier. "Long enough to know that