Moonbreaker by Simon R. Green

Author:Simon R. Green
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2017-05-01T16:19:02+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

We Need to Talk about Edmund

The war was over, and the Droods went home.

I walked through the front door with Molly on my arm, each of us leaning companionably on the other. It took a while to make our way through the entrance hall, as part of a stream of triumphant but deathly tired Droods. People chattered loudly all around us, discussing things they’d seen and done out in the grounds, that they hadn’t expected to have to deal with when they got up in the morning. And of course everyone was arguing about who’d done what and who’d done most. Some weren’t even that sure about who they’d been fighting or why. The Matriarch and the Sarjeant-at-Arms had armoured up and ordered everyone into the fray . . . and everyone just did what they had to and hoped someone would get around to explaining it all later.

The walking wounded and the shell-shocked stumbled along side by side, with empty eyes and heads hanging down, until someone came to lead them away. Others were quiet, mourning fallen friends or loves, but there wasn’t much in the way of tears. Droods are brought up to be self-contained and self-controlled. People triumph and people die, but the family goes on.

I smiled and nodded to those around me, and they nodded and smiled at me. I didn’t feel like talking. I was preoccupied with my own thoughts. Among other things, it had occurred to me that this was probably the last time I’d ever fight alongside my family. My last chance to do something with them that mattered. I was learning the hard way that a large part of dying is saying good-bye to things. Making lists and ticking things off one by one. Last time I’ll do this, or be here, or see that.

I felt tired, so tired. I stumbled suddenly, missing my step, as though the floor wasn’t where I expected it to be. I almost fell, and Molly had to hold me up until I could do it for myself. We stood together in the middle of the entrance hall and let the Droods stream past us, too wrapped up in their own pains and problems to notice mine. I wanted to get moving again, but my head was packed with cotton wool and my thoughts moved slowly, uncertain of their way. Molly looked quickly around, spotted a side door, and half helped, half carried me over to it, snarling viciously at anyone who got in our way. I felt vaguely that I should apologise for her, but by then Molly had kicked open the door and hustled me into the room beyond.

I forced my aching head up, to check where we were. Just a simple open room, large and light and airy, with half a dozen reading tables and some comfortable chairs. Molly slammed the door shut and helped settle me into the nearest chair. I sighed with relief once I didn’t have to carry my own weight any longer.

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