Oath Keeper by Jefferson Smith

Author:Jefferson Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780991933440
Publisher: Creativity Hacker Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

It was a very different Kijamon who summoned the family to gather around the forge that evening. This Kijamon was not the man Tayna had seen earlier—the seemingly unstoppable idea machine who juggled twenty conversations at once. This was a softer Kijamon. A quieter, more contemplative Kijamon. He’d been that way ever since Abeni had returned from reporting to Mabundi.

“Matters of honor have been brought to the family,” Kijamon said, his gaze flicking toward his son. And then to her.

Tayna stepped back from the forge. “I, uh, should leave you to discuss it,” she said, but Kijamon raised a hand.

“Please stay,” he said, gesturing her back to her place. “As the closest witness in these matters, you honor our House by bearing witness to our decisions as well.” Tayna glanced around uncomfortably for a moment and then shrugged and resumed her place at the forge.

While there were several small clusters of furniture scattered around the perimeter, the middle of the room was empty, occupied only by the massive stone forge. Apparently, it could be moved around the workshop, to suit whatever Kijamon wanted to work on. Although how he moved something that big, Tayna couldn’t imagine. Until she remembered the Wagon.

The floor of the room was dotted with circular rings—caps that covered wind ducts, Zimu had explained. Each duct was a separate channel for the winds that raced upward through the Wind Forge from below. Each time the forge was moved, one of the covers would be removed and the forge centered over it, allowing Kijamon to harness the very wind itself to serve as his bellows. Hence the name: Wind Forge. And the actual forge at its heart had always served as the centerpiece to all serious family discussions in House Kijamon, as it did again now.

The entire family was in attendance, except for Sarqi, who, the Gnome Ambassador had been happy to inform them, was now a guest of King Angiron, although nobody seemed sure just what that meant.

Standing here now, included in such a private family meeting as this, Tayna felt a number of conflicting emotions. She felt sad that Sarqi wasn’t here, although glad that he was okay. She felt lonely, being an outsider in an unfamiliar place. She even felt a pang of jealousy. Family yours, peril great, and all that.

But most of all, it made her feel short. These people were huge.

“We gather the House to decide matters of Honor,” Kijamon began. “Since the first days of this dwelling, this forge has been the very crucible of our House, giving heat, and light, and work. Giving honor. Every matter of duty has been sworn by its light. Every judgment has been warmed by its heat. The very name of House Kijamon has been hammered and shaped in its flame. And so now today, do we forge honor again.”

Beside her, Abeni shifted awkwardly on his feet, as though he was the stranger here. Poor guy. Tayna reached out and patted his hand. Around the forge, the gesture was noticed, even drawing a smile from Abeni’s mother.

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