The Long War by Linda Nagata

Author:Linda Nagata [Nagata, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: noble bright, secondary world fantasy, origin myths, nature spirits, young adult, fantasy book series, epic fantasy series
ISBN: 9781937197360
Publisher: Mythic Island Press LLC
Published: 2021-03-26T04:00:00+00:00

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Kaliel and Fen did not give up the hunt, but they soon lost ground, for there were too many passers-by and children about to risk a gallop. Bennek reached the keep well ahead of them. He found the great doors standing open as always. He burst past them, startling a sage who was passing to the library.

“Slow down, boy! Have a care. Anyone would think the arowl pursue you!”

“Your pardon, ma’am, but where is Jahallon? Where does he keep himself?”

With a nod of her head she indicated the stairs. “Climb until you can climb no more. You will find him at his ease. His council is just ended.”

“I thank you, ma’am.” Bennek set off up the stairs, but he had not gone far when he heard the clatter of pursuing boots behind him.

“Bennek!” Kaliel called. “You must not be rash!”

Bennek made no answer, but continued his limping ascent until at last he came to the stair’s end. There he found a door standing partly open. He pushed past it.

A wide chamber lay beyond, furnished with a long table and sturdy chairs with worn cushions. A fire burned on the hearth. A small girl who had been clearing dishes from the table looked up at him in surprise.

“Where is Jahallon?” he asked her.

She pointed across the room, where open doors gave onto the top of the seaward wall. Jahallon stood there, gazing at the wide sea that rolled gray beneath heavy clouds.

Bennek started toward him, but just then Kaliel burst into the room, with Fen only a few steps behind. The girl shouted in alarm, and Jahallon turned, his hand reaching for an absent sword.

“Jahallon, War Father.” Bennek went to meet him. He went to his knees before him, as Jahallon crossed over the threshold. “War Father, why have you turned my friends against me? I am a man of Samokea. It is my own choice to go or come. Do not make me challenge those I love to win the freedom that is mine. You must tell them to stand aside. I beg you. I only seek to return to my duty. You must let me go.”

“That I cannot do,” Jahallon said, and no softness showed in his face.

“War Father, I serve the Snow Chanter—”

“Do you?” Jahallon half-turned toward the battlement. “And how deep does your devotion run? Would you throw yourself from this wall onto the rocks below if she commanded it of you?”

“Sir? The Snow Chanter would never ask such a thing of me.”

“Yet to cross the Glycian now would bring as certain a death.” His brows drew together in a disapproving scowl. “Why are you on the floor? Get up.”

Bennek did so. Jahallon strode past him and Bennek turned to follow. “Sir—”

“See here,” Jahallon said. He went to the table, where there was a map. It showed Habaddon and the lands around. “The men of Habaddon keep watch over all this land, from Fathalia, all along the shore of the Glycian, and west to Nendaganon.

“The arowl pits at Nendaganon have been little used for years upon years.

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