A Fledgling for Summer's Rising (Santaclaws Book 3) by Marc Secchia

Author:Marc Secchia [Secchia, Marc]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11: Plots and Plans

TWO HOURS AFTER DARK, Kalar and Rhyl accompanied Azuzithyalé to the armoury to choose weapons. She asked what free people did with their time. Keir suggested that whiling away the hours kissing gorgeous boyfriends was a large part of the freedom deal. In the lamplight, her eyes again waxed golden with delight. He loved that about her. Incredible magic. Plus, she was not so gullible as to think he was telling the truth, while being smart enough to play along.

‘Kissing? So much to learn about being free,’ she suggested shyly. Or was that, slyly?

Kalar said, “Lass, ye will come to realise that freedom is now’t all it’s cracked up to be. Many are the chains that bind us, be those circumstance or health, wealth or nay, and who our friends and family and children are, to name but a wee few examples. The key, if I may offer a frank fatherly word – and also to ye, Rhyl and Keir – is to discover yer true purpose. Ye will ken it when yer souls sing to think upon it. But in the noo, be informed well and true that purpose does now’t always drop out of the sky in the form of a blazing Dragon egg, alright?”

“What, destiny is now’t some club that whangs ye over the noggin?” Keir protested. “That’s now’t my experience, Dad.”

Rhyl said, “Nor does it necessarily come with a handsome Prince in tow.”

Azuzithyalé threw her a startled glance.

“My cousin’s engaged to the fourth Prince of Amarinthe, a hopeless scoundrel called Prince Zyran,” Keir explained. “Also my best friend. I … well, we need to tell ye a long story later, Azuzithyalé, dinnae we agree, Rhyl?”

She said, “Aye, and I’ll tell ye all of Keir’s secrets, alright?”

Did the prospect daunt a former slave girl?

His father put in, “I was trying to offer a serious word about life here, children. Purpose!” He waggled a finger beneath Keir’s nose. “Hear ye this wee pearl of wisdom, and I pray it may find root and use in yer lives. Purpose takes time and reflection. Discovery. Challenge. Struggle. Purpose may entail travel to places ye’ve never seen before, or helping others find their purpose first. It may present itself as impossibly complicated, but sometimes when ye recognise it for what it is, it oftentimes turns out to be something simple, even instinctual. Ye must ken who ye are, inside, in order to ken what to do.”

As they descended a spiral staircase deeper into the wooden fortress, Keir reflected upon this. “Dad, what’s yer purpose?”

He said, “I’ll see my family to safety in Aryssillati Clan territory. Then, I must return to Faifarathi Elvenholme and rouse the Jungles to the drumbeat of war. My King needs me. What about ye?”

“Ah … change the world?”

Rhyl punched his arm lightly. “Are ye ever serious?”

That smarted, but not because of the physical punch. He said, “Och aye, that I am, cousin. Like a good play, my purpose comes in several acts. First

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