Angels of Perdition by R. M. Garino

Author:R. M. Garino [Garino, R. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B07L7CJ7WK
Published: 2018-12-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Closing Invocation

The closing invocation of the histories brought a round of cheers. The cacophony signaled not just the listeners’ pleasure with the performance, but their pride of who they were, and what their people had endured. The din vibrated the foundations of the mountains, as if to remind the Creator and all the Aesari that they would stand with pride to defend who and what they were. Sui Rhen’val, El’Cain Tu’renthien, Thenaria Tu’renthien; these were their heroes; these were the models they sought to emulate.

The uproar faded. Dancing and music would follow—later, after the heat in their hearts was tempered and quenched with more drink and much discussion over what they’d heard. Already a general buzz filled the room, punctuated by calls for ale or spirits. The graduates who were assigned to wait on the crowd jumped from their seats and rushed to fill the requests.

Angus and Arielle remained in the spot they’d chosen for themselves. Their Prides were scheduled to serve in the morning, so they could enjoy the evening. They were secluded, and well away from either group.

“What happened to Rastef, the Lost Child?” Arielle said. “The historians never mention him more than to say that Thenaria took him as her own.”

“I’m not sure,” Angus said, frowning. “My mother knew him, and my father doesn’t care for him. But that’s as much as I know. We’ve never met, and they don’t talk about him much. Grandmother was supposedly very attached to him. I guess he died.”

“You’re going to introduce me to her tomorrow?” Arielle said. “Aren’t you?”

“It’s only proper,” Angus said. “She is my grandmother, after all. But don’t worry. I’m sure she won’t even hear me speak. Just bow, and wait until she walks past.”

“And if she wants to talk to me?” Arielle said. “What could I possibly say to the Matriarch, especially after all I’ve heard tonight? Aside from a handful of E’ine, she’s the only living person who experienced the Apostate’s war. She’d see me as an infant.”

“I doubt she’ll see you at all,” Angus said. “I’ll be introducing you, remember? If she does talk to you, compliment her on her appearance. I hear she’s quite vain. She doesn’t look much older than us. If not for the damage to her eyes, you’d never know she was over seven thousand years old.”

“That doesn’t help much.”

“Don’t worry. Besides, it’s not her I want you to meet. If it were up to me, I’d ignore the shrew entirely. I want you to meet my grandfather, and my parents. And Melinah, if I can steal her away. Just be yourself with them, and you’ll be fine.”

“Your grandfather is not as old as the Matriarch, is he?”

“Granddad?” Angus said with a chuckle. “Feck no! He’s an age with the Commandant. Not nearly so old as she. No one is.”

“So he was not Li’Lian’s father?”

“Nope,” he said as he took a drink. “I don’t even know the name of Li’Lian’s father. I doubt my mother does either. The entire subject is sort of taboo in the family.

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