Son of Shadow by John Lenahan

Author:John Lenahan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eye Books
Published: 2022-03-17T10:14:41+00:00

SIX

We went single-file down the stone spiral staircase leading to the Chamber of Ruins. Dad told me that when he took the Choosing there was no banister on these stairs and he almost fell coming back up. He had since instituted a team of Leprechauns into a group he called Duir Health and Safety, whom he got to attach a handrail. I was glad it was there. These stairs were steep and smooth from ages of use. You could still break your neck here but not quite as easily as before.

When we finally got to the bottom of the chamber and our inner ears had equalised from the altitude drop, we saw Dad in a tussle with Lord Moil. Apparently Dad had tried to talk some sense into Alroy and his father had physically yanked him away. Dad was now pleading with Lord Moil. ‘You’re killing your son.’

‘You are the one filling him with doubt,’ Moil replied. ‘Shut up, schoolteacher. Alroy is my son and he is made of sterner stuff than any of you.’

‘Moil,’ Dad said – and there was desperation in his voice – ‘Don’t you remember your training? Don’t you remember how difficult it is to keep moving in the chamber?’

‘I remember my training with that sadistic beekeeper and I remember his lash. Never again will a Child of Hawthorn ever feel the taste of a lash. I have trained my son. Now, out of my way, Conor, or do I have to call my master-at-arms?’

A big guy who had been standing behind Moil stepped up. Dad sighed, dropped his shoulders and stepped back. Mom came up and took Dad by the hand and gently pulled him away.

Moil turned and said, ‘Are you ready, son?’ It sounded more like a command than a question.

‘Yes, father,’ came the none-too-convincing reply.

Alroy took one look back over his shoulder. To me it looked like he was hoping someone would stop this. He nodded to his younger brother, turned back to the arch that is the entrance to the chamber and took a step.

‘Don’t stop moving,’ my father and about six other people simultaneously advised.

The boy took a step forward and the first Muirbhrúcht sparked into life like an invisible glass curtain filled with thousands of tiny lightning bolts. The assemblage audibly gasped.

From everything I had ever heard, walking a Choosing was incredibly difficult. If you successfully traverse the mind attacks from all three Muirbhrúcht, the Chamber gifts you with a major or minor rune. Major rune holders become the Lords of that Land. If you get a minor rune…well, as Dad once said, ‘Thanks for playing.’

Ruby reached down and held my hand and whispered, ‘I want to see this.’

‘Here?’ I whispered back incredulously, ‘with everyone here?’

‘They’re all busy watching; no one will notice. I have to see this.’

‘If we get caught do you realise how much trouble we could get into?’

‘Just because you are a Child of Vine doesn’t mean you have no spine. Please, Doe, when will I ever

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