Broken Aro (The Broken Ones) Read Free Page A

if there was anything else. Seeing nothing she had to have, she ran back
downstairs and handed the box to Ryan.
    "That's it?"
    She nodded, feeling rather proud of herself, and
watched him open it. He lifted the small pile of letters from Father, noted the
few bits of jewelry that had belonged to a mother she didn't remember, and a
few other small odds and ends. He smiled and closed the box.
    "Good girl." He ruffled her hair and winced,
then patted her head awkwardly.
    With a scowl she tried to smooth her hair back down.
She hadn't thought to look in the mirror upstairs to see how bad a job Sammy
had done. Maybe that was a good thing. "Can I bring my bow?"
    Ryan chuckled and shook his head. "We'll be
moving fast, so no."
    "What about my sword?"
    "You'll do fine with your knives. There shouldn't
be any fighting, if there is, keep close to us and do what you're told."
    She nodded, not taking offense at his words.
Disobeying could get her killed, she'd heard enough stories about such things.
    Raised voices by the side door caused them both to
turn. Raising her eyebrows she followed Ryan into the kitchen area.
    Elliott, Joel and Sammy were back but standing off to
the side. Paul stood with his hands on his hips while Aaron glared at him.
Sammy stood beside him, hovering and unsure what to do.
    "We don't have time," Paul snapped. "We
should have left last night."
    Aro looked up at Ryan in alarm. "Why didn't we?"
    Everyone heard her. With a frown at Aaron, Paul
answered. "Plans needed to be made, and there were..." he paused and
looked at the other boys, "things that needed to be dealt with first."
    Aaron's cheeks were flushed, and he only did that when
someone talked about his girlfriends. Apparently all her brothers were saying
goodbye to their lady friends the night before. Somehow she held in an
irritated sigh. "So what's the problem now?"
    Aaron shook his head, lips tight.
    Paul sighed. "If she's smart she listened to you
last night and left with Marin and the others."
    She blinked in surprise. "They've all left? The
others?"
    Paul nodded. "Last night with their families."
    Marin was another brother, though not of blood. Father
had taken in a handful of young soldiers over the years, orphans or those
otherwise abandoned by their families. Mostly they were troubled first years,
just sixteen years old at the time. He brought them into their home and into
their family. Each had adjusted quickly and straightened out, growing up to
become wonderful young men. The last had moved out before father had died, two
had died in the war, but those left still kept in touch. Her thoughts turned to
her father's last letter. He had mentioned a new boy he was going to bring
home. But there had been a great battle at the pass. Father had died and the
new boy had disappeared.
    "Grab the gear. We need to get moving."
    Her brothers jumped into motion.
    "Wait!" She held out her arm, her hand a
fist.
    A moment later her brothers joined her in a circle,
tapping their fists on hers to build a tower. "Masons! Together. Always."
    Suddenly laughing, they each fought to get their fist
on top. She hadn't realized how tense everyone had been until she saw them
relaxed and grinning like fools. Joel and Sammy accidentally bumped heads and
then a friendly scuffle ensued.
    Ryan swung an arm around her shoulder. "Come on,
Honey Bee. Time to buzz."
    The boys hustled about, pulling on packs and strapping
on weapons. Before she knew what was happening they were heading out the door.
She wasn't prepared for the havoc of the streets. People and riders ran every
which way. The screaming made her cringe and the blighted bells were so much louder
outside she wanted to stick her fingers in her ears.
    A hand at her back directed her down a side street
heading toward the north side of the city. It looked like they were headed
beyond the mountains to Dressan. They marched through the streets, people
making way for them. It was strange the way her brothers circled her, like