Here Shines the Sun Read Free

shoulder. His short, black hair was as dark as the night around him and his beard was plaited with silver beads. He puffed out a long breath that smoked in the chill air. Then he strode forward and stopped before them all. He regarded Rook for a moment, then turned his eyes to Chazod and the others before he took notice of Kierza. “Girl, what are you doing out here with my boys? You get out of those shadows.”
    Kierza slunk her way from the shadows of the alley, holding her broken veil over her face. “I…” she began, her eyes cast down. “I was just…”
    “She’s been out here whoring herself to this brat.” spat Chazod. He pushed Rook on the shoulder. “This brat thinks he’s a prince or something. Thinks he—”
    The back of Grandon Faust’s hand struck across Chazod’s cheek and the boy fell over. Chazod held his mouth as he looked up at his master. “He’s the one I should have bought three years ago.” said Grandon. He looked down at Rook. “This one here earns his keep.” He looked back down at Chazod. “Boy, I should have cut out your tongue that day for poisoning my thoughts. I could have had this one.”
    Chazod cast Rook a fiery gaze. “He’s been earning money!”
    Grandon eyed Chazod skeptically. “Get up.” He turned to Rook. “That true, boy? Your master been letting you keep earnings?”
    Chazod slunk back to his feet, his venomous eyes catching Rook’s. He pointed at him. “He thinks he’s gonna buy Kierza. Says he wants to buy her. He sneaks around here and meets up with her.”
    “That’s not true.” said Rook. “He was—”
    Rook felt the fabric of his shirt tighten as Grandon grabbed him by the collar and drew him in, lifting him up so that he had to stand on the tips of his toes. Grandon turned to Kierza. “You been whoring yourself to this boy?”
    “No!” squeaked Kierza. “I would never—”
    “Girl,” said Grandon. “I find out you’re lying…”
    “She’s never done that.” said Rook, placing his own hands around Grandon’s thick, hairy wrist. “Let me go.”
    Grandon smacked him across the face. “Boy, you learn your place with me. You tell me the truth now. You been sneaking around, meeting with my property?”
    “I’ll buy her from you.” said Rook. “Let me go.”
    Grandon tightened his grasp. “Your master letting you earn wages?”
    “Rook!” came a loud voice that seemed to rumble the night air. “Rook!” called Callad again as he lumbered quickly down the road. Callad Venzi was something of a mountain of a man. He was tall and burly with hands more like bear paws. The flannel shirt he wore could hardly contain his barrel-chest, and thick hair sprouted from the top like weeds. He ran one of his giant hands through is short, soot-streaked hair as he came upon them. “Rook, son, you all right?”
    Grandon released Rook, practically tossing him aside as he turned to face Callad. Grandon, in both size and stature, was dwarfed by Callad, but Rook had seen Grandon fight in the arena. Grandon was a championship swordsman and was fast, powerful, and deadly in combat. “Your boy here thinks he can take off with my property.” he said, pointing a meaty finger toward Kierza. “I know she’s damn-near worthless—can’t hardly please a man to save herself—but she’s mine nonetheless.”
    Callad stroked his ham-hand down his bearded chin and looked at Rook. “Rook, son, tell me what’s going on here.”
    “Buy her,” said Rook, looking at Kierza as she stood slouched in the shadows, holding her broken veil over her face. “You can’t let her stay with them. Buy her from them.”
    “She stays wherever we want her to stay,” spat Chazod. “You can’t—”
    “Boy, shut your damn mouth before I break that jaw of yours.” barked Grandon. He turned to face Callad, placing his arms akimbo. “Your boy there is out of line, Callad. You’d do best to teach him some proper respect. Stop making him think he’s your son and teach him