Here Shines the Sun Read Free Page B

that’s what good requires. If we don’t stand up for her, who will?”
    “You can’t stand up for everybody, Rook.”
    “I can stand up for her today. And one day, I will stand up for everybody. And everybody else will stand up too.”
    “Come on, Callad.” growled Grandon. “The night’s wasting. I ain’t going to offer you this chance again. We do this right now or I’ll report you. Then we both lose.”
    Callad exhaled, his eyes pinched shut and his hands squeezed Rook’s shoulders.
    Rook patted the top of Callad’s hand and then peeled himself away to face Grandon. “I’ll do it. It’s a deal.”
    Grandon huffed a laugh as he looked upon Callad, his breath smoking. “Your boy’s as good as mine.” He now turned to Chazod, pulling a cigar from his pocket. “Don’t you lose, boy, or I’ll have you spend the winter stoking the smithy furnaces.” He struck his match and puffed at his cigar.
    “The sword.” said Callad, pointing at Chazod. “No weapons.”
    Grandon blew out a plume of smoke and nodded at Chazod. “Knock him out. How I showed you.”
    Rook watched as the older boy unfastened his scabbard and it fell to the ground at his feet. He didn’t immediately see the dagger on him.
    “Rook, son,” said Callad, placing a giant paw on his shoulder. “You don’t have to do this.”
    Rook looked up at him. “Yes, I do, dad.”
    Callad closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
    Grandon Faust gestured to his boys to make room and they formed something of a circle around Rook and Chazod. Rook felt his heart beating faster. His breath smoked in the chill night. His hand found the Golothic in his pocket; that small, red, sandy-textured stone in the shape of a partially closed fist. It was the demon, Bulifer’s, promise to him; their covenant. Rook had traded his and his sister Ursula’s safety for it three-years ago. It was always warm to the touch, but right now it seemed to burn in his pocket. Chazod was with Grandon Faust the day he was up for sale on the platform. The Golothic had burned in his pocket then, prodding him to be taken by Grandon. Rook had seen to it that Bulifer did not get his way that day. He wondered if the demon might get his dues tonight.
    Chazod stood about five-feet from him, his green eyes catching the light of his master’s cigar, giving them a terrible, fiery intensity. “You won’t think you’re such a prince once you’re living with us, brat.”
    “Girl,” said Grandon. “Get over here. You’re going to watch your brother bloody up this fool. And boy, you best not damage him too much. I want his skills.”
    Rook watched as Kierza slunk toward her master, her head down and her hand holding the veil over her ruined face. He could see the slave brand on her neck, the scar tissue standing out in pink contrast to her pale skin. Rook squeezed the Golothic, taking its fierce heat into him. He hated that there were slaves. He hated what the people of Narbereth did to their women. He hated kings and nobles, but most of all, he hated the Saints Caliber. They would all get their’s one day. His covenant with the demon was for a weapon. One day—and he did not know how far away that day might be—the demon would come to him for a weapon and he would have to make it for him. Such was their pact. Rook was still determined to give it to the demon, right through his heart. And then he would turn that weapon upon everyone he called his enemy.
    Rook looked at Kierza. He smiled at her. “Take off your veil.”
    Kierza turned her brilliant eyes up to him. He could almost detect a faint smile from beneath the veil, but she shook her head softly.
    “Take it off, girl.” said Grandon. “Let him see the creature he’s fighting for.”
    Kierza let the veil fall into the snow. She turned her noseless face away.
    “No matter what, I’ll be able to protect you now.” said Rook. “I won’t ever let them hurt you again.”
    Chazod and the other boys all snickered. “You can’t