Resistance (Ilyon Chronicles Book 1) (10 page)

With quiet strictly enforced after dark, Kyrin treaded the halls with care. Light still peeked under many of the doors along with whispered voices. She left the girls’ dormitory behind and slipped outside, relishing the coolness of the night. Sleep eluded her, and another headache threatened to take hold. Ever since the confrontation with Master Zocar about their worship practices, she felt jumpy. Kaden seemed unconcerned, but then he always would in order to comfort her, even if he worried privately.

She glanced at the gate, which stood closed this time of night, and crossed the courtyard. To the right of the Hall rose another impressive circular building with many windows. Warm, glowing light from dozens of candles streamed through the glass.

At the entrance, Kyrin pushed open one of the double doors. The old hinges creaked, and the musty but pleasant scent of books and scrolls wrapped around her as she walked inside. She stepped out from under the ornate archway that supported a huge balcony overhead and shadowed her small form. In the center of the building, towering shelves filled to bursting with books surrounded her. How long must it have taken to write and collect them all? Tables and chairs for studying claimed most of the open spaces. Kyrin never grew tired of the sight. Tarvin Hall had one of the most magnificent libraries in Arcacia, and how she loved it. It was the one and only good thing about living here.

“Ah, my young pupil returns.”

The deep, rumbling voice filled the space. Kyrin turned. Just emerging from under another archway was a man of impressive stature, his skin dark and rich like freshly tilled soil. Kyrin had to tip her head back to look into his bright eyes, which gleamed the color of the emperor’s finest gold, flecked with copper. He had the build and bearing of a formidable warrior, yet, as a talcrin, he was much more a scholar than a fighter and held the position of Tarvin Hall’s wisest instructor. Kyrin never could guess his true age. Mid-forties, perhaps, but whenever she asked him, his response was always a smiled, “Old enough.” A good foot or more taller than her, his presence intimidated many, but for Kyrin, it brought calm, and she smiled.

“Good evening, Endathlorsam.” Most Arcacians would never bother to remember the talcrins’ lengthy traditional names, but Kyrin liked to use his on occasion as a sign of respect toward him and his people’s culture. After all, there weren’t many talcrins around since most lived on their secluded island country of Arda.

He grinned with straight, sparkling white teeth. “You’re the only person here to ever use my true name.”

“I like it,” Kyrin said with a shrug, “but I do like Sam too.”

He chuckled, and his metallic eyes shone with fondness. “Have you come for another night of reading and study?”

Kyrin didn’t answer immediately, and Sam gave her a knowing look. “Or, perhaps, for discussion?”

She nodded, and Sam guided her to a grouping of couches and chairs. Kyrin sank down onto the couch and its familiar comfort while Sam occupied the stuffed chair across from her.

“What’s on your mind?” the talcrin asked gently.

Though Sam would have warned her had there been others present, her eyes swept the room before settling on his face. “Master Zocar has noticed Kaden and I don’t visit the temple anymore.”

Concern flickered in his eyes, though his expression remained unchanged. Sam was the only other person in Valcré whom Kyrin knew to be a believer in Elôm. If it weren’t for him, she and Kaden would never have learned of Elôm in the first place.

“He asked us to join them this afternoon,” she went on. This was one time she did fear Master Zocar.

“What did you say?”

“Kaden told him it’s easier to pray and worship when we’re alone.” She frowned. “While that’s always been true, I feel like it’s becoming more of a lie since it isn’t the real reason we’ve quit, and I don’t know what we’ll do if he starts pressing us.”

A slight frown creased Sam’s forehead. “Has he made any more comments recently?”

“No.”

Sam tapped his fingers against his leg in silent contemplation, and Kyrin waited. The situation didn’t present as much difficulty or danger for him. As one of the instructors, no one monitored his temple attendance like the students. One of the primary goals of Tarvin Hall was to see its pupils firmly devoted to not only the emperor, but the gods as well.

“I can’t give you the perfect answer or solution,” Sam said at last, and Kyrin gave a short nod. The beliefs they’d chosen presented growing danger, and they knew this from the beginning. “The best thing is to pray. You can be sure Elôm won’t abandon you in this. Ask for His wisdom. It may be that Master Zocar won’t approach you again, but if he does, I’m sure Elôm will direct you if you seek His guidance.”

“I’ll do that. I just wish I had stronger faith.” She prayed as often as she could, but still found herself so uncertain most of the time. Unlike her mentor, who displayed only strength and
trust.

The talcrin gave her a gentle smile. “You will. Keep following the King and it will grow.” He held her gaze, his eyes searching her own. “Now, what else is bothering you?”

Kyrin lifted her brows. “I hope I’m not that apparent to everyone else.”

Sam’s smile widened. “I just know that look in your eyes.”

“It’s all this talk about the promotion ceremony…” She cringed before admitting, “I’m scared, Sam. Kaden and I could be promoted in only two years. I don’t want him taken away from me too. He’s the only family I’ve had all this time.”

“I know it’s a difficult thing to consider, but remember, you don’t know what will happen tomorrow, let alone two years from now. Elôm is always at work. You don’t know His plans for you.”

Kyrin ducked her head sheepishly. Even now, she struggled to let her faith work. “You’re right. It’s just been on my mind more than usual with the ceremony so close. I—”

The squeak of hinges cut her off. She and Sam looked toward the entrance. A moment later, Kaden came walking out from under the archway. He gave Kyrin a half smile.

“I had a feeling you were here.”

He walked up to the couch, and Kyrin scooted over to give him room as he dropped down beside her.

After nodding at Sam, he asked, “What’re you two talking about?”

“I told him about Master Zocar, and we were just talking about the ceremony,” Kyrin answered.

The deep frown that crossed her brother’s face matched her feelings on the topic. “I’ll be glad when it’s all over for another year.”

Kyrin agreed and picked at one of the seams on her jerkin. “I just wish we were born to a normal, poor family with no reputation and no special talents. Then we wouldn’t be here.”

Sam’s voice drew her eyes up. “Don’t forget, Kyrin, or you, Kaden, that King Elôm created you two exactly the way you are. Every detail about you, He designed. He gave you your talents for a reason. It may take you a lifetime to discover why, but there is a purpose.”

Right there, Kyrin prayed for Elôm to show her that purpose. “I know. But it’s hard sometimes. I feel so useless here. I want to serve Him, but how can we when we have to hide our faith?”

“By doing exactly what you know He desires of you. You may have to hide what you believe, but you can still serve Him, even here, with the way you respond to your situations and live your everyday lives. It may not seem important to you, but it is to Elôm. In all you do, even attending to your studies and doing your chores, you’re to do it for Him. That service is pleasing to Him. You may not like it, but unless they lead you to do something you know is wrong, He even desires for you to serve and follow the authority of the instructors here at Tarvin Hall as well as the emperor.”

Kyrin side-glanced at Kaden. He stared at his lap, but she still caught the guilty expression. He would not speak, but Kyrin nodded at Sam.

“Again, you’re right. Thank you. It might not be exactly what we wanted to hear, but it’s what we needed to hear.”

Sam’s smile returned. “Take heart, Kyrin. Your faith has already grown since you first believed.”

Comforted, Kyrin smiled too.

“Now,” Sam said, his voice
rising a little, “it seems you two could use some good news.”

Kaden’s head snapped up.

Breaking into a wide grin, Sam told them, “I received word today that your father is in the city.”

Kyrin sat up straighter. “He is?” Her heart fluttered, and her thoughts raced ahead. This opportunity wouldn’t slip past them.

“He arrived this morning.”

“How long will he be here?” Kaden asked.

“For a few days. He’s staying up at the fort and meeting with some of the other captains.”

Kyrin’s pulse now pounded a fast rhythm. “Do you think we can see him?”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Sam promised.

Kyrin grinned at her brother, who smiled back. The memory of their father’s face erased all the worries she carried.
At the moment, nothing was greater than the possibility of seeing him. Her gaze jumped back to Sam. “He doesn’t know Kaden and I believe yet, does he?”

Sam shook his head. “I haven’t had a chance to tell him.”

“Just think how excited he’ll be,” Kyrin said. She almost shivered with the anticipation. According to Sam, their father had been a secret believer in Elôm for several years. How wonderful to share the same faith.

For another half an hour, she and Kaden sat with Sam, talking of
their father and how they might arrange a meeting. So few of the children at Tarvin Hall ever saw their families during their stay.

Before it grew too late, she and Kaden bid Sam goodnight and left the library. Outside, under the light of Aertus and Vilai, they slowly crossed the courtyard. Kaden breathed out a heavy sigh as they neared the Hall. Kyrin looked up at him. She did not expect his frown after the news about their father.

“What’s wrong?”

Kaden stopped and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he stared down at the stone underfoot. He gave a halfhearted shrug and spoke in a low whisper. “I know I shouldn’t be so defiant. It’s just
…I hate what they’re doing here, you know? Taking young, innocent children away from their parents to brainwash into the emperor’s service.”

Kyrin couldn’t help the small smile that lifted the corners of her lips. It was never easy for her brother to admit his faults.

“I know it’s hard to respect Master Zocar and obey the authority here, but I think doing it as a service to Elôm will make it easier. We just have to remember it.”

Kaden nodded, and she squeezed his arm, giving him a wider smile.

“S
omething bothering you?”

Jace pulled his eyes from the forest alongside the road and shook his head. “No.”

He didn’t mention the incident the night before, but it still lurked in his thoughts. What had caused him and Tyra to feel such unrest? He hadn’t felt that way on the farm before. He glanced down at the wolf trotting beside Niton. The two of them had walked the farm before leaving this morning, but hadn’t picked up anything out of the ordinary, so he tried to put it out of his mind.

“I know you hate going into town,” Rayad said as he looked over at him, “but it’s good to keep up with the happenings in Arcacia. We don’t want to be completely oblivious to what’s going on around us.”

Jace remained silent, perfectly content to ignore the world and its people as long as they did the same. To stay at the farm in seclusion for the rest of his life suited him just fine. He’d seen enough of the world to last him a lifetime.

Midday, he and Rayad emerged from the forest. Just
ahead lay a sprawling village of quaint, mostly single- or two-story buildings constructed of gray weathered wood. A couple of farms and planted fields spread out to the right, but forest trees rimmed the open area. Nothing like Arcacia’s largest cities; otherwise Jace would have refused to come altogether. At least the forest stood nearby. It offered him a sense of security and shelter—an escape should he need to seek it.

He halted Niton at the forest’s edge and looked down. “Stay, Tyra.”

The wolf cocked her head and then sat down.

“Good girl.”