Destiny Read Online Free Page A

call his mother, ‘Mother’!
    Gyl’s eyes inevitably strayed back to Lauryn; he was angry with her. How could she be his sister…halfsister, that is—or was it stepsister? What ludicrous series of events had led to this? Mind you, he had to admit it, she was worth all this frustration. What a beauty— and to think this was the girl he had met on that terrible day on the road to Axon. She had been heavier then, he thought, and dripping in mud so the beautiful face was shielded from him. She was deliberately avoiding his gaze now, he knew this. That boded well—if she had not found him attractive, she would have been able to stare straight back at him. As for the brother—his stepbrother he conceded with slight bitterness— he did not give much away; held histhoughts close and yet seemed fairly at ease with the supposed strangers around him.
    Gyl’s own thoughts turned outward again, back to the gathering which seemed, finally, to be on the move. The man, Gynt, was pulling himself to his feet, his incredibly blue eyes always glancing back to the Queen. Gyl imagined these two people together, and their love which had produced three children—real children; not like him, an orphan welcomed into the palace. His mouth tasted suddenly sour. He must not start to think like this. The King would be home shortly—any hour in fact—and all would be put right.
    He stood too, glad for the movement. ‘Can I organise an escort for you, Physic Gynt?’
    Tor smiled at the old title; he had not heard it in so long. It was not hard to see that the young man, not that much older than his own children, was struggling to cope with what had presented itself at his door last night. Tor could not blame him—all sentients, but especially Tor and the Paladin, lived with the strangeness of their lives, accepted each new curiosity for what it was and rarely thought to analyse it. Young Gyl over there would be trying to rationalise everything and yet it was not possible—none of this was rational. Gyl must learn to accept that now, and it was to be hoped that his mother, the Queen, might help him to achieve the level of understanding he would require as Under Prime to assist rather than fight them.
    ‘Thank you, Gyl, but I shall be fine.’
    The soldier nodded curtly. ‘Then if you’ll all excuse me, I must do my rounds. If I can be of any help, please don’t hesitate to seek me out.’ Gyl cringed inwardly athow hideously polite and restrained he sounded. He could not help but cast another glance her way. Lauryn was looking at the floor, but a brief smile flitted across her mouth. She felt embarrassed for him. So be it. He bent and kissed his mother’s hand.
    ‘Your majesty,’ he said, not looking at her. ‘I shall contact you immediately your husband, the King, returns. Try and rest, Mother.’ He felt pleased with himself that in one brief phrase he had managed to remind everyone in the room—including the Queen—of who she was, to whom she belonged and to whom loyalties must lie. He closed the door behind him.
    Alyssa leapt straight in. ‘Gyl will be finding this extraordinarily difficult. I hope you will all forgive his gruff manner. Saxon, perhaps you should…’
    Saxon nodded. ‘I’ll speak with him,’ he said. Saxon walked over to Tor and hugged him hard. ‘Send us word,’ he said. ‘Use Cloot if necessary, and his wretched question-and-answer system.’
    Tor grinned. ‘Look after everyone, Sax.’
    The Kloek nodded formally. ‘You have my word. The Light guide you safely, Tor.’ He followed Gyl’s footsteps out of the Queen’s chambers.
    Alyssa caught Sallementro’s eye. ‘Sal, my son and daughter would probably appreciate a bath, fresh clothes, a look around the palace. The King will be back soon and I will want to present them later in the day. Would you help?’
    ‘Of course,’ the musician replied, a brief bow to his Sovereign. ‘It would be a pleasure to take you two under my wing.’ He smiled