Remnants: Season of Fire Read Online Free Page A

developed, they will resist bowing to another. But right now . . .” His eyes danced with possibility. “It’s like the opportunity to train up a child rather than try and remake a man. I really think it could work.”
    I stared at him. So his quest for ultimate power was true. But the way he put it, the goal was not for glory and riches, but rather for something we all might cheer for — peace. My mind whirled, grasping for truth, trying to make sense of what I’d learned. “But what of Pacifica? What of your methods of stealing children in Georgii Post? Wrenching them away from their parents and spiriting them off to be adopted in your own land or put to work in the factories and mines?”
    He stilled and stared at me, mouth agape. “What? What are you talking about?”
    “The children. The reaping. I saw it for myself. Armed guards, stealing away children to be adopted by the childless across the Wall.”
    He shook his head, and I felt the confusion in him. “We adopt children who have no hope, no future. But the children are brought to us, given to our soldiers. It is sad, the conditions that leave them in such a desperate place —”
    “No,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s not how it happens there. We saw children ripped from an orphanage ourselves.”
    “There are no sanctioned orphanages in Georgii Post.Perhaps a few good-hearted people showing kindnesses, but I assure you, we take far better care of them in Pacifica. Most are put into our very own homes; some are given a place to eat, sleep, work.”
    I shook my head again. “Why is that? Why not sanction an orphanage? And what right does Pacifica have, dictating what goes on at Georgii Post?”
    Keallach lifted a brow. “I just told you. In time, it shall be part of the greater empire, for their own good.”
    “For their own good? Keallach, I saw soldiers rip a child from his parents’ arms! If that is what it means to be part of your ‘empire,’ I’ll be certain to lead the rebels against you.”
    Keallach frowned and seemed to take a moment to gather himself. “If what you say is true, I want to get to the bottom of it. It’s not how I want it,” he said, slicing his hand in the air, a red blush arriving at his jawline. “But it is exactly those sorts of things that I seek to remedy. Don’t you see?” he asked, stepping closer to me. “You’ve likely glimpsed enough of Pacifica’s prosperity en route to the wharf. I will gladly show you more of our success here, myself. Eventually, places like Georgii Post will be more like Pacifica. The entire Trading Union will institute laws and have governance that will bring about needed change. Castle Vega. Even Zanzibar, in time.”
    I stared at him. He honestly believed it. He thought he was on a righteous, true path. I reached for my goblet and took a swallow. “What of your brother? Why did he not agree with this plan?”
    “I have not spoken to my brother in many seasons,” he said. His eyes were on the dark porthole as if he could peer through the night.
    “Why?”
    He shook his head and sat down again heavily.
    “But you happened to choose this night, this ship, to go to him?”
    “I’d heard . . . There are some that say . . .” His eyes moved back to the porthole again, and he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Word reached me that Kapriel was unwell. Frail. He’s refused food for some time.” He looked at me, miserable. “Andriana, I wanted Kapriel out of my way. Far out of my way. But I never wanted to see him die.”
    Again, I felt the longing, the pain within him. Love for his brother. I was lost in a tornado of thought. Could it be? Had the elders misunderstood about Keallach? Might I be able to broker peace? Bring Keallach into the Ailith fold, even now when he was considered lost to us?
    I felt his eyes on me, the desperation, the hope, the desire for connection, and rose quickly, hoping a little pacing of my own might straighten out my thoughts. But then