Star Rising: Heartless Read Online Free Page B

at his waist.
    “Is this some type of joke?” asked Xalen.
    “No joke,” said Reave. He looked at him, utterly serious. Xalen knew that the man was not jesting. “I’m an Alioth. I have come to take you to train as I have. Surely the headmistress has told you all about—” He stopped talking abruptly and faced Agnes. The woman didn’t produce a word, opting to stare at the ground. “You didn’t tell him?” The man’s voice rose.
    Xalen was mildly amused to see Agnes shudder at the anger in the man’s voice.
    “A thousand apologies, sir,” she mumbled. “I was unaware that I was supposed to divulge the information to him.”
    The man shook his head. “Did you at least have him trained in the sword?”
    A large lump travelled down Agnes’ throat. “You see, sir. Private lessons are very expensive.”
    “What did you think the credits I deposited into your account were for?”
    Credits? Xalen was at a loss. This stranger had been sending money for him all these years. Surely there was more to this story than sword lessons.
    If Xalen thought Agnes was nervous before, he had not seen anything yet. The headmistress’s usually brown skin turned a pale white. Even her red lips had been drained of color. “I spent the money on good food for the children. Only the b…best meats for my children.”
    Reave narrowed his eyes. “Do you take me for a fool, headmistress?”
    “No, no, n..no..o, sir.” Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
    “The Alioth’s fund your orphanage. In return, you notify us of any gifted children you come across. That is the treaty we signed.”
    “I love my children so much. How could I be expected to part—”
    Xalen was glad when Reave held up his hand, bringing the desperate rant to an end. Agnes had never shown an ounce of care to any of the orphans. Hearing her claim that she had, caused his insides to stir in anger.
    “I have seen the children’s miserable condition,” continued Reave. “Whatever you’re using the credits on. It’s clear to me that it’s not on them. I will report this to the authorities at Alioth. It won’t take long for you to be replaced.”
    “But…but…” The woman’s sobs were nearing hysteria.
    The man held up his hand once more, signaling for an end to the woman’s breakdown. His gaze bore down on Agnes. “This conversation is over. Pack your things. You are to depart this orphanage within the hour.”
    Knowing she had been defeated, Agnes walked out of the room with her head down. All the while, Xalen stood with his mouth wide open. He’d awoken this morning expecting it to be yet another dull day. But now, before the suns had even come up, his life had changed more than he could have ever imagined.
     
    ΩΩΩ
     
    Xalen was shocked with just how quickly everything transpired. Within an hour, a ship had arrived, landing on the dusty plains outside the orphanage, and bringing forth a man who was to take over for Agnes. He was short and stubby, with a mustache so large that it covered his entire upper lip and most of the bottom lip. He had pink cheeks and a large belly that extended over his blue robe.
    “Good morning, Tafarus,” said Reave extending his hand.
    “Salutations.” Tafarus took Reave’s hand and shook it vigorously. He looked past him and directly at Xalen. “Is this the young man you spoke about?”
    “That’s him,” said Reave. Both men took a few tentative steps away from Xalen, lowering their voices and whispering to themselves.
    Xalen stared at them, feeling like an intruder. He strained his ears, trying to hear something, anything that could tell him what the heck was going on. As the seconds passed without success, his anger intensified. After Agnes had left the office, Xalen had demanded answers, only to have Reave shush him. ”There’s no time right now,” he had said. ”All will be explained in due time.” It had been an agonizing hour and the answers had not yet come.
    “I want to know what’s going on,