The Starfall Knight Read Online Free Page A

the bustle of the food distribution.
    “I don’t particularly care for the excuses you’ve wrought,” Tarius said.
    “That’s not a healthy attitude to take,” Vantanis responded.
    “You know I don’t like threats, Vantanis.  The last man to make threats –“
    “Yes, yes.  I know all about it.  You cut off his tongue and crushed his body into a stew.”
    Tarius snorted.  A jug shifted and liquid trickled into a goblet.  “Is it about Teia?”
    At the mention of Alessa’s mother, her heart thumped.  Ten years was not long enough to dim the memory of her death.
    After a pause, Vantanis said, “No.”  Alessa could imagine her father grasp his wedding ring that he kept on a necklace – its twin had been lost with Teia.
    “I sympathise, I most surely do,” Tarius said.  “But we forge ahead.”  A chair creaked.  “Take today, for example.  A most successful raid, wouldn’t you think so?  It would not be possible without you.  You should be proud.  Take your share of the spoils, the food, the gems, the flesh.”
    Another silence as drink was consumed.  “You don’t approve?”
    Vantanis said, “I’ll take the food and the gems but the rest is none of my business.”
    “So, you can judge the rest of us.”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “Good,” Tarius said.  “I don’t care a whit that it’s cloudy.  I don’t care about what you feel about Sirinis.  If we don’t hit another aerock in the next few days, we will run out of food.  Do you understand, Vantanis?  And if we run out of food, I can no longer guarantee our safety.  Your safety, my safety, or the safety of your daughter.  Do you understand?”
    A goblet thudded onto a wooden surface with deliberation.  “You pull out that speech every so often.  I remember the first time.  I almost believed it back then.”
    “Ha!”  More drink poured.  “Very well, Vantanis, but you know that the sentiment is no less true.  Even with food, the good Sirinese of this aerock need entertainment – there’s only so much whoring, sparring and dog-fighting to go around.  They need some real blood soon.”
    “Fine,” Vantanis said.  “When the clouds have cleared up, we’ll head towards more promising skies.”
    Tarius grunted.  “You trust in the stars and moons too much.”
    “They don’t change, Imperator.”
    Chairs squeaked against the floorboards as the two men rose to their feet.  “Tarius, I speak what I know regarding Sirinis.  It’s not an idle warning.  Something is weakening.”
    “And what would you have us do?  What can we do?  I know fire and steel, Vantanis.  Hammers and anvils.  Show me what to do and I’ll fix it.  Until then, it’s all the more reason to find us fresh meat.”
    “All right.”
    The door opened and the two men stepped out.  Alessa straightened her posture as they noticed her loitering against the wall.
    “Alessa.”  Tarius nodded briefly at her.  He crossed his thick arms and gazed over the food and the crowd.  Burns and scars riddled Tarius’ arms and hands, earned from a lifetime of working as a blacksmith, forging the weapons that granted his men superiority over the other factions.  Like many of his crew, Tarius sported a shaved head and the tips of the stylised vine tattoo poked out from beneath his jerkin’s sleeves and neck.
    Vantanis gestured to Alessa and she followed him from the cabin.  “What are you doing here?”
    “Leonus sent me.”
    “You won’t need him,” Vantanis said.  “Tarius has granted me some of the spoils.”
    “How long will that last?” Alessa asked.
    Her father pursed his lips but did not reply.  They continued tramping down the muddy road.
     
     
     

Chapter Three
     
    The platform shuddered to a halt at the bottom of the mine-shaft and Devan clutched at the non-existent railing.  His escort, a grizzled miner showing more dirt than clean skin, chuckled.  He swung open the gate and ushered Devan into the cavern.
    “Your