The Dark Glory War Read Online Free

Norrington.” Leigh’s blue eyes sparkled as he sketched a quick but ornate bow. He surrendered nearly a hand-width of height to me and nearly twenty pounds. His moonmask likewise had been marked in the warrior temple, but there never was a choice for Leigh. Despite being somewhat small and not all that fast, he was Lord Norrington’s son, and that meant a warrior was all he could ever hope to be. Luckily for Leigh, it was all he had everwanted to be. Though no one thought he’d be the warrior his father was, most figured he’d manage to uphold the Norrington honor nonetheless.
    “Pleased to meet both of you. I am Tarrant Hawkins.” I drew myself up to my full height, then frowned slightly. “Why the warrior mark, Rounce? I didn’t think you were inclined toward a warrior’s life.”
    Rounce shrugged. “The warrior virtues help those dealing with conflict, Tarrant. Business is conflict, hence my choice. Besides, Leigh pointed out that the trident has three tines, so the three of us should stick together. We’ll be stronger that way.”
    “True enough.” I nodded toward Leigh. “So wither are you bound, my lord?”
    Leigh struck a noble pose, though his being a step below me and that much shorter made it seem a bit ridiculous. “There is a tailor who is completing my costume for this evening. I’ll give him moongold for it—my family pays him enough each year he can well afford to let this one suit of clothes go by without payment. Then back to the manor forI something to eat before the gala. You’ll come with, of course. Rounce is coming, and some of the others. Do say you’ll come. I won’t take no for an answer.“
    I sighed. “I will try, Leigh, but no promises. My sister Noni and her children are coming, and my mother hopes Annas will be there, too.”
    “Well, far be it from me to spoil a Hawkins gathering.” Leigh’s eyes brightened. “You should bring them all, even Noni’s brood. Your father is my father’s Peaceward; you’ll all be welcome. You simply must come, all of you.”
    “I will try, Leigh.”
    Rounce leaned a forearm on Leigh’s shoulder. “That’s what he always says when he knows he won’t join us.”
    I grinned. “My father, he is stuck in his ways. It’s the way of his generation, not Lord Norrington’s or ours… . The only way he’ll go to Norrington Manor is if he is on official duty or if Lord Norrington asks him to be there. It would practically take an armed escort to get him to bring the fam-ily.”
    “Well, then, Tarrant, when we have taken our father’s places, the rules will be changed, won’t they? Open doors and all that, I think. I won’t have it any other way.” Leigh slipped his shoulder from beneath Rounce’s forearm, then laughed as Rounce stumbled. “Come on, Rounce, we have things to do. We shall see you tonight, then, Tarrant, yes?”
    I helped steady Rounce. “I will plead the case to my father, Leigh, but make no promises. If I do not see you there, I will find you at the gala.”
    “Good, then.” Leigh threw me a sloppy salute. “Tonight our lives truly begin, and the world will never be the same.”
    JT’truth be told, I would have welcomed some sameness to the I world, if only because of the tear in my mother’s eye as she 1 smoothed the breast of my doublet that evening. I knew then that my growing up hurt her in ways I could not imagine and, worse, could do nothing to counter. I’d tried to head things off by talking to my father about Leigh’s invitation, but he was unswayed—as I’d expected. Instead I remained with my family, catching my mother getting misty-eyed despite the joyful fellowship of a family come together once again.
    Valsina’s gala was held atSenatePalace. The large and rather ornately decorated building had steps that led up into a rotunda. Portraits and statues of leaders decorated it, but the most striking feature was the gallery of masks that matched those of the Senators serving in Upper and Lower Assemblies. The sixteen members of the Upper Assembly were nobles