Engines & Demons - The Undestined

Chapter 26i

Grifford closed the door to his parent's chamber with an aggrieved sigh and shake of his head. His mother had kept him for far too long, with constant questions that he could find no answers for. He knew he should not have visited her that morning, but he had wanted to see his new brother again. Kralmir had changed so much in the days since his birth. His eyes seemed much brighter as they had looked up at him, while he continually waved his arms and legs around as though trying to catch the summer breeze that played through the window. Grifford's heart had lifted at the sight of him, but the moment was marred by the sensation of his mother's eyes upon his back. Sometimes he felt like he would suffocate under the constant look of concern that she wore these days. She was still not herself, though she had seemed in a lighter mood that morning than she had on previous days.

He shook his head again and hurried away from his mother's door. It was the final day before the Tourney recess, and all morning he had watched the fourth Echelon knights displaying their skills. It was that afternoon's contests, though, which promised to be the highlight of the day, when Sir Xanrath would stake half of his territorial assets on a chance to rise to the third Echelon. The fight would be a good one.

He was in such a hurry, he almost didn't see his sister among the crowd that exited the lift in the upper embarkation chamber, although it was not only his haste that nearly made him miss her.

"What is wrong with you?" he asked her.

"What do you mean?" she replied as the other passengers filed around them.

"Your dress is clean and your hair is..." Grifford studied her hair, searching for the right words. "Not a mess."

"I am going to see mother. She is watching the contests this afternoon and she wants me with her."

"Ah, yes," replied Grifford, remembering their mother mentioning something about visiting the arenas.

"I thought it would cheer her if I made myself presentable."

Grifford frowned at his sister's uncharacteristic selflessness.

"Good," he said, struggling to find any other reply. The lift's passengers had dispersed, and those waiting to descend were filing through its open door. "I have to go."

He went to go around his sister, but she put a small hand on his arm.

"Wait!" she said. "I have to talk to you."

"I do not have the time."

He pulled his arm free and moved towards the lift door.

"It is about Tasker."

Grifford stopped abruptly and turned about.

"What about him?"

"I saw him the other day."

"So?"

"He was walking around the Encampment, where he is not allowed to be."

Grifford shrugged and looked over his shoulder into the lift, where the passengers were taking their seats.

"Well, you are not supposed to be there either," he said.

"That is totally different. I am at least being openly disobedient. Tasker is creeping around disguised as a commoner. He is up to something."

"So?"

"Does it not bother you?"

"Of course, but I do not see what we can do about it."

"Oh, you idiot boy! If we find out what he is doing, we can tell Lance-master Tzarren and get him in trouble. You could watch him, and follow him if he goes off somewhere,"