Rebellion

Chapter Two: Luke

Chapter Two: Luke

            “Are you all right, Edward?” I asked, looking at him quizzically. “You’ve been quiet all morning.”

            He laughed, but the humor quickly left his expression. “What else is new?”

            I frowned, but let him be. He’d been acting strange since the night before, when we’d gotten back.

            I shrugged it off. He was probably just tired. Ailune knew I was.

            We were headed through the city in the pre-dawn grayness, on our way to the palace. I grimaced as I thought of how much I’d rather be anywhere else.

            When the enormous white building came into view, Edward glanced at me briefly. “I’ll find Nick,” he said. “Go see Salina. She missed you, I’m sure.”

            I punched his shoulder, but relief flooded through me. My mother would likely be in the gardens, and not inside where my grandmother lurked behind every corner.

            “Thanks,” I said, heading off to find Mother.

            “Luke,” she greeted me affectionately when I found her at last, hidden as far from the castle as she’d been able to manage. She kissed my cheeks and hugged me, and when she pulled away I was struck by how much Luna looked like her, with the same silvery blonde hair and gray eyes. “Have you seen your sister?” she asked mildly. “Mother was having a fit when she couldn’t be found this morning.”

            Her eyes glittered with amusement, and we both laughed. “She might have wandered to the cottage last night,” I admitted.

            She frowned slightly. “I trust she is well?”

            I rolled my eyes. “No, Mother, Edward went crazy and stabbed her.”

            She laughed again, but not as merrily as before.

            “Watch what you say,” she admonished, kissing my cheek again. “And who you say it to. Don’t tell your grandmother where Luna is.”

            “I won’t,” I promised.

            “How are things in Dulana?” she asked, abruptly changing the subject.

            “Not well,” I sighed, sinking down onto a nearby bench. “And I practically had to drag Edward away from the front. He’s not doing well.”

            “I would imagine not,” she said, shaking her head slightly. “It is his home, dear.”

            “I know that,” I said, offended.

            She smiled faintly. “I know you do, dear,” she said gently. “Did you report to your father yet?”

            “Not yet,” I said, frowning. “Edward went to find him.”

            “Well, go on,” she said, laughing and pushing me toward the palace. “I’ll catch up with you at the meeting later,” she promised.

            By the grace of Ailune, I managed to avoid my grandmother on my way up to the north tower, where the major decisions of the Rebellion were made—and where my father was most likely to be during daylight hours. The door was open when I got there, and voices spilled out, rushing over me.

            “…do you think…”

            “We should…”

            “No, this should be…”