Resistance (Ilyon Chronicles Book 1) by Jaye L. Knight Page A

brother, who smiled back. The memory of their father’s face erased all the worries she carried. At the moment, nothing was greater than the possibility of seeing him. Her gaze jumped back to Sam. “He doesn’t know Kaden and I believe yet, does he?”
    Sam shook his head. “I haven’t had a chance to tell him.”
    “Just think how excited he’ll be,” Kyrin said. She almost shivered with the anticipation. According to Sam, their father had been a secret believer in Elôm for several years. How wonderful to share the same faith.
    For another half an hour, she and Kaden sat with Sam, talking of their father and how they might arrange a meeting. So few of the children at Tarvin Hall ever saw their families during their stay.
    Before it grew too late, she and Kaden bid Sam goodnight and left the library. Outside, under the light of Aertus and Vilai, they slowly crossed the courtyard. Kaden breathed out a heavy sigh as they neared the Hall. Kyrin looked up at him. She did not expect his frown after the news about their father.
    “What’s wrong?”
    Kaden stopped and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he stared down at the stone underfoot. He gave a halfhearted shrug and spoke in a low whisper. “I know I shouldn’t be so defiant. It’s just …I hate what they’re doing here, you know? Taking young, innocent children away from their parents to brainwash into the emperor’s service.”
    Kyrin couldn’t help the small smile that lifted the corners of her lips. It was never easy for her brother to admit his faults.
    “I know it’s hard to respect Master Zocar and obey the authority here, but I think doing it as a service to Elôm will make it easier. We just have to remember it.”
    Kaden nodded, and she squeezed his arm, giving him a wider smile.
     

     
     

     
     
     
    “S omething bothering you?”
    Jace pulled his eyes from the forest alongside the road and shook his head. “No.”
    He didn’t mention the incident the night before, but it still lurked in his thoughts. What had caused him and Tyra to feel such unrest? He hadn’t felt that way on the farm before. He glanced down at the wolf trotting beside Niton. The two of them had walked the farm before leaving this morning, but hadn’t picked up anything out of the ordinary, so he tried to put it out of his mind.
    “I know you hate going into town,” Rayad said as he looked over at him, “but it’s good to keep up with the happenings in Arcacia. We don’t want to be completely oblivious to what’s going on around us.”
    Jace remained silent, perfectly content to ignore the world and its people as long as they did the same. To stay at the farm in seclusion for the rest of his life suited him just fine. He’d seen enough of the world to last him a lifetime.
    Midday, he and Rayad emerged from the forest. Just ahead lay a sprawling village of quaint, mostly single- or two-story buildings constructed of gray weathered wood. A couple of farms and planted fields spread out to the right, but forest trees rimmed the open area. Nothing like Arcacia’s largest cities; otherwise Jace would have refused to come altogether. At least the forest stood nearby. It offered him a sense of security and shelter—an escape should he need to seek it.
    He halted Niton at the forest’s edge and looked down. “Stay, Tyra.”
    The wolf cocked her head and then sat down.
    “Good girl.”
    He hated to leave her, but most people held the belief that black wolves were evil—much the same as they felt about him. He scowled. They didn’t know evil like he did.
    He nudged Niton forward again and followed Rayad into Kinnim. They passed the first humble dwellings and shops to find the dirt streets deserted, but commotion drifted from the center of town.
    Rayad slowed to let Jace come alongside him. “I bet there’s a market today. We’ll head to Laytan’s first since it’s on the way and see if he has everything on Aldor’s list.”
    They followed the dusty and rutted