Free The Stolen Prince (Blood for Blood Book 1) by Tom Wright, K.L. Gee Page B

for my father,” a feminine voice said. It was Jocki. She stood among the women old enough and skilled enough to attend these grand councils.
    Windfather smiled, looking at his warrior daughter. “You cannot, Jocki. You are engaged.” Jocki frowned, sitting back down.
    “Then I will fight.” It was Bavol, the second Wind.
    The tall chief nodded. “Good. In the morning we will have a duel of decision.” A solemnity folded around the room like smoke. No one spoke. All were dismissed except the chiefs and guardians.
    Skeet eyed the Winds as they left. As much as he hoped it wouldn’t come down to a fight, it thrilled him now that it had. Skeet adjusted his spear along his back and grinned. He had his own fight to start.
    ***
    Gage waited for Tip as the others left the council. Tip nodded as he passed, and they moved through the tunnels, looking for a place where they could talk more privately. There was always danger of a vanisher or zipper willing to spy for the highest bidder, especially when tribes were gathered together like this. Fortunately, no great skirmishes had broken out. Yet.
    “I can’t believe the other tribes still suggest killing him,” Tip began. “That would do us more harm than good at this point.”
    “I agree,” Gage said. Hakon had proved himself to be compassionate. There was no need.
    “But the rest of the Terra don’t understand that.” Tip glanced around and gestured for them to move forward. They stepped into the caves that had been converted into a foundry for the war. The sound of burning metal and clanking weapons drowned out the sounds of their discussion. “Gage, I worry that if it hadn’t been for the guardians, we wouldn’t have gotten our duel. I’m afraid our tribe alone still believes in the legend.”
    Gage nodded and leaned in to be heard. “If everything works, Brother, they will become believers soon.”
    Tip nodded, but he still frowned. “Hakon will win?”
    “Against anyone.” Gage looked out.
    Tip looked out, his eyes examining the weapons piling up. “He has yet to fight his own kind.”
    “Yes,” Gage sighed, “and then he will have to adapt and learn fast. I’m sure they will want to kill him more than the Terra do.”
    “Skeet is prepared to go with him.” Tip grimaced. “I don’t like the idea of sending out both my sons.”
    “They will not be going alone. We will all go.”
    Tip nodded, turning pensive. He looked like a man weighed down by the burdens of war and the cries from the unavenged dead. Gage wondered if he looked that way. “We mustn’t lose hope,” Gage said. “Not yet.”
    “I wonder if we did the right thing.” Unconsciously, Tip scratched at the long scar on his neck. It had been eighteen years since the Alem knife had met his throat, but the scar was still dark, a constant reminder of their sacrifice.
    “We tipped the balance. That is all.” Guardian didn’t like to think of the dozens of men who had been left behind to die in the citadel. He wouldn’t allow their deaths to be in vain.
    “Some still think we should have killed the king when there was the chance,” Tip said. “After so much war, I find myself agreeing with them.”
    Gage wondered too about their decisions, doubted their moves. But they were a patient people, and if they failed this time, there would be another time to try again. The legends moved slowly—the way they were meant to.
    Gage voiced the thoughts he had kept hidden. “I’ve been wondering when we should tell Hakon the truth. That ultimately his mission will fail.”
    Tip nodded, his face full of sorrow. “His mission will fail, but he will not fail us. Do not tell him the truth. He must doubt who he is. He must remain humble.”
    Gage nodded, seeing the wisdom of his brother’s counsel. Amidst all the conflict, Gage had always been grateful that over the years, Tip and he always came to a quick agreement.
    They moved away from the foundry toward their tribe’s gathering place. They