Free Abendau's Heir (The Inheritance Trilogy Book 1) by Jo Zebedee

forward, but one of the soldiers raised his gun. “No further.”
    “Sure.” He stood, trying not to show his nerves. What should he say? The truth seemed as good as anything. “Rj - ”– Ma’am, that’s what you called an army officer– “Ma’am, my mother found me. I had to run.”
    Her gaze stayed on him and he looked away, but had to bite back a yell: standing behind the soldiers was a little girl, her heart-face thin, her green eyes shining. She held her hand out, and in it there was a mouse. He shook his head. No Karia; not today . He blinked and she disappeared, allowing him to turn his attention back to Rjala. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
    Rjala stood for a moment longer, looking him up and down. He tensed, waiting for her to tell him to leave. Finally, she nodded. “We’ll get you processed.” She turned on heel and took a few steps before she stopped and glanced back. “It’s good one of you survived.” She gave the ghost of a smile. “Welcome back.”
    The squad led him and Silom through the hangar, footsteps echoing, to a clearing outside. It was getting dark, just a last line of red in the sky, but it was still warm, a moist heat that made sweat break across his back. The smell of the jungle enveloped him: the high florals of night jasmine; an underlying scent of loam. Something droned close to his face and he swatted it away, but it buzzed back a moment later: a moth as big as his palm, its wings a gentle purple. He remembered this from a child: the jungle as night fell; Karia beside him hunting night-creatures, and the familiarity settled him.
    Ahead another building stood, long and low, and from it came the sensations of many minds, all crammed together. He glanced at the soldier next to him. “What’s that?”
    “The barracks.”
    Barracks ? “Why are we going there?”
    The soldier’s face was a cross of amusement and pity. “You’ll be processed for the army. All new arrivals are.”
    The army? There had to be a mistake. More to the point, there had to be another option. He’d make a terrible soldier. He thought back to Rjala’s cold eyes. She was setting him up, he was sure of it, maybe to make sure he’d leave, or to keep him where she had control over him. Either way, he didn’t like it.
    “You know,” said Kare, “I’m wondering if I can see Darwin le Payne? He knew me when I was a kid.”
    “Darwin’s dead,” said the soldier. “About a year ago.”
    Kare’s stomach fell, surprising him– he wouldn’t have thought it should matter, after the last day on the base. But Darwin had been the only person who’d stuck up for his dad at the end, even if he hadn’t stopped them being forced out. Perhaps the passing years had brought things back into focus, had made the memories of the Darwin he’d known as a child, always welcoming them to base, take the place of the bitterness. Hell, maybe he was just growing up.
    Kare looked at the barracks. He’d forced himself into a corner in trying to leave Dignad– his mother would know he was alive. There was nowhere else to go to unless he wanted to watch his back every day, knowing all it would take was one slip for the Empress to close in on him.
    Right, then. He put his shoulders back and walked into barracks. How bad could it be, after all?

CHAPTER TEN
    Lichio smoothed his jungle fatigues, checking for stains. He’ d have liked to get changed into his formal uniform, but when Eevan requested a meeting it was best to move right away, brother or not.
    He swallowed his nerves and rapped the door. There was no need to be worried. He’d done nothing wrong. Well, nothing he’d get fingered for. He bounced on the balls of his feet. Come on, let’s get it over with . At last, a voice, low and authoritative, called for him to enter. He crossed the room until he reached the desk and stood to attention, his eyes fixed on the wall ahead, covered with Eevan’s various certificates. Why he felt the need to do so