Page 49 (1/2)

D’Orsay patted his son on the back "You’ve wanted to leave here, anyway So, we’ll gather up the weapons we can salvage, and go on to Trinity I think it best that we’re there to keep an eye on our new allies

"You see, I believe Hastings and Downey havehere Possession of the hoard is unis and Downey in the hold, the rebels have lost two of their ents We’ll see how the children do on their own, hmmm?"

Chapter Twenty-three An Ultimatum

"Jack"

Jack Swift paused with his hand on the latch of the back door and looked back up the stairs Hisdown at him

"Where are you off to?" she asked

That was a difficult question to answer, since he was off to pull guard duty at the Weirgate, where his job was to prevent the unfettered coical thieves He blessed the fact that Shadowslayer was hidden in the duffle bag slung over his back

"I’ate ithin Perry Park, the largest tract of unbroken forest in the sanctuary

Becka descended the steps until she was at a level where she could look hi tiether"

"Well That would be …" A disaster "That’d be great, except we’re going rock clie It’s a technical climb You wouldn’t like it"

She crossed her ar on?"

"Going on?"

Becka hesitated Nagging didn’t co that you haven’t been around to prep the boats for the season He’s had to hire another full-time captain to keep both boats in service Seph’s quit working at the docks altogether Jason, too"

She sighed, an exasperated sound "You’ll be graduating in a feeeks I’d think you’d want to earn et a head start on your classes Or do you want to go to Boston and ith your father?"

"No," Jack said quickly "I want to stay here"

"And do what?" She paused, and when Jack didn’t answer, said, "I feel responsible for all three of you with Linda out of town" A hint of judgh she seems to think Seph and Jason are fine on their own I haven’t seen Jason for weeks And he hasn’t been at school, either, fro notices fro regularly at Aunt Linda’s, addressed to Parent or Guardian of Jason Haley

Here was one piece of good news he could give her "Jason’s back, Mo Madison in Coalton County"

"In the middle of the semester?" She lifted an eyebrow

"Yeah, well, then he ca"

"You kno important attendance is Mr Penworthy will be all over him"

"He was All over hi" Jack couldn’t help thinking there was a reason why the classical heroes didn’t have lawyers foraround at hoames In fact, you’re never home" She reached out and put her hands on his shoulders "On the plus side, it’s obvious you’re getting your exercise And I haven’t heard any reports of all-night parties on the beach"

Ironically enough, that would be harder to get aith in a ss weren’t the only ones with an intelligence network centered in Trinity Information flowed to Becka Downey frohts, Becka leaned against the banister and said, "Bill Childers says he’s afraid you and Will had a falling out" Will’s father, the newly elected ular contacts and closest friends

"What? No, we’re fine," Jack said "It’s just been kind of crazy with Will’s work schedule Plus he’s on the soccer tea"

"That’s another thing You didn’t even go out for the team this year" She paused, and when he didn’t speak, continued "Why not? You love soccer, or you used to"

"I just … I just didn’t think I had the ti ti, too" Ellen lived with Will’s faether Hiking" Jack snuck a glance at his watch He and Ellen were sharing the next shift on the wall, and she’d be on his butt if he was late She was totally into military discipline when it came to the security of the sanctuary