Read Abendau's Heir (The Inheritance Trilogy Book 1) for Free Online Page A

were in a vision!" Kare's accusation made Ealyn wince, but the boy went on in a high voice, “You’re not supposed to. You promised Darwin you wouldn’t.”
    That wasn't true. He had promised not to use the prism and had left it at the base. Without it as a trigger, the vision shouldn't have been possible, and Darwin would never have let him leave with the kids if he’d known it could be. What was happening to him?He tried to smile and hide his fear, but it stayed, grinding him down. He had been like this when he’d escaped from the palace and it had taken months to get the visions under control. This time, he didn’t have months: if the Empress didn’t catch up with him– and she’d been close, many times over the years– his sanity would give out.
    Karia slipped her hand into his, and Ealyn squeezed it; he hadn’t planned his family, but he’d been blessed to have them. Gods, he would miss them.
    “Sorry.” He took a deep breath and held his other hand out for Kare. What lay ahead for them, what path would they follow….
    “Dad!” the twins chorused. Kare took his hand and nipped it, making him jump. The threatened vision faded.
    The hatch opened and he stepped onto the gangway, his eyes scanning the yard, alert and ready to retreat. There was no one nearby: the area was full of shipyards– some legal, most not– and his unmarked freighter hadn’t merited close attention.
    He sucked in a deep breath of the air, metallic and smoky from industry, and the twenty-five years since he had left Dignad fell away, bringing a blast of nostalgia that made the yard shimmer out of focus. He tightened his grip on the twins' hands, wishing he could close the hatch and take them back to space.
    The yard started to fade, and he shook his head. How they’d managed to get back to the rebel base last time he had no idea, but he couldn’t risk it again. He lifted his right foot and stamped down on his left, so hard his eyes filled with tears. “Come on,” he said.
    They walked down the gangway. The red sun hung low over the planet, colouring the clouds so the sky looked orange. Around them, stunted vegetation grew in the smoggy heat. Skeletons of abandoned ships, long since stripped of their parts, loomed like sentinels.
    Ealyn glanced at the perimeter fence. He wanted to walk out of here and through the streets of Dignad. He would point out places from his childhood, take the children to Shug and make sure his son was safe before he left.
    The temptation bit hard, making his breath catch, even though he knew he didn’t dare: here he was remembered as a real person, not a holo on a wanted poster. Here, the Empress’ army had left his parents lying dead in the street like dogs, and his sister, Marine, running for her life, packed off with one of the apprentices from Shug’s yard. He’d fled that day, barely escaping the planet.
    The twins let go of his hands, hanging back, their eyes casting around the yard. They moved nearer to each other, staying in the shadow of the ship. It was no wonder: apart from their infrequent visits to the Banned, they were never out in the sunshine.
    “It’s time,” he said.
    They looked at him with identical expressions of mutiny. Ealyn beckoned, but neither moved. He sighed, walked over and crouched down.
    “You know I have no choice.”
    They didn’t answer, but instead looked at him with their green, green eyes. He looked again around the bleak yard. The boy knew no one on the planet. At least Karia would be with people connected to the Banned, who could call for support if they needed it. But his son would be cast out from everyone.
    Decided, he pulled a comms unit and the Banned’s beacon from the pocket of his flying suit. He placed both in his son’s hands, closing his small fingers around them and holding them shut. The beacon would allow the child some sort of chance, a way off planet if he needed it. Kare’s hand felt tiny in his own. A chance? He was seven. He needed