Read Malice (Faithful & the Fallen 1) for Free Online Page B

gripped Corban’s
shoulder, holding him still.
    ‘What caused the argument?’
    Corban shrugged. ‘He needs little reason to hit people younger or smaller than he is.’
    ‘Huh,’ Gar grunted. ‘Did you
want
to hit him back?’
    ‘Of course,’ snorted Corban.
    ‘So why didn’t you?’
    Corban looked at the ground. ‘Because I was scared. I
wanted
to fight back, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t move. I tried; it was as if my arms had turned to stone, my feet
stuck in one of Baglun’s bogs.’
    Gar nodded slowly. ‘We all fear, Ban. Even Tull. It’s what we do about it – that’s the important thing. That’s what’ll make you the man you grow into. You
must learn to control your emotions, boy. Those that don’t do that often end up dead: anger, fear, pride, whatever. If your emotions control you, sooner or later you’re a dead
man.’
    Corban looked up at him, his throbbing lip fading for a moment. He had never heard Gar say so many words strung together.
    The stablemaster leaned forward and poked Corban in the chest. ‘Learn to control them and they can be a tool that makes you stronger.’
    ‘Easy for you to say,’ Corban mumbled. ‘
How?
’
    Gar looked at Corban a long while. ‘I will teach you if you wish,’ he said quietly.
    Corban raised an eyebrow. Gar never trained in the Rowan Field or rode with a warband on account of an old leg wound – he’d walked with a limp as long as Corban could remember
– so what the stablemaster could teach him, he didn’t know.
    ‘What?’ said Gar. ‘A wounded leg does not mean I’ve forgotten what it’s like to wield a sword, or to face a man in battle.’
    Wield a sword
. ‘All right,’ Corban shrugged. ‘Though Da is teaching me my weapons until I’m old enough for the Field.’
    Gar snorted. ‘There is much Thannon can teach you, but how to hold your temper is not one of them.’
    Corban smiled. His da was not well known for his patience.
    ‘We’ll keep it between us, for now,’ Gar said.
    ‘What, can’t I tell Cywen?’
    ‘Especially not Cywen.’ A rare smile touched the edges of Gar’s mouth. ‘She would not leave me alone.
Gar, teach me this, Gar, teach me that
,’ he mimicked.
‘No, she keeps me busy enough with the horses.’
    Corban chuckled. Gar held out his arm and Corban gripped it.
    ‘Good. So,’ said Gar, ‘are you going to come back to the fair?’
    ‘Not yet.’ He looked past Gar at the milling crowds.
    ‘You’ll have to face them sooner or later, and the longer you leave it the harder it will be, like falling off a horse. And your friend will be worried.’
    ‘I know. I’ll come back after, just not right now. I think I’ll go and see Dylan.’
    Gar nodded. ‘It’s a long walk to Darol’s hold. Let’s get you cleaned up and Willow saddled, that way you’ll be back by sunset for the end of the
handbinding.’
    Corban fell in silently and they made their way into the streets of Havan. Everywhere was deserted, the lure of the fair having emptied the village. Corban looked up, saw Dun Carreg high above,
but even the fortress seemed still and empty. No one moved on the walls or around the great arch of Stonegate, looming above the only entrance into Dun Carreg.
    They reached the stable and soon Corban was sitting on top of a solid bay pony, his face stinging after washing in the water barrel.
    ‘Hold one moment,’ said Gar and disappeared inside the stable. He soon returned with a leather saddlebag. ‘Just a few bits: some bread, cheese, a blanket, some rope. Always be
prepared,’ he added in response to Corban’s quizzical look. ‘You never know what’s going to happen.’
    Corban smiled ruefully, touching his cut lip. ‘That you don’t.’
    ‘Remember, back by sunset. Look after Willow and he’ll look after you. And stay away from the Baglun. There’s been talk of wolven being seen.’
    ‘Huh,’ grunted Corban. He didn’t believe that. The only time wolven had ventured to the forest’s