Rebel's Cage (Book 4) by Kate Jacoby Page A

whole time, and for another month after that as he nursed him to the point where he no longer worried that his brother might die of either his wounds or some subsequent fever. Robert’s injuries had appeared incurable then, the scar on his back still breaking open, the cut in his side weeping blood whenever he moved too much. By the time Finnlay had agreed to leave and return to the Enclave, Robert had been walking short distances for a few days only and it was almost impossible to believe that he would ever heal completely.
    He had word every now and then about Robert: Murdoch worked with him all summer, then spent winter at the Enclave, when Finnlay would talk to him for hours about Robert’s exploits, but quietly and secretively. Of Robert’s health, Murdoch said nothing. Finnlay knew Jenn didn’t want to know. Taunting her now was not high on his list of priorities.
    There was something still left undone and his own restlessness was hounded by it. Despite what Murdoch told him, he really had no idea what Robert was planning.
    The camp settled down in the usual manner, with fires banked, horses watered, beds made up and good-humoured bickering and some laughter until, long after the moon had risen, the clearing was silent of all but forest noises and the occasional shuffling of the animals.
    Finnlay chose a comfortable spot just on the edge of the clearing, where a tree had recently fallen, giving him a trunk to sit on and a branch to lean back against. Settled, he closed his eyes and took out his
ayarn,
letting his power flow through the small stone, sending his awareness out into the darkness, testing the area for any dangers, Seeking for safety as his charges slept.
    As usual, there was nothing and content, he opened his eyes – to find Andrew standing in front of him, wide awake, ablanket draped around his shoulders. ‘Wouldn’t you be warmer sitting by the fire?’
    ‘Wouldn’t you be warmer tucked up in bed?’
    The boy looked over his shoulder at his sleeping friends then sat on the log beside Finnlay. He pulled his feet up and wrapped his arms around his knees. ‘I couldn’t sleep.’
    ‘I gathered that.’
    ‘Really, you could let Liam or Neil take a turn at night watch, couldn’t you? Wouldn’t that be good practice for them?’
    ‘And if they fell asleep and we were attacked?’
    Andrew’s eyes crinkled up at the corners. The moon was very bright tonight, dusting the entire clearing in light enough to read by. ‘I’ll keep watch with you, then, and we can keep each other awake.’
    Finnlay grinned. Andrew had an infectious smile, a way about him that made it impossible to dislike him. Despite the fact that many of the Salti children were envious of the freedom Andrew enjoyed living at Maitland, none of them openly hated him for it. Of course, Andrew was always happy to bring them gifts or books that they’d asked for and refrained from talking for hours about his exploits at court or other places. He lived in two worlds, this boy, and yet didn’t seem to be at home in either of them.
    ‘So,’ Finnlay murmured after a moment, ‘why couldn’t you sleep?’
    ‘Just thinking.’ Andrew rested his chin on his knees and gazed into the darkness. ‘About Nash and Duke Robert.’
    ‘What about them?’
    ‘What’s the Word of Destruction?’
    Finnlay blinked. ‘Pardon?’
    With a flash of blue eyes, Andrew grinned. ‘No, I don’t mean tell me the actual word—’
    ‘Since I don’t know it—’
    ‘I mean,
what
is it? I know it was created centuries ago and given to the Key, and the Key gave it to your brother – but what is it? How does it work? Did Duke Robert ever learn more about it?’
    Finnlay sighed. ‘I can’t tell you what he’s discovered lately – if anything. As far as I know, he’s only ever used it once, the day you were born. Having seen the effects, I’m not sure I want to see him using it a second time.’
    ‘He was going to use the Word of Destruction to kill