SumonThe city was in mourning. People didn't walk the streets, they didn't do markets, they didn't talk. It was a sign of respect for the late king.The streets were empty, the taverns were closed, even the whores were locked up in their brothels and no one went to visit them.The masters had sent letters to the lords of the whole kingdom announcing the king's death and Nathan's upcoming coronation, inviting them to take part in the celebrations, pay their last homage to the old king and swear allegiance to the new one: it would have been the perfect excuse to actually see who was against Nathan's succession and who was not; it would have been the exact moment to understand who to watch your back from and who not, even if it all came from an extremely sad event for Nathan.Her husband had spent the previous days in total silence and solitude and Sumon could only imagine how he felt at that moment.Three days had passed since King Urian's death. The body had been brought into the tem
SumonThe days continued to pass, as the funeral rites were performed and more and more strangers arrived in Sierra.Haefest was divided into thirty distinct regions, at the head of each there was a noble family. Some were descendants of the first inner circle of the founding king of Sierra, others had received the office later, swearing their allegiance to the reigning king or proving their valor in battle.Of thirty lords, in addition to the six present at the council, only a dozen had appeared.The others had not shown up and had not sent a response to the summons of the new king, completely ignoring the orders given. If they had not supported Nathan's coronation, they might have been able to start a rebellion by proclaiming a fake king for them, declaring open war against the crown. And, with civil war looming in the north, such a rift in their kingdom was the last thing they needed.If word had come to the other four kingdoms, they would have been a target, defenseless to the poi
AthelstanAthelstan entered the throne room for the second time on that day, the sun was now setting and the little light that filtered, had made the room darker, while the last rays of the sun projected on the floor the long shadows of the vases scattered everywhere.The servants had closed all the large windows to prevent the bad smell from entering the building, the effort had been in vain, since inside the room a vague stench of rotten could be perceived. Athelstan had hoped that the smell would not reach the city, but unfortunately the light wind had carried the smoke and bad smell there, causing the anger of his father to erupt and he now found himself holed up in his rooms. Probably lost between the legs of some whore, while he had to deal with the messengers of Haefest.The throne room was empty when he entered, Athelstan was accompanied by two council members and a master. When he approached the bench he was dumbfounded for a moment, but he decided to climb the steps and sit
Athelstan Queen Reanna was standing, her back straight and her hands crossed in front of her. Her red hair was styled in a long braid that ran sideways down her shoulder. On her head she wore a simple crown, the thin silver circle had only a diadem in the center, just above the forehead. The purple eyes, like those of her son, were focused on the master, inquisitors, despite having a glacially quiet expression and a sweet tone of voice. "Mother," said Athelstan, solemnly. The other men at the same time pronounced Majesty by making a bow. The queen gave a sweet smile and approached them. "Master, how did you say?" She blinked a couple of times. A lion in cat disguise, Athelstan thought, trying to hold back a laugh. "I think it is safer that the prince will stay in Locrand," the old man said confidently. He was not afraid of Reanna's role or the soldiers who would cut off the heads of anyone who dared to speak in that tone to the queen. "I believe that the prince is free to decid
TarynTaryn placed the glove on her right hand, the leather partially covering three fingers of her hand and part of her palm, covering her white skin.Three days had passed since Elhias and she had spoken and since then she had not seen or spoken with the king of Aeris. The king was busy pondering Taryn's proposal, while the queen barricaded herself in the rooms where she was staying, waiting. As if his whole life depended on that decision and in a sense it was so.Taryn had done nothing but wait and read huge tomes that Elhias had made her bring by the servants. They said that those books came from the Bochus of Althea and that it was the king himself who took them. Not that Taryn understood the reasons.She did not know what would be the use of reading the ancient legends about the creation of the world, certainly it would not have been useful to her in a war against the usurper. They wouldn't argue which story was more truthful than the other.Despite this, Taryn had kept any impu
"He's certainly not here to make you look at him," he replied wryly."The first thing you learn in training is to use the bow," he said, earning himself seriously."Will you be a target? It might encourage me to aim well." Taryn bent her head to the side and looked into his eyes with a smile."And take away the pleasure from my enemies?" he arched his eyebrows in amusement."I might suggest drawing my face on target, but I doubt anyone can capture such beauty," he continued, sporting a mischievous smile.Taryn shook her head and followed him as they moved some distance from the target.When they were far enough, Elhias stopped and grabbed her by the shoulders, causing her to position herself in front of the target."Do you know how to use it?" he said, handing her his bow and quiver."I'm not stupid. I saw my soldiers," he replied immediately, grabbing the objects."Then give it a try," he declared, raising his hands and
DoreonThey had camped in a dense forest, the vegetation covering the smoke of the fire they had lit to warm themselves that night. They had successfully hunted a deer that had satiated them for that hard day's journey.In a few days they had managed to reach the border of Haefest. Doreon had pushed the horses almost to the limit to be able to get there as quickly as possible.He knew that Nathan wanted the message delivered as soon as possible and Doreon always obeyed the orders given to him, even if many times he did not like them.He threw the cleaned bone into the fire as he watched his men, chosen by him for the journey, giggling like idiot boys.Doreon had sat on the sidelines, away from his companions, so he couldn't hear what they were telling to each other about so much fun. Not that he wanted to or cared. He looked at them through the flames of the fire that was placed between them, like a wall placed between Doreon and the knights: a wall that distanced them and protected h
"Do you think I don't know the movements of every legion in the army, Pix?" Doreon narrowed his eyes. "Whether you like it or not, your troops are part of Haefest's army and coincidentally I am its commander, so you and your men answer to me," Doreon continued in an authoritarian tone.He had not moved an inch, he had maintained a relaxed position all the time, intimidating the lord in front of him."At least they were right to trust you," Pix said. Doreon looked at him, for a moment, confused. "My father and other lords had high expectations of you, mostly due to your ancestry, of course." Doreon continued to stare at him without uttering a word. "Did you think that the king had chosen you, a little boy, moreover the son of a man convicted of treason, as commander of the army because you know how to do some trick with the sword? Every choice is supported by the council and the lords and we, or rather some, have made your name, alluding to the fact that a young and fresh face like you