WildHarbor was located on the border of Locrand, a region almost forgotten by the king himself, and the lord in charge of the city practiced the dark cult, as did most of the people who lived there. It was like the neutral place for its people, where no one hunted them and where they did not have to hide the statuettes of their Gods under the floor, despite everyone hiding their nature from the king who was completely unaware of what was happening there. Pix had explained to him that the lord would be the one to perform the rite, but that he would not leave with the others, not when he was so close to the capital and when it was in turmoil. In return, he had donated ships and men so that they would have more means at their disposal. The voices of those present were muffled, and both Doreon and Pix turned their heads towards the stone stairs leading down to the pier. One man, probably Lord Manor, was descending slowly, his face solemn. He wore a milky white tunic, which he rubbed t
Doreon entered the streets of the small town, looking around, but could no longer identify it, as if it had vanished into thin air: which was very difficult, given the very flashy clothes with which she had entered the scene. The streets were already starting to crowd and people were already starting the festivities. People were piling up. Women and men throwing themselves on each other, tavern owners filling mugs with beer. Doreon watched a group of men toast good luck. "The festivities are the part that people prefer," said a voice behind him. Doreon turned and found her there, resting her shoulder on the stone wall of a gap between two buildings, hidden in dim light. "Isn't that what everyone wants? A moment of pure freedom to let one's primordial instincts free?" replied Doreon, shrugging his shoulders. "Is that the reason you participate at the rites?" she asked, looking at him. Doreon shrugged his shoulders and looked at the crowded people. "For a moment I thought the gods
AthelstanThey had been on their way for two days and, slowly, were approaching the border of Locrand to enter the kingdom of Haefest.As they moved away from the capital, they found fewer villages with the royal banners, as if people had decided not to belong to Locrand's kingdom. For Athelstan this was a very serious situation and, if even one of the other kingdoms had known about it, an attack would have brought down the kingdom and his house for good.At that moment they were crossing a forest. After leaving the capital, Amris continued with them for half a day, then embarked on his way to Althea. Athelstan only hoped that the knight would arrive at his destination safely, and that he would not incur an accident that would attract the attention of his father.He knew that Amris was a trained knight and that he alone knew exactly how to move without arousing any suspicion, but Athelstan was also aware that, in recent times, the king had become paranoid and had sent spies everywhere
SumonThat day the fortress was in turmoil. People were scrambling to complete the final preparations for the celebration. Sumon had spent the last few days thanking and complimenting the lords and their wives arriving from all over the kingdom.Seventeen lords had decided to attend and swear allegiance to the new king. But the failure of thirteen lords to respond continued to worry not only Nathan, but the entire council. They wondered if this new monarchy would lead to a rebellion by lords who did not accept Nathan as the new king, deeming him inefficient or unreliable.Her husband's position hung more and more in the balance, and Sumon felt partly responsible for this precarious situation.Although she and Nathan had started to had sex every night again, and despite Sumon having stopped taking the herbal tea she used to avoid conceiving during the time she spent her nights with Doreon, she still couldn't get pregnant. She had
The light hit the gems that adorned it, creating colorful reflections that danced on every wall of the room. Sumon had attended her brother's coronation when she was just a child, not that she remembered anything specifically, but in her mind there was always the image of her brother kneeling, with red hair like his combed and pulled back and the crown placed on his head. She did not remember the rites performed by the priests the week before that event nor the fact that they closed themselves in prayer for a whole week, without interacting with anyone and without food. They spent a whole week praying to the five Gods and the Mother to prepare for the coronation. Sumon blinked when Nathan said, in ancient language, Ic sweria. «I swear». The priest solemnly laid the crown on Nathan's blond hair, then said, "You have entered as a prince and you will go out as king. Waruld caresses you and accompanies you. Rise, King Nathan Fannil." He spo
TarynThe sun began to peep out from the hills, as they entered the dense forest at the foot of the mountains. Taryn yawned loudly riding her steed, meanwhile drowsiness began to take over again.They had left hours before the sun even began to catch a glimpse of the horizon. Elhias, who at that moment was marching just ahead of her riding a beautiful white mare, had practically thrown her out of bed by the servant he had entrusted to her. He had made her dress comfortably to ride waiting for her at the gates behind the training camps with a modest escort.Taryn hadn't even had time to complain about the way she had been woken up to find herself on a horse and outside the walls.The training tired her a lot and the little sleep of that night did not help her, several times she had dozed off on the saddle, risking to fall, with her head dangling while her eyes rested, and several times Elhiàs had woken her up gently, preven
"Take an arrow," he ordered her in a whisper. His voice echoed in the hollow environment.Taryn reached out to the quiver behind her back and groped in search of the tail of one of the arrows, grabbed one and with the other hand sought Elhias' arm. She could see nothing and had to use her other senses to be able to move.She let her hand down his arm, stroking it slowly, as Elhias shivered as she passed. She reached out to his hand and took it, placing the arrow he held in the other."Faer," he said in a whisper.A light came on, Taryn looked at Elhiàs who had created a small flame on the palm of his hand that gently pounded without causing any noise. The boy took the arrow and placed the tip in the flame, burning it."Pass me the bow," he declared, looking ahead.Taryn, shaking her head, put the bow in his hand, while Elhias extinguished the flame with a gentle breath. He took the fiery arrow and snapped it, vi
AthelstanAthelstan stood in front of the host of his men, his chest out and his head held high, while Nathan Fannil looked past the prince, as if he were looking for someone. The girl sitting on the throne next to him did the same.Their eyes probed every face in the hall, every corner of the space. Both were tense as they watched carefully, and Athelstan could swear to see a splash of panic in Nathan Fannil's eyes, before he recomposed himself and returned with his eyes on the prince: blue eyes focused on Athelstan's purple ones.Athelstan returned his gaze, silently, as Nathan held out.The prince crossed his arms behind his back and bent his head to the side, looking at the girl who had become Nathan's wife years before, she was still searching for something beyond him.He had to admit it, she was very beautiful, she could only rival his sister in beauty, but he did not believe that the youn