"I heard you," he declared without opening his eyes, grinding his teeth. "And no, he wouldn't. We need what he knows, too many things don't add up. If indeed the story of the dark Gods is true," Nathan opened his eyes and shook his head thinking of Doreon, "it would also explain why he left without saying anything."In his heart, Nathan knew that Doreon would never betray him, not even for his beliefs, but what other explanation could he give for his disappearance?Doreon was too attached to his faith and if the other faithful were on the move, it was not to be excluded that he had approached that people. The very thought made him grind his teeth hard, he had always underestimated that part of Doreon, relying on the common sense of his friend, focusing on the rational part of him, the one that would never lead him to approach heretics."What do you mean? What does Doreon have to do with the dark Gods?" asked Sumon, confused."With all the confessions you have made, has he never reveal
Doreon The commander had escorted them to what were supposed to be their quarters. Small brick huts placed on the border of the village next to the training camps. Each of them had been assigned a single hut which was equivalent to a chamber. A small space with a bed far too big compared to what he expected. In the center of the room was a wooden table on which was placed a small tray with some ripe fruit. Although the space was tiny, Doreon did not mind, especially after spending a month in a small cabin cradled by the waves of the sea, a room that had then been stormed by the priestess and the two girls of the rite, who, alternating, had sneaked into his bed, in the middle of the night, waking him up in a languid way, with his mouth around his erection. The girls had remained pure until their first rite: in order to be accepted by the goddess Lox it was necessary not to have given their body to anyone, but after
"I could kill you thousands of leagues away, if I wanted I would kill you the moment you set foot in the fortress... Why spoil my fun so soon?" He gently stroked the knobs of the armrests with his hands.A shiver ran through Doreon's body caused by the calm coming from the girl. No emotion shone through her, as if she had been completely emptied of all traces of humanity."So, Doreon Noksen, what's your plan? Collect as much information about us as possible? What are our plans? Put a good face on a bad game?" she asked. A flash crossed her eyes and for a moment those green gems turned into red rubies, but it was only for a few seconds, so fast that Doreon wondered if he had imagined everything."Something like that," Doreon admitted.The commander laughed slightly. "Yet, there must be another reason why you went to the edge of the world on a suicide mission. What's the young king doesn't give you the approval you need?" she asked, mocking him. "Or maybe i
Taryn They had traveled for hours without stopping once, and, finally, a city sprang up from the hills. Taryn breathed a sigh of relief seeing the walls and feeling the salty smell permeate the air; she leaned her head on Elhias' chest, breathing deeply and closing her eyes. All her muscles ached from the ride and fatigue began to be felt. Since they had come out of the woods they had not stopped for a moment, they had pushed the horses to the end for fear that at the exact moment they stopped, the dragon would attack them again. They had not looked back for a moment, they had continued straight on their way letting out the sores on their hands from the effort. They had managed to reach the city in a few hours and by now the moon was beginning to disappear, the streets of the city were deserted, the taverns were empty. One could only hear the echo of the hooves of their horses that walked the streets until they
She slammed a fist on the table and stood up, violently moving the chair backwards, causing it to almost fall, to head towards the window. Not before noticing the mark left by his fist on the table. The shape of her hand had remained implanted in fire in the wood, some sparks burned giving off a faint gray smoke, if it had been at another time she would have felt proud of that step forward. How stupid that was! Proud, happy about something so useless, while her men were in disarray, without guidance, supplies and aid. She stopped in front of the glass and looked at the dark city, small lanterns dotted the main streets, illuminating the buildings that at that distance and height looked like tiny constructions, although Taryn knew how beautiful and great they were seen up close. Her body began to tremble with anger and surrounded herself with her arms, trying to calm the violent explosion that seemed to want to erupt from every part of her body. Her ski
SumonSumon woke up very early that day. When she opened her eyes the sky was still bluish and the sun was not yet visible although the moon had already disappeared from the sky.Sumon had spent the night tossing and turning in bed, alone, thinking of all the possibilities that would open up for her and Haefest in the coming days. The Locrand delegation was intent on a fruitful collaboration with them, and Sumon didn't want Nathan to waste time or get distracted by memories of the past.On the other hand, Athelstan Neyer had spent the night in the masters' studios, where they had prepared the body of her late adviser for the rite of passage. Sumon had sent some guards to check on the Prince of Locrand and they had assured her that the boy had not moved from there all night, he had not even approached the rooms that Nathan had made him prepare.He had allowed his men to retreat to their quarters, but many of them had
"No," replied Athelstan without turning around. "Her body had been burned by bandits, we only found the remains and my father did not consider it necessary to perform the rite. Her soul is still in oblivion."Nathan inhaled deeply, a flash of pain went through his face and his gaze became darker, he closed his eyes as if he were experiencing physical pain and turned his head to the side."And that's why the gods are punishing us," the priest ventured to say.Sumon looked at him, while Athelstan did not move in the slightest, he remained with his gaze fixed on the river. His whole body became rigid."There is only one person who will have to suffer the wrath of the Gods," he said after a moment, turning his head towards the priest with a stern look.The priest visibly swallowed, but did not add a word. As he stepped back towards the horses. His task was finished and surely he would lock himself in his rooms or perhaps with some prostitute. He didn't
TarynThey marched for days and days without any stopping, rested a few hours a night and immediately resumed their journey. They had avoided taking the busiest roads or passing through villages, they had taken the most dangerous route, but also the fastest to reach the place where his army had taken refuge.What remained of his army had hidden along the coast, towards the border with Aeris.Taryn didn't know why they were there, she didn't know why they were pinned to Elder when they could cross the border and take shelter safely in the lands of Aeris; Certainly Elhiàs would not hunt them down, but she was aware that she probably wouldn't like the answer to that question at all.What hope did she have of saving her men when her uncle had twice as many, if not more? And she knew it well, she had no hope, Elhias' men would make a difference and maybe she had been a fool to run away immediately; Maybe she could have waited a
Aislin shook her head. "It's like talking to a wall, do you ever listen to what I tell you?" she asked, turning to him. "Of course, but there's a gulf from there to agreeing with all your decisions. You'd solve half your problems if you decided to exterminate Werod's followers from the first to the last," Doreon said honestly. Barclay arched his eyebrows, but nodded as did Blake and Lyza. Everyone felt the same way, but no one had ever dared to say it openly. Doreon didn't understand exactly what they feared. That she freaked out? That she had a temper tantrum? As if she hadn't had enough in those last few days. Aislin, stunned, looked first at her warriors, then at Doreon. "Shut up, Doreon," she repeated again, this time angrily. Silently they reached the ship they were going to use for the long journey. A rope ladder had been thrown from the bridge. As soon as their boat approached the ship, Doreon got up and rushed to help Aislin, who turned away and climbed the ladder alo
Doreon The priestess had just finished the rite and in the sea other girls were fished out by the men on the ships, ready to sail. Doreon found himself at Aislin Neyer's side, silently watching the ocean as the last rays of the sun shone on them, reflected on the crystalline surface. Behind them the warriors were silent, except Barclay who was noisily chewing a piece of dried meat, not caring in the least for the hateful noise he was making. Pix had already boarded his ship, on the orders of the commander. There was no need for all the men to be present at the ritual and then, according to the commander, that way they would arouse less suspicion that she did not want to see the men coming from Aeris. Aislin loved to play games and keeping her identity a secret for as long as possible was the game she enjoyed the most. She had sent some of the allies to the other port villages, where the other two commanders were waiting for them along with some of their men. Doreon hadn't met t
Both came out of the council chamber, while behind them she heard Kyros giving orders to go and call Queen Reanna. Sumon stood beside Nathan, as they proceeded down the corridor to the main gates from which the two rulers of the west and north would come. "What was that reaction from Athelstan?" she asked Nathan softly. "During the Summit five years ago, Taryn Fahan sneaked into Althea in secret... I think to be able to get the support of some king, but she ended up in the bed of Athelstan. Aislin told me that her brother had completely lost his mind for her, then I don't know what happened," Nathan explained, as they turned into another corridor. "Hadn't Elhias Ackard and Athelstan grown up together?" asked Taryn. Nathan shrugged. "And Elhias married the woman he is in love with?" Her husband shrugged his shoulders again. "A fiery encounter is on the horizon," Sumon reflected after a while. "And Kyros? Why that reaction?" "I have no idea, nothing good, Sumon... nothing good,"
Sumon The servants quickly placed food on the table and disappeared from the door, while Athelstan Neyer and Nathan continued to argue about the different abandoned ports of Haefest. They had been arguing for five days now and until then they had made great progress, thanks also to the fact that on the second day Kyros Neyer had arrived, something had changed and it had happened. First of all, at the head of the table, on the opposite side from Nathan, sat no longer Kyros Neyer, but his son. Athelstan seemed to have taken the reins of the situation and, since that morning, had done nothing but talk and talk, discussing peacefully with her husband, while Kyros had stood aside to listen. He had spoken a few times in the debate and had not made much of a contribution. The lords of Athelstan listened to him looking at him with devotion, nodding at whatever the prince said or proposed. Devotion that had not escaped Kyros who observed everything with a stern look. Sumon did not unders
Doreon looked at her for a moment before that name entered his mind. He froze, his breath seemed to die in his throat, while images of Nathan were going through in his head.His gaze when, under duress from Doreon himself and Damien, he had begun to tell what had happened between him and the princess of Locrand, the way in which his eyes had remained empty, after finding out about his departure. And also all the suffering of Sumon in not feeling enough, in not being able to fill the void left in Nathan.All the years he had spent watching his best friend, his brother, disintegrate before his eyes.A shiver of anger ran through him, but Doreon stopped him, so he immobilized and looked at the commander carefully."It's not possible," Doreon said in a whisper. "It's not possible. She's dead. She died five years ago." He shook his head."Do I look dead to you?" she said, bending her head to the side and pointing at herself.Doreon shook his head
DoreonDoreon sat on the ground, his back resting on the log in front of the fire, as he took the bag with wine and brought it to his lips."Damn witches!" exclaimed Barclay, sitting next to him and pulling the wine out of his hands, before bringing it to his lips.Doreon snorted annoyingly and watched as he threw himself on the ground noisily."And you'll have to put up with them all the way to Mihdel," Doreon pointed out.Barclay went through the water and began to cough, Doreon took the wine back to his lips taking a large sip."Stop complaining and provoking them, you will only increase their hatred and desire for revenge," Doreon said quietly, as she passed him the wine."Doreon is right," the commander declared behind him, before sitting down next to Doreon. "They're already uncontrollable, if you get bothered by them, I won't be able to keep them out of your throat." Doreon took the wine and pass
"Accompany him to his accommodation," he then ordered the servants, who immediately nodded.The man made a half-bow and then quietly exited the tent.As soon as he left, Elhias stood up and stepped down from the platform, running a hand through her black hair and ruffling it."What do you want to do?" asked Taryn, passing the letter to one of the lords of Elhias, before she too rose."We must go to Sierra immediately. If what I think is happening, we need to start preparing everybody.""Everybody?" asked Taryn, puzzled.Elhias nodded."And the men who will go north?" asked one of Taryn's lords."The plans will remain the same until we have certain information. The usurper will soon fall, however, and as soon as he does, we will recall the army," Elhias replied."What about marriage?" Taront asked, arching an eyebrow."We have a master in the camp, and we will celebrate him this very evening."
TarynThey had stood still for a day, waiting for the messenger from Locrand to be brought to them. Elhias had not the slightest intention of taking a step without first finding out what Locrand wanted from him.Taryn suspected that Elhias wanted to find an excuse to meet Athelstan. Surely he hoped that the message would be an invitation to Locrand, so that he could finally meet his old friend again. She knew what kind of bond united them, that they had grown up together and adored each other as brothers, and she was also aware that being forced to close ties with him had made him suffer greatly. Although Elhias never showed his emotions on the outside, Taryn could see beyond his façade. She had learned to understand it, she knew how his little head worked, and in their time together she had observed the relationship between the two princes a lot.They had always been a shadow of each other. They never separated and their thought
Nathan turned around, grabbed her by the hips and sat her down on the table, before joining their lips. Aislin immediately brought her hands into his hair and wrapped his waist with her legs, while returning the kiss passionately. Their tongues intertwined, their breaths mingled. Nathan pushed himself at her, trying to be as close as he could, as she moaned in his mouth. When they were out of breath they broke away. Nathan rested his forehead on hers and opened his eyes, meeting her sweet gaze. Aislin rubbed her nose against his and Nathan got goosebumps as his heart pounded. "I missed you," Aislin said gently, looking him in the eye and running her hands through his blonde hair. "You too," Nathan admitted, closing his eyes and breathing deeply, intoxicated with his scent. "Where did they move you?" he asked, stroking her behind her back. Aislin pulled her forehead off his forehead and Nathan opened his eyes. The princess bent