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Chapter 344
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The Birthright Series Chapter 345
'YOUR MAJESTY, YOUR MAJESTY! CATHERINE! Cat!'Leseach shook the pale, white lipped woman by the shoulder before snatching her hand back in shock. The woman gave no response, staring blankly ahead while tears trickled down her cheeks. The shoulder Leseach shook felt like ice. Her feet feeling uncharacteristically heavy, Leseach staggered back before twisting, racing for the door. She stopped short at it, taking a calming breath then opened it and locked eyes with Aldeern.'Could you please have Lieutenant Rashid fetched. Her Majesty would like to speak with him.'The guard inclined his head as she shut the door, her pulse racing. The lies fell from her lips with an ease that caused a rush of shame, a cringe rippling down her spine.The spacious quarters felt hauntingly empty. Leseach leaned against the door, mind whirling at the outcome of her words.A soft knock made her stand and turn, pulling the door open as Rashid pushed. His grey eyes calm until he regarded her face. With a n
The Birthright Series Chapter 346
SLEEP DIDN'T RELIEVE THE OVERWHELMING anxiety. It followed me into my dreams, faces merging with other faces, shadows everywhere, making me jumpy when I woke, mistaking furniture for hidden men. Panting with panic after waking from another horribly vivid yet bizarre and confusing dream, I flared my energy out, eyes searching the large room. All I saw was my own startled expression in the mirror, with Audi alert to my alarm beside me, crying as she too peered around the room. I shushed her before Leseach could hear, the Northerner sleeping in an adjoining room. Her permanent guilty expression was more than I could bear at the moment.It wasn't her fault. I knew that. But I hadn't the strength to deal with my own emotions at the moment, let alone hers. The last couple of days were a blur, I only moved from this room to the bathroom and when I did, Leseach always had food in my room by the time I got back.I missed the girls' something terrible. But there was no way I'd allow that s
The Birthright Series Chapter 347
THE DOUBLE THROATED SNEEPS SUNG out their warbling melodies, the last of the dawn singers, when Kassie woke. Though she'd only got to bed just before midnight each night since arriving back, she still woke early on this, the fourth day.Lying in bed, stretched out across the mattress, Rumal already up and out, she ran through the list of things she wanted to achieve today and added to it the items she hadn't ticked off yesterday.With a sigh she thumped her hand against the mattress, annoyed at not having more of this sorted already.A happy 'mirrup' made her smile, as Lucky, sleeping on one of the platforms of the cat climbing frame her youngest brother had made, made her daring leap across to the bed. Tail swaying as she purred loudly, the cat lowered its head when she reached Kassie, bunting its forehead against her chin.With a chuckle Kassie snatched the cat up in a cuddle, hugging her, rubbing her chin over her head like Lucky liked. Letting go a moment before Lucky went to b
The Birthright Series Chapter 348
WALKING BACK FROM CAT'S QUARTERS, Elena flicked her fingers in and out in irritation. Cat performed perfectly again in the Council meeting. Cold, polite, to the point. Such a vast transformation from the chatty, curious, and questioning young woman who had a tendency to nod off. Three days had passed since Elena realized Cat was still here, yet she refused to give Elena even the slightest information about whatever the argument she and Alek had had. Elena found out quickly enough that Alek had escaped to Delanta to lick his wounds and that in turn caused more irritation.That boy! He needed to learn to hold his ground with emotional matters! It didn't matter how well he fought in battle, when it came to a kingdom, to a realm the size of Elion, you needed to hold your head in emotional matters.Reaching her own quarters, she gave a curt nod to the guards at the doors as they opened them quickly, shutting them behind her.Standing in her own space, hands on hips, she growled. Pacing
The Birthright Series Chapter 349
EXITING THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, I TOOK the long way back to my quarters, needing to stretch my legs after the hours' long meeting. It did strike me as impressive that I hadn't been tempted to nod off even once. I felt almost professional, having held my own, challenged the Councillors and finally got one thing put in place.The council meetings almost seemed more like debates for the members, not really focused on results rather than scoring points against each other in front of the devoted audience of other councillors.Walking along, letting another sigh out, I tentatively reached out to Alek's energy.The flat blankness of a shield made me tilt my head back, blinking away tears as I increased my pace.Running up the turret helped to resist the tears. It was hard to run while crying. Nodding to the guards I walked swiftly to my quarters feeling my face begin to crumple and hands tremble.Aldeern looked about to speak to me but changed his mind, flinging the door open as I rushed i
The Birthright Series Chapter 350
SIX DAYS, KASSIE GROWLED TO herself while marching along the hallway to the room she and Rumal occupied. Nothing from her, but he's still here!Enough was enough. She'd been patient. Waited. Waited. And waited.Now was the time for Cat to confess just what the hell was going on. Kassie sniffed indignantly when the voice in the back of her mind reminded her of the promise they'd all made not to disturb each other.It's her fault I'm breaking it, she's the one who should have had the decency to get in touch when her husband vanished.Nodding in agreement with herself, she put on an extra burst of speed, shoulders square as she eyed the door she approached.A glimpse of movement, of curly grey and brown hair, out the left window made her pause then turn to peer out.There in the garden walked her mother, with a strange almost tentative waltz to her step. Bemused, Kassie stepped closer to the frame, keeping against the wood so not to be noticed as she looked to see what had her mothe
The Birthright Series Chapter 351
WITH A RISING SENSE OF anticipation, we moved between cantering and trotting, making what felt like fantastic time. The last bits of scattered forest gave way to grasslands, alongside which a river in flood raged. I watched it while clinging tight to the saddle, seeing bits of wood wash past, a tree trunk stripped till almost bare. The occasional rumbling thud rang out, vibrating through the earth when loosened boulders crashed along, unseen beneath the water. We followed the river for some distance, occasionally having to skirt higher up off the track as the river ate away at it. Ahead of us, heads bent against the driving rain, the cavalry soldier stopped and Rashid leapt from his back.The sense of urgency in his movements, looking like he searched for something, spurred Mhelyn to catch up. Moments later I slid down and shouted to Rashid. 'What is it?''The bridge!' He roared the words over the dense rumble of water rushing past, pointing at what looked like large lumps of roc
The Birthright Series Chapter 352
THE ROCKING OF THE WAGON put Loi into a sleep like state as she dozed on the top bunk in the full sun. Time passed pleasantly and she daydreamed away, occasionally slipping into real sleep then back. The creaks and groans of the wheels didn't seem as loud as on the way up, or perhaps it was because they didn't have the twins, and their cousins, with their fractious attitudes and clear dislike of distance travel in a wagon. Loi personally loved the experience. Minus those four girls.'How you doing up there?' Sabyn called from the other end of the wagon, stretched out diagonally across the bunks on the other end, propped up with a couple of pillows as he read.Rolling onto her stomach and peering his way with a dozy smile, Loi asked sleepily, 'How do you not feel sick?''What?' Sabyn's eyebrows lifted in surprise.'Reading, with the swaying?'He paused, considering. 'I hadn't really thought about it. I can read almost anywhere, even griffon back though Tomiar is likely to tease me
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Paiga gasped and Mila stiffened. A glimmer of annoyance flashed in Mama's eyes before she reached for Luca.'Yes, they have. But we won't. We're tied together. We will go in together and come out. You have to trust in us Luca. We need your energy too, please keep the right thoughts in your mind.'Luca swallowed, throat convulsing. He nodded. 'Yes, Aunty Dan'iss.''Listen up everyone!'Uncle Harlon's shout made Mila jolt.'Hush, Mila,' Papa joggled her in the sling. 'You're going to be fine, I'm right here.' He wrapped his arms around her. Heart pounding with nerves, Mila pressed her cheek to Papa's chest, listening as Uncle Harlon gave the instructions.A glimmer of eyes appeared by Papa and a moment later she felt the brief touch of Ery's hand to her head.'Bye Ery,' she whispered. The air within the cave started to hum with energy, all the adults calling theirs up. It made the space warm and comforting. Mila started to doze off.'Hold on,' Uncle Harlon called out. 'Here we
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The conversation seemed easy after that.Ery showed the girls' how to swallow the worms whole. Mila screwed her nose up, grabbing her arms and shaking her head. 'No, no, no!'Paiga tried it. With a grimace, both Mila and Ery watching close, she plucked a wriggling worm up then dropped it in her mouth. Her eyes squeezed shut as she gulped the worm down in one swallow.She opened her eyes and stared at Mila and Ery. 'It tasted good!''Really?''Yes, sweet.'Mila shook her head when Ery offered her the last one, motioning it to her. 'No, you have it.' The mushrooms were yum, and the sparks continued as you swallowed it. It was impressive on Ery with her fine almost translucent skin. Mila and Paiga gasped as the sparks flashed in her throat before another dim flash in her tummy. It made all three of them laugh, the two girls giggling away while Ery coughed her laughter.Next was the flesh and berries. Ery showed them how to peel a piece of flesh away from the main then mush the be
The Birthright Series Chapter 391
When the group came across a river, they stopped. After a careful taste test, dipping a crystal necklace in to check the quality, everyone was allowed to drink.Mila and Paiga wrinkled their noses at the odd smell. Like a cup of nellor left out for too long.'It won't hurt you, girls,' Papa said with a smile as he squatted to scoop water to his mouth. 'Drink up.'The two girls' sipped water from their cupped hands, giggling as it spilled out. The adults conversed as the two of them had fun flicking water at each other.An odd sound like a cough made Mila look up, Paiga too.Both girls gasped, stumbling back from the river.'Mila? What's wro-' Mama broke off as she looked up too.Uncle Harlon made a funning clicking noise.The strange looking person that clung to the ceiling with three others responded with clicks and whistles.Mama beckoned Mila and Paiga, and the two girls scampered to her side.'Mama, who are they?' Mila whispered, Paiga crowding close to hear the answer.
The Birthright Series Chapter 390
With that entertainment gone, Mila went back to focusing on her feet. Pull one knee high while keeping balance and drop it. Each step seemed to make her head go lower. But she kept going, with Mama and Papa pulling her along. Finally, after what felt like hours and hours, Uncle Gydon said they could stop.'Take your rest, I'll be waking you in an hour to keep guard,' he motioned an uncle. 'Then you take an hour watch and wake the next. You get five hours rest. Make the most of it.'Papa and Mama and several other adults had bags with clothing. It all got pulled out and spread around the group, trying to provide a little warmth and comfort. Mila curled up between her parents, her head against Papa's chest. It seemed so cold and strange she didn't think she could sleep.Then she closed her eyes.'Mila, lovey, wake up.'Mila stirred at Mama's voice and the gentle touch of her hand on her back. She sat up with a jaw-splitting yawn. Blinking, she peered around in confusion.'Mama, a
The Birthright Series Chapter 389
The air smelled cold, and something else, something Mila found familiar but out of place.'Mama,' she whispered. 'What's that smell?''What smell, lovey?''It smells like,' Mila paused, considering. 'It smells like the kitchen, when cook has fresh rabbits.'Mama didn't say anything but she looked at Papa.'I smell it,' said another voice from within the circle.'Me too.''Carrion?''Perhaps. The scent will carry when the air is still.'Not understanding what "carrion" meant, but glad that the adults appeared to have solved the smell, Mila relaxed a little, nose wrinkling at the sharp edge of that scent.Minutes ticked by as they covered good ground.'We're close,' said the man leading them. A screech flashed past overhead, the group twisting, following the sound.A man shouted.Mila's head snapped in the direction of the shout, just in time to glimpse the man's boots vanishing as something, something with enormous black wings, snatched him up!Shrieks of terror rang out
The Birthright Series Chapter 388
Everyone moved. It surprised Mila how many people were here, but so many seemed to be missing too. Mama took her hand. On her other side was her younger cousin Paiga. Normally she annoyed Mila, with all the questions she asked, but the scared expression in her eyes reminded Mila of Addy. She offered her other hand to Paiga, who took it with a tentative smile.The group began to walk.Mila hadn't realized until now how tired she was. She stumbled over the riverbed the rocks stubbing her toes as she held Paiga and Mama's hands. It made tears run down her cheeks, but she didn't stop. On and on, picking her feet up, tripping, Mama's hand stopping her from falling. Paiga tripped and Mila managed to hold her arm high enough to stop her cousin from hitting the stones.'Thanks, Mila,' Paiga sounded like she felt. Ready to cry. So very tired.Around them the adults talked. Mila listened.'Where do we go?''The hidden caves. We can keep underground nearly all the way to the coast.''The
The Birthright Series Chapter 387
Papa's energy sparked in alarm then Mama's too. Mila twisted to stare back at the way the sounds came from and spotted a bobbing light. Torch light.Mama and Papa kept low and began to move again, almost crawling. Mila crunched up against Papa's back, squinting at first then kept her head down to avoid the lower branches.The sounds of those approaching grew. Papa moved faster, Mama right behind. They scooted up higher, scrambling, and tucked against cold stone. Not a moment later the torches bobbed past, following the track they'd been on.The bobbing lights moved closer then away, and closer again. The voices, questioning but too quiet to make out the words, sounded near.Crouched against the narrow stone ledge, Papa and Mama held hands. The soft touch of their energy surrounded all three of them.The bobbing lights came closer, close enough that Mila saw the faces of those who held them. Five DeNaga men, armed with swords, axes, and clubs.Mila shivered at the sight of the
The Birthright Series Chapter 386
Now the puzzle looked a third smaller than when she'd stared, but instead of one beginning point to work from there were three. She regarded the three pieces while chewing on the inside of her cheek. Two circular and one rectangle. The rectangle had a large circular opening, about the size of the smaller circle. Mila focused on the larger circle and turned it around, looking for the switch. It looked different to the previous circles she'd worked with, the markings running out from the centre like a starburst. One line caught her eye. With a finger Mila traced down it then jolted when something clicked. She froze. Heart pounding in her ears, she watched the circle break apart, opening at all the lines of the starburst. With another click it moved into motion, each piece folding down on itself and merging with the next. A moment later a tiny gold ball like had been in the first puzzle piece hung before her eyes.Excitement ran through Mila when she realized how the pieces went togeth
The Birthright Series Chapter 385
An array of squeals, bells, rattles and shrieks rang out. Face white Papa reached for them as something flashed out from amongst the lock trap, winding around his leg, wrenching him off his feet as it wound back in the blink of an eye.Mama gripped Mila tighter, her voice breaking on a note of despair, 'ZAYCK!'In the centre of the ceiling held by his ankles, hung Papa.Mama's energy holding Mila clutched even tighter as Mama set her on the ground then stood and reached out with both hands toward the lock, her energy glowing. Mila stared, waiting to see what happened.Mama stretched her energy out, probing gently.It touched the first puzzle piece. A clattering of chimes and screeches rang out, sparks flying.In the centre of the room, jerking like a fish caught on a line, Papa made an awful shriek.Mila dropped, hugging her knees to her forehead, stomach and mind sick from that sound.Papa was the bravest, strongest man in the world.He couldn't be caught, be hurting.Who wo
