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17
The autumn leaves crunch under foot as Elan and I walk through the forest toward the nearby village.
Having a Summoner as an escort to this town is bad enough, it just so happens I don't trust him, and he doesn't trust me either. I just have to remember that I'm doing this - going into the town to look for rebel sympathisers - for Kailor's trust, and to eventually take down Marek and Vaia.
"I was hoping we could be friends," Elan says from beside me, pulling a branch up for me to duck under. We may be walking a common track, but it isn't exactly a well-kept. If we took a carriage, it would
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The King’s Seduction 18
I don't look over my shoulder until I've weaved through a few streets and emerged back onto the main road further into town.Marek will be following me...I know he is. I just have to get back to Elan as soon as possible. I doubt Marek will appear when I with someone else, since he hasn't done so before, and as Kailor's personal guard, Marek may be intimidated by Elan. Although I doubt it. I can imagine how a stand-off between those Summoner's would go.No one takes much notice of me as I walk down the cobblestone streets, pulling my hood up over my head some more. Everyone here is going ab
The King’s Seduction 19
Defeated, I have to fight the urge not to collapse onto the ground in a heap. Instead, I wipe at the blood splattered across my face.“Of course,” I mutter, throwing my hands up. “Of damn course.”Marek sighs, leaning down to wipe the blade of his knife on the shirt of the now deceased man. I watch, stomach churning as he slips the knife back into its place behind him, unbothered by the dead bodies that litter the clearing, thick scarlet blood pooling in the grass. I fight the urge to throw up, knowing what I must look like.
The King’s Seduction 20
I walk through the forest down the worn path, unable to shake what just happened.The ghost feeling still lingers on my skin from Marek’s touch, contrasting with the dried blood still smeared across my face, my elbows and knees scuffed from my tussle with those men. Knowing now that there are people who want me dead that aren’t Vaia and the rebels...I don’t know what to do.And what about Marek?Marek has to
The King’s Seduction 21
The next few days were a blur.Most of Kailor's men have been investigating what has happened to Elan, but haven't found answers. I've been interrogated on multiple occasions upon Kailor's request, which also hasn't lead to anything being accomplished. Tai has made me speak to someone seeing Elan dead, but that also hasn't been able to rid of the constant feeling of dread sitting in the pit of my stomach.Tai has been sleeping in my room, albeit on the floor. He's insisted on it, not wanting to push me. Nights have been the most frightening, so I've liked having Tai near me in case I wake
The King’s Seduction 22
My soles of my feet slip as I struggle up onto the roof for the second night.Tonight it’s cooler, an ice kissed breeze from the far-away Azure Province mountains play with the ends of my loose hair. Thick, livid clouds crawl lazily across the sky, casting shadows amidst the pale moonlight that traces the roof.I quite prefer this weather. The cold numbs my cheeks, daring to glide under my cardigan that I keep wrapped tightly around my limbs.
The King’s Seduction 23
Kailor sits in front of me behind a veil of smoke, regarding me with a rigid smile.The smell of his cigar is overwhelming, the scent of spices and cedar, making my head spin. I sit in a leather chair in front of him, painfully uncomfortable being in his private suite right now, although it's the only place he would agree to speak with Tai and I."Tell her she's insane father," Tai insists, pacing behind me. Kailor's dark gaze tracks his son, a thoughtful expression on his face.Kailor waves his hand. "Tell me that again.""I would offer a negotiation with Vaia,
The King’s Seduction 24
It was around midday when I arrived at our meeting spot.Just in case, I have a knife strapped to myself under my top shirt, although I imagine once Vaia gets a hold of me, it will be confiscated. I wonder if Marek is here, despite our agreement that no one else would be joining us.The smell of Vaia's floral perfume guides me into the tavern - the neutral ground. Sure enough, the room is void of anyone at all, aside from Vaia, who sits at a table in the centre of the room, drinking what looks like beer. I would have never imagined Vaia opting for that drink, although by the looks of her,
The King’s Seduction 25
Marek’s firm grip on my arm doesn’t release until I’m in the room.The one he has brought me to is unfamiliar, likely in the servants quarters. The fawn brown curtains have already been drawn, the room relying on just one full light to chase away the shadows. A single cot bed is pushed up against the far wall, dressed in plain white linen sheets, next to a sturdy bedside table.That’s it. And a pair of chairs.
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