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Chapter 32
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Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 33
The night passed too slowly despite Hester trying to make it go as fast as possible by drinking too much and socializing with everyone she knew. Finally Breeger interjected in one of Hester’s conversations with an old friend. He asked for them to excuse Hester and linked his arm through hers. He led her away into the garden which his guards had ensured was private. It was better than his office.The night air was cool and Hester welcomed the cool evening breeze on her skin. It had a sobering effect on her. They walked a bit in silence before Breeger stopped and seated himself on a bench in the garden and indicated that Hester should be seated.She sat next to Breeger reluctantly.“You look tense lady.”“Not at all Breeger. I am enjoying myself. Meeting old friends. But your suggestion that we have a talk has made me curious.”“I see,” Breeger replied. “I am glad you are enjoying yourself. It must remi
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 34
Benedict paused for a moment. “Yes. Sadly it haunts many people. I think people in higher society more than most. I am sure I have contributed to it as well keeping you in the palace as I have done. I wondered if I should let you go and live outside the palace after all. It has been on my mind all evening since I gave you a ride to the party.” “Perhaps being kept here has prolonged my loneliness but it was there long before your decision to keep me here. If I were free to leave it might be lessened. But I questioned the fundamental reason for my loneliness. I came to the conclusion that it is the absence of a significant other. It has been so for a very long time.” As Hester spoke, she recalled Dargo’s desire to press her to make plans to leave Atomas so he could marry her. She remembered her anger at him then and realized now how foolish she had been. What a difference a few hours had made in the rest of her life. While she loathed Breeger and did not wish to do as he wanted, she k
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 35
He took it reluctantly. “What is this Hester?” “I have tried to explain Dargo. I cannot see you anymore. This….we cannot be. Not now. Not ever. It is too dangerous and I……I love you too much to let you get hurt.” “That is not possible my lady.” He reached for her again and caught her arm. He pulled her closer and kissed her again. “What troubles you?” She pushed against him. “It is more dangerous than you will ever know. We do not have much time. You must go. You warned me that people are watching me. They are not those of Benedict. I know who they work for. They are watching now.” Dargo’s face reddened. “Who? How? How do they know?” “Please Dargo. For you. For us. Go.” Hester turned and opened the door. Dargo was experienced in the ways of life. He also knew danger when it was near. And right now he could almost smell it. As Hester left Dargo turned and climbed through the window. Moments later he was gone. Hester exited drying the tears from her face. “How much longer will this
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 36
Benedict paused. He could see the reasoning. “And is the latest lady not loved by the people?” “Indeed Benedict but the association with the kingdom’s past leaves them uncomfortable.” “Well they had better get used to it,” Benedict retorted. “I believe that Lady Hester and I will be spending a lot more time together. As for Lady Gelyn, she has left the city and will not be returning any time soon I believe. She is thus but a memory.” “Benedict, we are simply trying to advise you. We all know how difficult this transition has been. It has taken longer than we imagined and is still not complete. We are no closer to making contact with the Black Cloaks.” “There was a protest this morning,” said Tordor. Both Raeme and Benedict looked at Tordor. Neither of them had heard news of it until now. “What protest?” Benedict asked. “It was a protest at the temple of the Order of Keln.” “What were the people protesting?” “You.” Tordor replied bluntly. “What do you mean me?” “They asked th
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 37
“If you move to crush uprisings you will not only be considered as being possessed by Atomas but branded a dictator. We will start on a slide that can only end in a bloodbath. You will undo all that it is we have sought to achieve!” Benedict at last turned to Raeme his eyes cold. “I wonder if I need to question your loyalty, Raeme.” Raeme was shocked and tried to reply but Benedict cut him off. “You constantly argue for the easiest path even if it makes me look like a fool. You argue I should submit to an exorcism. For what? Because of rumours? I have told Huthdel, I will continue to see the Lady Hester. So what good will an exorcism do? Nothing will change. What will they say then? Remove me as a king for Atomas power in me is too strong? Ever since we have taken control of this city you have argued for the path of least resistance. You have argued against me. I have sought to make and bring change to a kingdom broken with rot. And to do that sometimes drastic steps must be taken.
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 38
They made a cold camp late that night and Alexa questioned her escort.“Who are you? What’s your name?”“I am a Cloak. Call me Rath.”“Ok. Rath. Where are we going?”“You have been sent for by someone high in our organization. I do not know who they are. It is my job to deliver you to them.”“Will I be coming back here?”“I have no idea,” Rath replied not looking at Alexa. “Looks like I arrived just in time back there.”“Yeah,” Alexa nodded. “Thanks. I guess you did arrive just in time.”“Lover’s spat?”“Break up, caught cheating, all of it.”“Thought as much,” Rath replied. “So what about your new boyfriend? Sad to leave him behind?”Alexa shrugged. “I don’t know. Are these the ideal circumstances to fall in love out here? Desert
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 39
“How has your training been going? I have had nothing but excellent reports regarding your training.” “It has gone well. But I hardly believe that you called for me because of my excellent training. Is it to do with my mother? Is she well?” Harbem paused. For a moment Alexa thought she saw sadness cross his face. “Your mother is well, Alexa. There is no need to worry.” “Then why have I been called here?” “Calling you here does have to do with your mother though. You see, when King Benedict overthrew Atomas, we feared what might follow. Yet, he has made steady progress towards improving the lives of the people in the Kingdom. When we urged you not to return to the palace despite his promise that you would be free, we perhaps overreacted. We believe we may have been wrong in our initial assessment. There are now rumors circulating which suggest that Benedict has taken more of an interest in your mother than simply that of a prisoner.” “What rumors are those?” Alexa asked. “Rumors t
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 40
They had stopped Samnom on the road and demanded his money. He had given it to them but when they had started talking about taking his clothes, Samnom realized he was in danger.They attacked him from behind and beat him with a club. Samnom went down and was soon being beaten and kicked by all five thugs. At some point everything went black. The pain of the blows faded as did the noise. It was as if he had drifted far away from the place on the road. He thought he must be dying. Somewhere in the black cocoon that enveloped him the shouts and cries of his attackers took on a different dimension. They became screams of terror.Somewhere in the blackness, the blows and the pain stopped. The screams of terror subsided and silence ensued. The black fog cleared and Samnom looked around him. Five bodies lay twisted and broken around him on the road.Samnom looked around for someone else. A helper? He still doubted his abilities. Had he really done this? There was no-on
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The city of Kyrshom was never the same. The lava had destroyed much of the city and it would never be rebuilt. The walls that had been built naturally from past eruptions were destroyed and partially covered by the new lava flow. They could no longer serve as natural protective walls. The lava had flowed through the city all the way down to the cliff where it had poured over the edge and buried the harbour. The ramp that had previously been built was partially destroyed and could no longer serve as an access to the city without considerable repairs which would take a long time. Many residents moved away and the life and culture of Kyrshom seemed to have left with them. People feared another eruption of Mt Almall and did not wish to lose what little they had left. Hope sparked briefly for the revival of Kyrshom as the lava cooled. People discovered Alymcyte in the cooled lava and there was a brief “Alymcyte rush” before the price offered for Alymcyte fell through the floor. It was so
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Eesa seemed to consider then replied in a hushed voice. “Thank you for your kindness sir. I am new and I am particularly interested in meeting men if you understand?”Breeger smiled. “I do indeed understand Eesa. But perhaps you would prefer to meet only one man if he makes it worth your while?”Eesa looked at Breeger in disbelief. “You would like that? You can do that?”Breeger smiled. “I assure you that I can.”“Then let us discuss it further somewhere more private. Perhaps tomorrow after your party?”“Perhaps tonight after my party?” Breeger pressed.“As you wish,” Eesa replied.Breeger explained to Eesa where his villa was and he left, very happy at the prospect of seeing Eesa again.After the party that evening Breeger took Eesa back to her home and she invited him in.Breeger was keen to start his new affair with Eesa and did not sa
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Firing continued strategically but damage was much less now as the attackers had moved out of the path of the catapult. The fires in the small trenches were doused and the attackers advanced further only to be stopped by new fires in new trenches. A co-ordinated retreat was being made by the army. They would ultimately retreat to within sight of the palace where another large trench had been dug and would be fed by oil from two sides to keep the fire burning. One army advanced and the other retreated. Neither side noticed the sky lighten with the approaching day. Then, just before dawn, a new quake struck. It was brief and violent. It was as if the earth heaved and men were thrown to the ground as the quake increased in strength. Then it finally subsided and all was quiet for a brief moment. In hindsight that moment seemed to last forever. Then an explosion tore through the predawn air and the earth shook knocking everyone to the ground. People screamed and shouted looking around des
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 94
Samnom knew that no-one in this compound was his friend and he treated them all as the enemy as he wandered through the compound calling out Gelyn’s name.Two more encounters with guards in the compound left the remaining guards assured that they were little or no match for Samnom. One guard stepped forward to meet Samnom.“We do not know where Breeger or Gelyn are. They went to the King’s ball and never returned. Breeger is wanted and the king’s men have searched the compound already for Breeger. He must be hiding somewhere else.”Samnom thanked the soldier and left. He made his way to the palace where he was stopped at the gates.“I seek no fight. I simply wish to see the lady Gelyn. My name is Samnom.”The guards looked concerned and conferred with each other a short distance away. Then one walked off towards the palace while the other returned and asked Samnom to wait.A while later the guard ret
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 93
The air by the East wall was thick with dust as the sun approached the horizon. A clear sign that the army beyond the walls would actually strike at sunrise. Benedict left his chambers and made his way to the East wall. He was greeted by the watch commander whose face was grim. He bowed and greeted Benedict. “Your majesty.” His body language said what he dared not say. They were hopelessly outnumbered. Benedict greeted him and made his way to the edge of the wall. He was right. The army of the Kelnians had approached the walls as near as they dared before daybreak. With the first sun’s rays, their strike would begin. Benedict looked along the top of the wall. Boiling pots of oil stood ready to be poured on the army below. Archers were ready too and Benedict was assured the catapults were ready too although he was not sure if they would be effective since he believed that the Kelnians were now closer than the minimum range of the catapults. As he looked down he saw the arrangement o
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 92
She could not tell Alexa for it would alert the men with them. Hester waited until they turned the next corner in the passage. Alexa looked back as always after turning a corner. Hester followed them around the corner and then stopped as soon as Alexa had looked back. She turned and ran back around the corner and into the dark. She had no torch but there was only one path in this passage. If she collided with a wall she just had to find the right way again and then continue on. She prayed for Alexa to forgive her for not saying goodbye.At the next corner Alexa turned and realized Hester was gone.“Hester is gone!”The men in front of her stopped and looked back. “We can’t go back Alexa. It’s too dangerous now. Others will be coming through here soon enough and if she has fallen they will find her.”“But she could be dying!” Alexa insisted.The men looked at each other. One volunteered. “I&rsquo
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 91
“You seem to be full of excuses King Benedict but yet have no proof of anything you say. Assassins killed our masters you say but they escaped. Atomas body was not burned you say but you cannot produce his body. Atomas women have left you say but where is the proof? I truly believe that you have lost control of the kingdom King Benedict. In all the time you have been king, you have failed to eradicate the Black Cloaks. I think it is time that we should do your job for you and relieve you of the task of ruling this kingdom.”“I ask you to please reconsider your threat Olnoy. I have come here today in peace. There have been a series of unfortunate events which have happened at this point in time. However, if you will decide to at least try and trust me, I will show you what I say is true.”“I think letting you stand out here and lie to me is enough. Letting you give me the bodies of our masters simply adds insult to injury.”Ben
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 90
“He had it coming. Besides, if he had been freed and allowed to voice his opinion, he would not have voiced it in favour of us.“ “Of that much I am sure,” Benedict replied. He would have to explain the death to Talek. There was not much else that could be done. Benedict insisted that they make their way to the mine first before returning the bodies of the masters. Tordor agreed. Melonor had not returned with news from the mine and both Benedict and Tordor suspected that he must have met with misfortune. They instructed the soldiers with the bodies to wait at the East gate for them and rode to the mine with a small number of soldiers. On the ride up they found out why Melonor had not returned from the mine. He lay dead beside the road, killed by an arrow through the heart. Benedict and Tordor surmised that it was an assassin ordered to stop word of the situation at the mine getting back to Benedict. They doubted that anyone would try to stop them now but cautioned the soldiers to
Viva La Vida (Complete) Chapter 89
Tordor agreed. He knew it was a war they could not win. He left to order the bodies prepared for burial.Benedict looked over the city. His thoughts turned to Hester and Harbem and Alexa. He called one of the guards and told him to fetch Harbem from the dungeons.Harbem was ushered in some time later. His hands were still chained and Benedict ordered the chains removed. The guard removed them and left. Benedict indicated that Harbem should be seated. He poured two cups of wine and handed Harbem one.“Perhaps we can make a deal Harbem.”“I am prepared to listen your Majesty.”“There are ten thousand men outside the walls of the city. This morning, two of the three masters who led them to the gates, were murdered in audience with me. I have no doubt Breeger is behind it, but that’s beside the point. Those men outside the city will march and wipe out this city. I will need every man to defend it. Perhaps now is the
