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
“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.
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
“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
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
They passed the time making small talk or simply working in silence. Samnom learned that Lored had been travelling from Kyrshom when he had met the lady of the house. Samnom finally asked for the lady’s name. “Gillyn,” Lored replied. Samnom absorbed the name. It was strange. He had never heard it before. He asked if she was from another kingdom and Lored confirmed she was. Samnom asked about her husband hesitantly. She’s newly widowed,” Lored replied. “She left her old home because she wanted a fresh start after her husband died. She loved him a lot so his death has been pretty painful for her. Especially with her child. It’s hard. She prefers not to talk about it.” “I’m sure it hasn’t been easy. How did her husband die?” asked Samnom. “Some illness. No-one knows what it was. Fever came and took him pretty quick.” Samnom was silent. He felt sorry for the lady even though he had not seen her yet. “How old is the little one?” “It’s a boy. Two months old.” Samnom whistled. “What
“Stop,” commanded Hester. “Everything is fine. Leave her alone.” The guards stopped and left Alexa where she kneeled. “Please my lady,” begged Alexa. “I do not charge too much but if it pleases you I will give you a discount.” “I will look at your wares when I am finished here,” replied Hester. “Very well lady,” Alexa answered bowing her head. Hester moved past Alexa and entered the orphanage. She reappeared about an hour later and paused outside the orphanage door. “Show me your wares lady,” Hester said kindly. Alexa held up the pear again. “This is the best lady. You will not be disappointed.” Hester reached and took the fruit. She inspected it. Almost immediately she felt the cut in the fruit and frowned. Hester applied pressure and part of the fruit slid away. Hester glimpsed a piece of paper in the hollow where the seed usually was. She looked from the fruit to the girl who waited with head bowed. She slid the fruit together again. “How much is it?” “Just two doyles Lady,
The woman was like a vision from the Gods. Her hair was long and golden. The warm sun shone through her golden hair turning the edges into a halo around her face and making her appear like an angel. Her touch was soft, gentle, caring. Her voice was soft and kind. Concerned. Compassionate. She spent long hours at his side nursing him, giving him medicine and washing the fevered sweat and dirt from his face. He thought he spoke with her and he thought he made her laugh. Her laugh was contagious, genuine and honest with a love for life. Then there was darkness and Peter thought he finally passed on to the afterlife.When Peter awoke, he felt dampness all around him. He must have been caught in another thunderstorm he thought. He wondered how long he had been unconscious in the wild. He sniffed as he came to but could not smell the forest and wild around him. He smelled his sour sweat tinged with something else. Soap. The smell of soap on dried clothes. But he had no soap. As he