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Chapter 60
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Alexa studied Harbem’s face. His eyes. He had that same look in them that she had seen the other day. “Do you mean to say that you have been attracted to me for a long time already?”
Harbem shook his head. “Do not flatter yourself my dear,” he said smiling. Then he held up his hand placatingly. “Had I known you sooner I would most likely have been attracted to you anyway. But no. What I mean is, for a person such as me to mix with royalty would be tempting fate. And possibly not a good one.”
“I see,” Alexa said hesitating. “So if I can get in with you, how will that help?”
“You will be able to see your mother and spend time with her. You will be able to talk to her all you like and understand what her situation is now.”
“Do you really think so?” Alexa was doubtful.
“I am sure,” Harbem replied looking into Alexa’s eyes.
“I…
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Gelyn nodded. “Yes. That’s what he told me. If he’s lying it’s not my fault.” Lored advanced on Gelyn quickly and she cringed in fear. She had never seen him so angry. “Please don’t, please don’t, please don’t…,” she cried. “And what gift did the Elfre give him?” “I don’t know. The legend says they never tell.” “So how does that help me?” Lored said drawing his hand back to strike her again. Gelyn held up her hands. “There is one thing.” Lored paused, waiting. “He said….. the Elfre told him never to cut his hair.” “Why?” Lored asked. “He doesn’t know.” “He doesn’t know? You’re lying!” Lored spat. “No! I’m not. I swear it’s the truth!” Lored drew his hand back further. Gelyn cringed in anticipation of his blow. Then Lored dropped his hand. “Here’s what’s going to happen.” Gelyn simply stared at Lored through tears and fear, waiting for him to continue. “I am leaving again. Now.” “Where are you going?” “”To do your dirty work as I have been doing forever!” hissed Lored.
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She nodded. “Please go. Don’t make this harder than it is.”“Why? He told you we can’t be together?”“It’s more than that Sam,” Gillyn said using his short name.“What then?”“You don’t know me. You never will. You can never know who I really am.”“I don’t care! I love you Gillyn! That’s all that matters. If you think I can’t keep a secret, I can! Trust me.”“It’s not about trusting you Sam! I do! But we can’t be together. I am not Gillyn!”“Then who? I don’t care! Love doesn’t care!”“Please don’t do this,” Gilyn begged lowering her voice. “Please. I don’t want Arnson to see this. Us.Please just go.”“It’s him isn’t it? Did he threaten you?”Gillyn looked Samnom in the
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She had never liked Breeger. She had always known he was a snake. And yet, here he was arrogantly walking through the streets with a wanted traitor. She knew Peter was not a traitor but he was outlawed nevertheless just as she was. Where were they going? She doubted that Breeger, as devious as he was, would openly ignore the king’s orders. And if she was right, that meant they were going to the palace to see King Benedict! She felt goosebumps rise all over like a wave of ice passing over her as the realization hit her.That could only mean one thing. He would tell Benedict that Alexa had joined the Black Cloaks. She would be forever outlawed.Two days after Alexa left to return to Mama Gracine’s orphanage, the word reached Harbem early in the morning that Breeger had an audience with Benedict to plead for mercy for a traitor. There was no-one he knew that could be considered a traitor other than Alexa or Peter. He was sure Alexa was at her post but decided
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The speaker of the court cried for silence but was ignored. Benedict eventually held up his hand for silence and slowly sanity returned to the hall.“So how do you find yourself back here?” Benedict asked.“I escaped your majesty. There was an enormous sandstorm that destroyed the camp in the desert and I escaped under cover of the storm. I nearly died in the mountains but I survived and made it back here.”“Where is Alexa now?”Peter shrugged. “I do not know your majesty. I have not seen her since she left me in the desert. I know not who the leader of the Black Cloaks is. She betrayed me for a boy in the desert whose name is Muhay. That is all I know. Whether he even survived the storm in the desert I cannot say. As far as Alexa’s whereabouts is concerned, I believe she may be in the city.”Peter finished speaking making it clear he had no more news to share. People gasped in surprise and spok
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Benedict breathed deeply then nodded. “Go on then.”“Of course I resented being prevented from leaving the palace. There are memories here that I live with every day because I cannot leave. I have no desire to be royalty in any way, shape or form anymore. I was thankful for the freedom afforded me when you disposed of Atomas. But then you as good as imprisoned me. Since then we have moved on. You and I have grown closer and we are now more than lovers. But still I have limited freedom and live under constant suspicion despite our relationship. How is that healthy for us in the long term? You have outlawed my daughter and I might see her decapitated because of your orders. What will that do to us?”Benedict was silent then sighed. “What do you want from me?”“You are the king. You have made your decisions and you must abide by them. You cannot retreat from your decisions now. It will demonstrate weakness. I fear though th
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Malu rose and looked around identifying Breeger’s object of dissatisfaction. “As you wish master.” His face showed no emotion as he stood. He called out. “Whip! Now!”It was as if he commanded more respect than Breeger for the call went up amongst the servants until it reached the ears of a man responsible for the whip to be kept and maintained. He hurried forth from the villa shortly with the whip curled in his hand.He reached Malu and stood with his head bowed. Malu spoke with him quietly showing him who was to be whipped. The man nodded and crossed to the servant who was still kneeling on the path in the central square under the hot sun.“No-one move!” Breeger commanded. “You will all watch as a warning of what happens when you are disobedient.”The servants did not move or show emotion. They did as they were told.“Begin!” Breeger said to the man who carried the whip. He unfurle
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Huthdel seemed to hesitate and his brow furrowed. “May I ask what it is you wish to discuss?”“It is a private matter Master Huthdel. A private matter and a business proposal I hope you shall find to be of interest.”At the mention of a business proposal, sparks seemed to light in Huthdel’s eyes.“Very well. Let us speak in my chambers.” Huthdel led the way to his chambers behind the temple and closed the door behind them.Huthdel’s chambers were sparsely furnished as could be expected for a member of any religious order in the kingdom. He offered Breeger a seat and then sat opposite Breeger.“Thank you for your time Master Huthdel,” Breeger said as he sat down.“You are welcome. I do not often have visitors but I do welcome the company.”“Good,” Breeger said sitting forward in his chair. “I have a business proposal I hope you may find to be of i
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Huthdel tried to run but was quickly brought down. “You will pay for this!” he screamed hysterically. “The order is blessed by the Gods. They support us. Look at the good we have done throughout the kingdom. The gods are turning their backs on you even as I speak.”Huthdel’s protests continued from beyond the entrance until they were no longer audible.Benedict stood and declared the day’s audience session closed. He left the hall and returned to his chambers where he poured himself a goblet of wine. He downed it quickly and poured himself another.A short while later Tordor arrived and was permitted to enter. Benedict offered him wine but he declined.“What have I done?” Benedict asked.“He had it coming. What else could you have done?”“We should never have come here. This whole venture was a mistake.”“You cannot see it as that Benedict.”&ld
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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
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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
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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
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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
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“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
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“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
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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
