Of Heroes And Villains (Book 4) Read Online Free

opened an experimental shop in which I sell meals composed of Terr. People are already wary of the product. I don’t need a host of Prattlians screaming at each other in front of my building. They’re scaring everyone away.”
    “Or maybe it’s the Terr,” James muttered under his breath. Catherine did her best not to snicker. Who would want to eat a creature with the body of a lion, the neck of a snake and the face of a bear?
    “I will have my men look into it,” Catherine said, as serious as she could.
    “That’s it? You’ll look into it?” the husky man raised his eyebrows.
    “The Queen has spoken,” James retorted. “You don’t get to question—“
    “—it’s okay, James,” Catherine said. “He can speak freely. What do you suppose I do, sir?”
    “Kick them out,” he said flatly.
    “You do understand why I won’t do that, don’t you?”
    “But it’s our kingdom.”
    “Exactly,” she said, standing to her feet, and beginning to address more than just the man before her. “It is our kingdom. This is not just Allay, Langour or Prattle. It is all three. This particular area is just called Allay to avoid confusion. When we go next door to the rebuilt kingdom of Prattle, it is not just Prattle. It is all of ours. We do not create barriers between us. That was the Stone Era, that was how war was born, and that was how the ether came to be. So now you ask me to get rid of the Prattlians. I will not. I may build a designated debating area to encourage them to move there. I may ask them politely to take their talking elsewhere, but I will not force them.”
    “When the people of Allay elected you,” he scoffed. “We thought you would keep us safe from the other Kingdoms, not excuse them.”
    “I have said my peace. Guards, please excuse this man from the castle.”
    “I’ll excuse myself,” he snapped, turning around and heading out. James rose from his seat to give chase, but Catherine patted his chest, holding him back.
    “He shouldn’t speak to you like that. And imagine if he starts talking bad about you to the people.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Catherine said, staring off into space. “Even if the people decide they want someone else to rule, I can’t say that I didn’t have a comfortable reign of five years. I knew these days would begin to come regardless. They are used to me. Someone new would be more exciting.”
    “But you’re the best one for the job,” James retorted.
    “If the people are discontent, I certainly can’t make that claim.”
    “Queen Catherine,” Talia said, approaching the throne. “There are a couple more that want you to hear them out. If you are willing.”
    “Send them in,” Catherine replied wearily. “But just these two.”
    James didn’t bother trying to cheer her up this time. All he could think about was the husky man. From what it sounded like, he would be happier in the Stone Era, where there were nothing but Allayans on the streets. But then where would he be? No one would even think about going to his shop because they would be too afraid of the entrees. The Kingdom had been on constant alert, everyone was an enemy, and Allayans were on the Terrs’ plate, not the other way around. How had they forgotten the good times so quickly?
    “Your Highness,” Seeker bowed, his long priestly robe, bathed in purple, flowed behind him like a bride’s veil. “I seek your counsel.” He lifted his head, covered in long white hair, and smiled with his vibrant blue eyes.
    “You seek it every day,” Catherine laughed. “What brings you here this afternoon?”
    “As you may have heard, I have recently been appointed next in line for Order Master.”
    “Congratulations.”
    “It’s a heavy burden, but the reward is far more than I could have ever dreamed. The people that I could assist and lead to the way of righteousness—it gives me goose bumps.”
    “So is that why you’re here? To discuss whether you should accept the