Queen of the North (Book 3) (Songs of the Scorpion) Read Online Free Page A
Author: James A. West
Tags: epic fantasy
sending any more soldiers, as I promised. And if we succeed, why, you’ll never have to worry over Nabar again.”
And if we fail?
The missive shivered in her grip, but she didn’t know if it was from the wind or the tremor in her fingers. She had a thousand questions and misgivings, but only one held sway. “Can I trust this report?”
“With your life,” Aedran said at once. “And remember, that goes for the both of us, and all those who follow you.”
Erryn turned toward the Gyntors, but saw only a depthless wall of shifting clouds. She glanced out at the fields, the snow gradually covering the signs of battle. Last, she faced Aedran. He waited expectantly. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, and her mouth grew bitter with the fear of losing what little she had gained. What have I really gained, save a patch of frozen ground, as Aedran said? And when springtime comes, Nabar will send enough men to lay siege to Valdar. Yet here was chance to act in a way that no one expected, especially King Nabar and his advisors.
W ith good reason , spoke a small voice of warning. To do this is to risk everything. And, as you’re reacting to Nabar, it might be that you are charging headlong into a trap. Erryn silently agreed with that reasoning, but if Nabar was setting a trap, it was the most foolish of ploys. All that aside, she still had one prominent concern.
“You told me wise kings don’t make war in winter, but now that winter is nearly upon us, you’d have me make war.”
“You are right on both counts,” Aedran admitted. “But wise kings are not always the best kings. They’re rarely bold, and almost never remembered. Besides, you’re a queen, young and brash. What better way to extend your rule than by slashing a wide and deep mark across the minds of all who stand against you now, and all those who will oppose you in the future?”
Erryn began folding the parchment. There was no time to plan, but as Aedran said, now was the time to act boldly, even recklessly, for what sovereign of renown had ever stood idle? There’s never been a one , she thought. The greatest rulers spoken of in legends always pressed forward, seeking, taking all that lay in their path. In the stories, those mighty men didn’t stop until old age crippled them or death took them.
Her fingers had reduced the parchment into a tiny square before she met Aedran’s eyes again. It seemed her decision warranted a fanfare of trumpet blasts and rousing cheers, but all she had was her voice. “Make ready to march.”
Aedran smiled. “Give me a few days to put everything in order, and I’ll give you kingdoms.”
Chapter 2
“We must hurry,” Thaeson gasped, as if his shuffling gait were not the reason for the company’s slow pace. “The girl must be near the Shield of the Fathers by now. We cannot allow that to happen.”
“Yes, Essan .” Edrik spoke his master’s title with respect, but he was glad the night hid his scowl. We can hurry, but I fear we’re already too late. He caught hold of the old priest’s elbow to hurry him along.
They traveled one of a score of cobbled roads radiating outward from Targas like the spokes of a great wheel. These roads arrowed straight and true through miles of wedge-shaped farmlands, now still and silent under the canopy of darkness. As ever, the warm night air was bursting with the scents of good rich soil and ripening crops. High above, Edrik glimpsed a faint sparkling glow from both the stars and the nearly transparent arc of the Shield of the Fathers.
Normally that light filled him with a sense of peace, but not now. Tonight was Hanyata , one of four nights during the year set aside for the ceremonial sacrifice necessary to restore strength to the Shield of the Fathers, which in turn kept the city eternally warm and hid Targas from the corrupted world of the deycath —those folk not born within the blessed sanctuary. With the girl’s flight, all the celebration and joy of
And if we fail?
The missive shivered in her grip, but she didn’t know if it was from the wind or the tremor in her fingers. She had a thousand questions and misgivings, but only one held sway. “Can I trust this report?”
“With your life,” Aedran said at once. “And remember, that goes for the both of us, and all those who follow you.”
Erryn turned toward the Gyntors, but saw only a depthless wall of shifting clouds. She glanced out at the fields, the snow gradually covering the signs of battle. Last, she faced Aedran. He waited expectantly. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, and her mouth grew bitter with the fear of losing what little she had gained. What have I really gained, save a patch of frozen ground, as Aedran said? And when springtime comes, Nabar will send enough men to lay siege to Valdar. Yet here was chance to act in a way that no one expected, especially King Nabar and his advisors.
W ith good reason , spoke a small voice of warning. To do this is to risk everything. And, as you’re reacting to Nabar, it might be that you are charging headlong into a trap. Erryn silently agreed with that reasoning, but if Nabar was setting a trap, it was the most foolish of ploys. All that aside, she still had one prominent concern.
“You told me wise kings don’t make war in winter, but now that winter is nearly upon us, you’d have me make war.”
“You are right on both counts,” Aedran admitted. “But wise kings are not always the best kings. They’re rarely bold, and almost never remembered. Besides, you’re a queen, young and brash. What better way to extend your rule than by slashing a wide and deep mark across the minds of all who stand against you now, and all those who will oppose you in the future?”
Erryn began folding the parchment. There was no time to plan, but as Aedran said, now was the time to act boldly, even recklessly, for what sovereign of renown had ever stood idle? There’s never been a one , she thought. The greatest rulers spoken of in legends always pressed forward, seeking, taking all that lay in their path. In the stories, those mighty men didn’t stop until old age crippled them or death took them.
Her fingers had reduced the parchment into a tiny square before she met Aedran’s eyes again. It seemed her decision warranted a fanfare of trumpet blasts and rousing cheers, but all she had was her voice. “Make ready to march.”
Aedran smiled. “Give me a few days to put everything in order, and I’ll give you kingdoms.”
Chapter 2
“We must hurry,” Thaeson gasped, as if his shuffling gait were not the reason for the company’s slow pace. “The girl must be near the Shield of the Fathers by now. We cannot allow that to happen.”
“Yes, Essan .” Edrik spoke his master’s title with respect, but he was glad the night hid his scowl. We can hurry, but I fear we’re already too late. He caught hold of the old priest’s elbow to hurry him along.
They traveled one of a score of cobbled roads radiating outward from Targas like the spokes of a great wheel. These roads arrowed straight and true through miles of wedge-shaped farmlands, now still and silent under the canopy of darkness. As ever, the warm night air was bursting with the scents of good rich soil and ripening crops. High above, Edrik glimpsed a faint sparkling glow from both the stars and the nearly transparent arc of the Shield of the Fathers.
Normally that light filled him with a sense of peace, but not now. Tonight was Hanyata , one of four nights during the year set aside for the ceremonial sacrifice necessary to restore strength to the Shield of the Fathers, which in turn kept the city eternally warm and hid Targas from the corrupted world of the deycath —those folk not born within the blessed sanctuary. With the girl’s flight, all the celebration and joy of
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