02 The Ruby Guardian by Forgotten Realms

Author:Forgotten Realms [Realms, Forgotten]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T15:41:21.158000+00:00

Emriana's chest felt like it was bound in iron bands, slowly tightening, crushing her. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps, and her heart thudded rapidly. She couldn't believe the words that Grozier Talricci was telling her. Vambran and Uncle Kovrim, dead, drowned at sea? It couldn't be! Emriana felt like she was being sucked into a whirlpool, dragged down, down, into the depths of the Abyss. "So, with Hetta and Xaphira as well as your older brother all deceased," the horrid man said, "Quindy and Obiron, as Evester's descendants, are the rightful heirs to the estate. And since they are not of age yet to properly run the family business, the responsibility falls to Marga. And she," Grozier finished, smiling warmly at his sister, who was sitting in a chair looking positively smug, "has agreed that I should share the responsibilities as guardian for them, administering the household for them until such time as they are ready to handle those affairs themselves." "You're such a liar," Emriana snarled, trying to stare daggers through Grozier. "You had something done to Xaphira, and your thugs tried to do it to me, too, and you know it!" she shouted, her voice nearly rising to a scream. The girl turned desperately to the other occupants in the room, silently pleading for someone, anyone, to stand with her against the man who was succeeding in usurping her family estate. "Please," she pleaded. "Don't let him do this." But the only people in the sitting room at that time-other than the house staff, a couple of Grozier's own guards, and the ever-present Bartimus-were Marga, who looked entirely unsympathetic, Nimra and Mirolyn Skolotti, who were in no position to do anything, and Ladara, who was weepy-eyed. Emriana's mother sat near Hetta's body, sobbing quietly and looking miserably at her daughter from time to time. The girl knew Ladara would never lift a finger to do anything, had never done anything except meekly follow Hetta around like a devoted sheep. "There is nothing for anyone to do," Grozier said, a hint of mocking in his voice. "They all realize that this is proper. With Marga's blessing, I have the right." Emriana looked at her sister-in-law. "How could you?" she said accusingly. "We gave you a home, always treated you like part of the family. This man is responsible for Evester's death! Your husband. My brother!" Marga let her smile deepen. "I would not be too ferocious in my accusations, if I were you," she said coldly. "It would not be a difficult matter to have you and your mother thrown out of here." Emriana let her jaw drop, dumbfounded. "This is my house!" she shouted. "It belongs to me more than to either of you!" And the rage got the better of her, and she darted across the room, one arm drawn back, ready to pound the woman smiling smugly at her. The girl got within a couple of paces, but Grozier's men interceded, preventing her from reaching her target.

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