A King's Radiance (Bonds of Kin Book 1) by L.R. Schulz

Author:L.R. Schulz [Schulz, L.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Isha

Isha woke to a searing pain in her thigh. She clutched at her side, the wound calling to her like a baby in the night. She placed a hand against the ageing bandage, which had now turned a sticky greyish colour. As had become her routine, she scratched at the bonds of rope around her wrists with her growing fingernails. The rope was frayed in several places after days hard at work, but still she made little progress.

The four of them were prisoners once more, but instead of the wealthy high walls of the Forty-Fourth Spear, they were held in some kind of inn, forced to sit quietly while the innkeeper and several villagers gawked at them over hunched shoulders. Come to think of it, this was not so different from the capital.

A plank of wood was nailed atop the arch of the entrance with the words 'Hot-Pot Inn' painted over it. A fireplace carved into woodwork kept the place warm at least, and a cauldron of stew, cooking at all times, gave off a pleasant smell. Wooden tables set on trestles lined the length of the inn, illuminated by the flickering light of tallow candles and oil lamps.

The village speaker planted a single chair on the floor before them, sitting on it backwards and letting his arms rest against its top. She had come to know him as Speaker Tomi.

"Right," he said with an exasperated sigh. "Last time I'm gonna ask youse. Who are yeh and where'd yeh get this metal?" He held the chunk of gold between his thumb and index finger.

Isha said nothing, turning her head away from him. All she had to do was delay until she could formulate another plan of escape.

"Silence's s'not yer friend here lass. Gold ain't so common out in these parts yeh see. When word passed of someone flashin’ it round and selling it for nothin’ but a few scraps, I can't help but be curious. Now, where did yeh find it? Better me askin’ than Gillet here, trust me lass." He gestured to the man named Gillet, who puffed out his chest and slung his hammer over his shoulder.

Isha looked to Maitreya, who had refused to make eye contact with her since their capture. She felt a pang of guilt. It wasn't Maitreya's fault, it was hers. Everything was her fault.

"I'd be careful ‘bout this one," Gillet said, pointing towards Isha. "She got them violet eyes. She's one them Mystics I heard ‘bout. She'll bewitch yeh if yer not careful."

The Speaker edged closer in his chair, holding up his hand to reach for her chin.

Before he could do so, however, a flurry of footsteps sounded from the entrance.

"Speaker Tomi!" shouted a voice. "Got company, the Golden kind."

Tomi's face twisted, his mouth hanging open as if he had forgotten to breath. "Don't play with me boy, don't got time for yer nonsense today."

"I'm not kidd'n ‘round this time! They're really here!"

The speaker's mouth twitched. "How many?"

"A whole lot of ‘em! Can't count them on me fingers, sir.

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