Cinders on the Wind by Louis Emery

Author:Louis Emery [Emery, Louis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unfurled Scrolls Publishing
Published: 2019-05-25T06:00:00+00:00

23

After being greeted by his fellow Kingsguard—after all the claps on the back, the congratulations, and the questioning—Malcolm gained access to his quarters and collapsed on the feather bed. Beyond his window, the setting sun stained pink, purple, and red against fading blue of the Backland sky. At first, he was dismayed to find sleep did not come as easy as expected.

His mind went to Leora and what she must’ve thought being allowed access to a room meant for visiting lords and ladies of neighboring kingdoms. Not some outcast enemy princess who, a few hours ago, had been ignominiously brought forth to the king, whose fate was determined by the whims of her captors. He thought of the melancholy she must feel associated with the news broken to her.

Once Malcolm had gotten her to open up on the Em Regis road, she’d told him that Varick and her always got along growing up. They’d swordfight with sticks found in the Washfold fields. Go traipsing through the castle alleys and alcoves, and horseback ride through the nearby trails through meadows, woods, and valleys. Once they’d both received their gifts from the wizard, it seemed they grew closer in a different way, with a special kind of knowledge few possessed. That of those who know what it means to use the power of magic. When Varick’s father died in battle, he first distanced himself from Leora and her parents, but as grief settled in, he allowed her to console him and once again be a part of his life.

It wasn’t until Varick began campaigning as general that his attitude toward her began to change. He grew moody and bitter around her, not like the cousin she once knew. He listened less to her council, though on occasion he still sought it. Leora went as far as telling Malcolm that at times Varick was overzealous for power.

Plain to see that now, Malcolm thought.

Leora’s father lay in a coma for who knew how long. Malcolm wondered who in King Kieran’s inner circle had betrayed him, who in his hall had poured the poison in his drink or food. He wondered what type of poison it was, and whether it would eventually claim the man’s life. How was Leora’s mother the queen coping with these events? Malcolm thought she must certainly be having a hard time, having assumed to have lost her only daughter in battle, only to have her husband indefinitely unconscious, and her young son kidnapped by her treacherous nephew.

Malcolm wondered what Varick would do with Leora’s young brother, Jonath. He didn’t think the rogue would have him executed right away, but perhaps use him to coerce the queen and her father’s cabinet of advisors to abdicate, or maybe kneel to his ascension in Washfold, giving him control of the East Ballardian capitol and its army. Another option was that Varick would have Jonath sent away, exiled far, and kept under watch, possibly in the Outer Northlands or in Phozanti.

He rubbed his weary eyes and thought it strange he’d fixated on the politics of an enemy kingdom.

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