Empire of Bones by Christian Warren Freed

Author:Christian Warren Freed [Freed, Christian Warren]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Horror, Dark Fantasy, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Epic, New Adult & College, Sword & Sorcery, Arthurian, Teen & Young Adult
Amazon: B00K1S1OAQ
Barnesnoble: B00K1S1OAQ
Publisher: Writer's Edge Publishing
Published: 2014-04-28T23:00:00+00:00

Untold desecrations filled the palace. Murals painted in human blood covered walls, arching up to the high ceilings. Bones, gnawed upon, lay scattered down the long halls. There was a terrible odor that no amount of cleaning would easily get rid of. Waste and offal from things Aurec wasn’t willing to guess filled the shadowed corners. Lost was all the splendor Stelskor had tried to create. A gift to his people so that they might find strength when weakness threatened to subsume their will. Aurec stood in the middle of the throne room and struggled not to weep.

“Sire, patrols have finished sweeping the city. The enemy is gone.”

Using his sleeve to wipe the tears filling his eyes, Aurec turned. “Thank you, Mahn. Were there any casualties?”

“Balko’s horse tripped in the rubble and broke a leg. We had to put it down and he twisted his wrist pretty well,” the old scout reported. “He’ll be fine but can’t use his sword until the wrist heals.”

Better than any dead or wounded. Well, I’ve reclaimed my kingdom. Now what do I do? By all rights I shouldn’t even be here. My father was the true monarch. I’m just a boy playing at being a man. This war has changed us all and I’m not sure for the better. Is it all a joke? Am I merely a pawn, a joke in some theological circle I’m not meant to understand? I wish you were here, Father. I need your wisdom. I’m not the Man I should be. The longer this war lasts the more I can’t help but think it was all my fault. I never should have gone to Delranan to take Maleela. Our love is the great curse between our kingdoms.

“Send the word to the main body. I want the Wolfsreik occupying the city by nightfall. Detail work crews to put the fires out, look for survivors, and begin constructing enough shelters for the civilians to get out of the cold.” He paused. “Our city may be in ruin but we have an obligation to look beyond ourselves for the good of all. Make it happen, Mahn.”

“Yes sire,” the scout replied and headed off on his task. He knew Rolnir hadn’t left anything to chance and most of the Wolfsreik was already moving into position around the disaster of Rogscroft. Battle-hardened soldiers from all three armies saw it as their duty to restore order and faith to those few survivors still trapped in the city. Many of Aurec’s forces were from the city proper and took it as personal insult. Those were the ones who worked the hardest. Mahn let Aurec alone for a while. The young king certainly had more to process than a mere scout. Even if that scout was nominated to the king’s council.

A host of others passed him as he was leaving, bringing any personal moments for the king to an abrupt end. He grinned ruefully, suddenly grateful for being just a scout. Trading the freedom of the open road for the confinement of a throne wasn’t wise.

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