Empire of Jackals by Morgan Cole

Author:Morgan Cole
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: complex characters, strong female protagonist, court intrigue, battle tactics, war intrigue, battle fantasy, character arc, ptsd after war, lgbt couples, lgbt heroes
Publisher: Morgan Cole

Chapter Twenty-Five

When news came of Karthtag-Kal’s death, Marilia was dining with Ben, Catarina, and their daughter, Claria, in the same courtyard where she and Kanediel had been married two years ago—or at least, the new version of that courtyard, which had been rebuilt along with the rest of Ben’s castle after the Tyracians had burned it down.

They were chatting about the upcoming chariot races on the beach by Svartennos Harbor, about a hunting trip Ben hoped to embark on, and about the hopeful possibility that Catarina was—finally, after many years—pregnant with another child, thanks to the ministrations of a particularly gifted physick. Even though Catarina’s father had passed away only a few days before, the mood was lighter than it might have been. Catarina and her father had never been close, and while the loss of the emperor had been a shock, the troubles of Ulvannis felt distant at that moment, sitting beneath the open sky with the wind carrying the scent of wild grass on the air. The clouds had finally lifted, and the sun was bright and golden in a sky the color of the flowers in Chrysathamere Pass.

It was then that a messenger entered with a pair of chicayas on his arm. He passed the insects to Ben, who took the scrolls tied to their legs. The beautiful moment was shattered.

The first message was the official account—Rufyllys’ declaration that he was the rightful emperor, the news that prince Ilruyn had been put to death for treasonous slander, despite an opportunity to recant.

The second was from the Chronicler himself—a private message to Ben. That one carried the news of Karthtag-Kal’s death.

Ben read that message aloud. Silence followed.

A vein throbbed in the prince’s forehead, seeming to grow larger with each passing second. Catarina stared down at her plate with wide, unblinking eyes. Claria tugged at her sleeve— “Mother? Mother, what’s wrong?”

Marilia felt as though a dagger had just plunged through the back of her neck, severing her spine. She couldn’t move. Her hands lay lifeless on the table in front of her. She couldn’t feel her arms or her legs; even her face felt numb. Annuweth might as well have reached out through the paper in Ben’s hand and plunged his sword through her own heart.

It can’t be. It’s impossible. “It has to be a mistake,” she said. “Or…or some kind of trick. Annuweth wouldn’t…he couldn’t…”

But the third was a message signed by Stellos’ own hand. He hadn’t been in the senate chamber, but he’d spoken with nine different men who had.

And all of them confirmed Ephrayenne’s account to the word.

Stellos had always been honest. He wouldn’t lie.

“Treasonous slander...” Ben growled. “As if anyone will believe that. They killed the boy to consolidate their hold on the throne. They murdered Prince Ilruyn, and Karthtag-Kal died trying to save him.”

“Mother?” Claria’s voice grew increasingly plaintive. “Who’s murdered? What’s wrong?”

Everything, Marilia thought. Everything is wrong.

The memories flashed before her eyes like bursts of lightning.

Their first meeting in the Tyracian boarding house. I will adopt you as my own, and you will bear my name—Sandaros.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.