Gathering of the Four by A.E. Bennett

Author:A.E. Bennett [Bennett, A.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: A.E. Bennett

Samuel Brookedge, leader of the Sanctuary and former member of the gentry, was not a particularly large man, but he bore a rather menacing look as he glowered at the four individuals standing before him. He stared up at them all from his chair behind an old, battered desk covered in scrolls, parchments, and books. His eyes were the color of mud, and his blond hair was streaked with a gray that demonstrated he had lived most of his thirty-five years rather harshly for a man born into wealth and privilege. He steepled his fingers and cleared his throat as his eyes moved again from Leora to Roland to Aurora and then finally to Leopold.

Roland wanted to punch him in the mouth.

“They say it took my father a long time to die on the scaffold.” Brookedge’s voice was low and controlled. “But I know that to be a lie. Just one more spread by the corrupt sovereign and his pathetic Council. My father lived for all of fifteen ticks after they started torturing him. Removing his head was simply a…formality. I know because I was there. I was forced to watch the entire ordeal. It was fifteen years ago now, but I remember everything as though it happened yesterday. I had about as many years behind me then as you do now, Lady Aurora.”

Aurora narrowed her eyes as the gaze of the leader of the Sanctuary landed on her. “You know that I’m just as title-less as you are now. You may address me as ‘Aurora.’”

Roland clenched his fists as he watched the former member of the gentry smirk and stand. The leader of the Sanctuary was tall—just a few centimeters shorter than Aurora—and Roland immediately felt his hackles rise. Samuel Brookedge was taller than him. He hated that height mattered, but it did.

I’m closer to your balls, though, fucker, Roland thought with malice. Watch it.

“May I? How gracious of you.”

“If you cannot help us,” Aurora began, her voice taking on a haughty tone, “or are unwilling to, simply say the word and point us toward the egress. We can make our own way.”

“How did you find your way down here?” Samuel’s stare was full of mistrust. “And how do I know that what you say is true? You could be working for the sovereign, after all.”

“You think we’d look like this—smell like this—if we were well paid spies?” Roland scoffed.

“I know the sovereign and the gentry will do anything to hold onto power,” Samuel hissed. “Including promising a former lady the return of her title and lands in exchange for a bit of dirty work.”

“If you think I would ever align myself with the man who ordered my father murdered, you don’t know the House Verte!” Aurora’s voice rose with her temper.

The hint of a forlorn smile pricked at the corners of Samuel’s mouth. “I know your House well, as a matter of fact. Your father was the only one on the Council to voice his…displeasure…at the order for my father’s execution.

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