Goldenmark by Jean Lowe Carlson

Author:Jean Lowe Carlson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: epic fantasy, adventure fantasy, best epic fantasy series, best epic fantasy books, best epic fantasy novels, good epic fantasy books, epic fantasy grimdark, grimdark fantasy, epic fantasy battle, best sword and sorcery books, dragons, dragon fantasy
Publisher: Jean Lowe Carlson
Published: 2018-08-11T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28 – ELOHL

An impromptu war-council had been convened in Merkhenos del’Ilio’s chambers inside the White Palace. All were bathed and dressed, Elohl and Fenton in rich jerkins of dark crimson with silver detail that fit them like a second skin, their ornate jewelry discarded like so much trash. Elohl felt more himself, dressed at last and clean of both the gore that had coated his body in the throne hall and also of the Vhinesse’s seeping taint.

His Red Valor attire fit well, a soft white silk shirt and black rough-silk trousers with black calfskin kneeboots with a high-collared dark crimson jerkin. The garb was not unlike the cobalt uniforms of the Roushenn Palace Guard, though Valenghia’s elite uniforms buckled up the front with ornate silver vine-leaf buckles rather than have a crossover flap, dark crimson leather bracers tooled with vines gracing Elohl’s wrists. Their gear from Elsthemen had been found in the Vhinesse’s private quarters, and Elohl and Fenton had reclaimed their weapons harnesses and blades which had been gifts from King Therel and Queen Elyasin, along with Therel and Elyasin’s signet rings. Elohl felt more himself with a satchel ready near the door, filled with his climbing gear just in case.

Trying to smother the worries that consumed him, Elohl moved forward to refill his wine goblet from a bottle of burgundy Valenghian Champelion that tasted of cherries and chocolate. It eased his mind and let his soul breathe to drink a bit; pushing back images of bodies spilling blood as he cut them down and the feel of his Goldenmarks pouring through disarmed men.

Leaning against the carven agate-stone wall by one massive fireplace, he watched the roaring blaze as the light beyond the gabled windows darkened toward evening. Dressed and picking through meats from a silver platter upon a side-table, Fenton looked up, then seized the platter and approached. Saluting with his wine goblet, he motioned with the platter.

“Have you eaten?”

“Just wine.”

Fenton cocked an eyebrow, a small smile upon his lips. “You’ll be worthless after all that fighting if you don’t eat. Someone must have told you that up in the High Brigade.”

“It was probably Ihbram.” Elohl gave a slight smile back as his fingers took a chunk of roast beef from the proffered platter. He chewed slowly, though the flavors tasted like ashes right now.

Setting the platter down on a side-table nearby, Fenton leaned back against the wall, regarding Elohl with a level look. “How are you?”

“Drained.” Elohl was honest. He didn’t feel the need to hide anything from Fenton as he reached for more roast beef. “Whatever happened in there with the Marks, it took a lot out of me.”

“No shit.” Fenton’s gaze was frank. “We need to talk, Elohl. I felt myself pulling power from you, from the Goldenmarks. You must know, that wasn’t my intent—”

“I know.” Elohl’s words were soft as he settled against the wall at Fenton’s side. “You don’t have to apologize. The Marks... I believe they did what they were engineered to do.

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