Haydon, Elizabeth - Rhapsody 5 by Haydon Elizabeth

Author:Haydon, Elizabeth
Language: eng
Format: epub

southern province of Navarne he traveled, deeper and deeper into winter's grasp.

His fragmented mind seething, bent on destruction.

22

THE WINTER CARNIVAL

Achmed returned from visiting Gwydion Navarne, he came directly into the garden where he had left Rhapsody. As luck would have it, she was inside the buttery, preparing to return to the festival, so instead he was alone when he met up with the ambassador from the Sea Mages.

He stopped in his tracks, and stared over his veils at Jal'asee, his mismatched eyes sighting on the man as if he were leveling a cwellan at him.

"You lived," he said accusatorily.

Jal'asee sighed and tucked his hands into his outer cloak.

"Yes," he replied. "I am sorry about that."

Achmed glanced around the garden for Rhapsody. "Well, at last you and I agree on something, Jal'asee," he said shortly. He turned to leave, only to be stopped when the Sea Mage raised his hand.

"I have been waiting to see you for almost three months, Your Majesty," he said in his interesting voice. "I beg you do me the honor of favoring me with your attention for a few moments, and then I will withdraw and allow you to enjoy the festivities."

Achmed snorted. "Do be serious."

Jal'asee's face lost its natural expression of serenity. "Believe me, Your Majesty, what I have to say to you is very serious."

"Then get on with it. I have more pressing matters to attend to, such as informing Rhapsody that should she ever invite us to the same event again I shall burn down her almost-completed house."

"Did I hear my name being bantered about in disrespect?" the Lady Cymrian asked humorously upon entering the garden. "It must be that Achmed has returned."

"Had I known you planned to ambush me with this academic, I would have gone directly home from my meeting with Gwydion Navarne,"

Achmed said, the hostility in his voice unmistakable. "There are three types of people I despise, Rhapsody-Cymrians, priests, and academics.

You should certainly know this by now."

"I see no need to be rude to an ambassador from a sovereign nation who is also my guest," said the Lady Cymrian tartly. "Perhaps you can at least hear the gentleman out, Achmed."

"No need to defend my honor, m'lady," said Jal'asee, a twinkle in his eye. "I have been fielding the Bolg king's insults for millennia now." He walked a few steps closer and tucked his hands into his sleeves, crossing his arms. "It is our understanding that you are seeking to rebuild the instrumentality in Gur-gus Peak," he said seriously.

Achmed sighed. "Perhaps I should just have sent a royal notice to be posted in every port of call, every judiciary, and every brothel from here to Argaut," he said angrily. "Do yourself the favor of making a wise choice, Jal'asee; I didn't seek your counsel about this originally because I do not care what your thoughts are on the matter. Please do me the favor, therefore, of not sharing them with me."

"I have no choice in that matter, Your Majesty," Jal'asee retorted. "That is the precise reason I was sent from Gaematria.

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.