Kingdom Above the Cloud by Maggie Platt

Author:Maggie Platt [Platt, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy
ISBN: 9781620205884
Publisher: Ambassador International
Published: 2020-04-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

Late in the evening, Eryx entered the throne room where the Council of Masters was assembling, and he immediately sensed the aggravated tension emanating from some of his fellow Masters. Calix was completely silent, and Rhaxma paced. No one could account for Leeto, the only weapon not present.

King Damien tapped his fingers together. “I’ve heard that some of you are rather disgruntled by how our last challenge played out,” he began. “I have summoned you here to tell you that my wishes have changed. Thus, the rules have changed as well.” There was a sound of dissent from Rhaxma, but Damien silenced her with a raised hand.

“It is no longer enough that Tovi is here. I want her marked by all of you. The whole ring. I want her to lose the heart in her palm. When both of these tasks are complete, I plan to take her body back to Adia myself.”

Eryx’s heart pounded, but he willed himself not to show any reaction.

“You are going to kill her, Your Majesty?” BiBi asked, surprised.

“No, one of you will kill her, and that person will win this task. Yes, but only after she is completely marked. When the seven marks are engraved in her skin and her hand shows no sign of that heart, I will personally crown whichever of you takes her life.” There was a dramatic pause before he smiled and turned toward Eryx. “What do you think about that, my boy?”

Eryx glared in response, refusing to display the terror that raced through his mind and coursed through his body. He left as soon as the weapons were dismissed and sat down on his own stone terrace, drinking from a large goblet and staring at Tovi across the courtyard. He was fairly certain that the distance and darkness concealed him and that he would go undetected by the Adian’s eyes. She was only visible to him because she was foolish enough to leave her curtains open, and the interior light illuminated her patio.

What must she think of this place? He wondered if she realized how much danger she was in. She already had the snake and scales. Five more and she would die. Five.

He watched as BiBi joined her. The two women sat in chairs, and he could tell they were talking animatedly. He knew exactly what BiBi was doing, befriending her so she could teach her all about greed, while masking it with the title “Prosperity.” If she succeeded, Tovi would get another mark, a diamond.

He hated watching BiBi work. He hated all of them and the way they didn’t care how much damage they were inflicting. But he hated himself the most. He felt responsible. After all, he was the one who first spotted Tovi. He was the one who couldn’t stop watching her each time she ran to the cliffs, who unknowingly led Leeto and Calix to her. Just thinking about it made his blood boil, and he heaved his goblet against the far wall of the balcony.

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