Schism: The Battle for Darracia (Book 1) by Cash Michael Phillip

Author:Cash, Michael Phillip [Cash, Michael Phillip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Feather Publishing
Published: 2013-11-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Tulani plucked a fruit from a low-hanging tree branch and handed the sweet offering to the prince. V’sair took a healthy bite, smiling as the juice ran down his chin, staining his skin a bright yellow.

“Delicious,” he murmured, pulling her close once again to kiss her, the juice making her lips as succulent as the ripe fruit. “You are delicious and juicy and sweet.”

“Sire…”

“V’sair,” he reminded her.

“V’sair, we must be off. It is not safe in the forest at night. My parents’ lodge is just through these bushes.” She gestured toward the dense foliage. Hother walked behind them, her hoofs muffled by the carpet of leaves on the ground. The silence of the brush was cut by a scream, so loud and heart wrenching that V’sair dropped Tulani’s hand and raced toward the source. As he rounded a bend in the trees, the forest cleared, and he found himself looking at a hut engulfed by flames.

Tulani ran to the spot next to him and gasped, “Mo’mo!”

Her mother’s body was sprawled on the steps in a pool of blood. Her father was dangling upside down from a branch as the Darracians used him for target practice. V’sair stopped and grabbed her shoulders. “Stay back. Stay hidden in the shrubs,” he whispered urgently.

“No. I have to go!”

He kissed her full on the lips. “Stay and wait for me. That’s an order from your prince.” He walked into the firelight, commanding, “What is this outrage?”

Pacuto stepped from the shadows, triumph written across his hostile features.

V’sair looked puzzled when his cousin appeared out of the darkness. “Pacuto?” he questioned.

An evil grin slowly spread across his cousin’s face. Pacuto dropped the sack ofrandam crystals and shouted, “The devil comes to us! Great Sradda deliver me!”

“What is the meaning of this?” V’sair demanded.

Pacuto and his men surrounded the prince, their long spears menacing him. He glanced back into the shadows, warning Tulani with his eyes not follow him into the open.

“V’sair, V’sair…You have lead us on a merry chase. At last…” He motioned toward the bag. “…a double victory. A fortune in crystals for me and my men, and a personal triumph for the house of Nuen.” He spat close to V’sair’s foot. “Where is the girl? Tell me where your little playmate is. Didn’t your mo’mo teach you to share?” he taunted, grinning triumphantly.

“This is crazy. What are you doing? You will jeopardize the accord!”

“The accord and your father’s reign are finished! This is the beginning of the end of your father’s tyranny. The possibility of peace dies tonight with you!” Pacuto laughed. “But this is hardly a fair fight, is it, men? I can sweep off his royal head..” He waved his tryath near the prince’s face. “No, no, this will be too easy. You have begged for the chance to test your skills with the Fireblade. I will kill you as you mangle that chance. Then I will take the girl on your cold body!” He threw his tryath to the ground then withdrew his Fireblade, which roared to life.

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