Taker of Bones by Tanner Childs

Author:Tanner Childs [Childs, Tanner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Drunken Dragon Publishing
Published: 2020-03-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Galford continued down Delgars Street, glancing at each soldier as he passed. The sun was high in the sky, the storm having passed during the night. Half of the soldiers were palace guards, their hauberk decorated with an eagle on the front. The other half were rough-looking men with the mark of a serpent. Each one was armed to the teeth with an assortment of weapons.

The air was tense. Soldiers shifted, their hands gripping their weapons too tight. Sweat coated their brows and some visibly trembled. All it would take was one misstep and a civil war would erupt.

Galford stopped in front of a house that was closer to a castle than a mansion. Ten men stood at the entrance, their hands resting on their swords.

“Tell your master Galford is here to see him.”

The mercenaries looked at each other. One nodded toward the house and another ducked through the door. Galford waited for a moment, his hand falling to his own sword. His heart beat a steady rhythm in his chest, and he took a breath to calm himself. If he was this tense, he could only imagine what those who were less trained were feeling.

The mercenary returned and nodded. “He’ll see you.”

Galford pushed through the small gate and up the steps.

“Take a left, last door at the end of the hall.”

Galford nodded and entered through the door. He stepped onto a red rug that continued down the center of every hall. As he walked, the marble floors reflected the countless candles that dripped red wax into their gold holders. He admired the tapestries and paintings hung from every wall, while suits of ornamental armor decorated the corners. They were works of master craftsmanship that made his own works of art look like sketches.

Vases with massive flowers that stood atop sandstone pedestals added even more vibrant colors to the home. Light streamed in through crystal glass windows, shining into his eyes and forcing him to squint. To Galford’s surprise, the entire house smelled of berries and late spring, a far cry from the stench of the city.

Countless servants moved about—cleaning, polishing, and doing other household chores. They shied from Galford’s path as if he were carrying the plague, averting their gaze and shuffling half bent over. Mercenaries glared at Galford from every corner, many of them poking their heads out from long rooms filled with bunk beds.

Galford turned down a long hall. Dark wood trim accented the whitewashed walls, creating a clash with the colors that was pleasing to the eye. Small chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their candles cold and immaculate. Crystals clinked in the faint breeze through an open window, filling the air with their soft music that tickled his ears.

A door opened, forcing Galford to come to a halt. A woman with gentle red locks walked into the hall in a flowing gown. Her eyes were soft and round, held apart by her sharp nose. Her mouth was a thin line that curled up at the edges when she noticed Galford.

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