The Scorched Earth by Karpyshyn Drew

Author:Karpyshyn, Drew [Karpyshyn, Drew]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780345549891
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2014-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

THE HEAVY IRON collar chafed at Andar’s neck, as did the shackles on his ankles and wrists. The restraints weren’t actually chained to anything; their role was mostly symbolic, marking him as a criminal.

The metal was inscribed with ancient runes meant to strip him of his power; glyphs to bar him from summoning Chaos. Had they still been in the Danaan lands, such safeguards might have been necessary, but now they were little more than ornamental. None of the Danaan mages—not even the former High Sorcerer himself—could call upon the power of magic here on the snow-covered plains of the Frozen East.

Moving slowly, but with purpose and precision, he made his way about the large tent that had been erected only an hour before, setting out the plates, cutlery, and cups for the Queen and her war council. The iron restraints made his movements awkward, their weight a constant reminder of his lowly station as he carefully set the table.

For his treasonous acts, Rianna had chosen an ancient and little-used punishment. Andar had been stripped of his former title and forced into the role of an indentured servant. The sentence was both merciful and particularly cruel.

It was better than banishment or execution, or even a long imprisonment in the dungeons beneath the castle, where he would suffer cold, hunger, and other physical torments. But the humiliation and shame of being forced to serve those who were once his equals was its own peculiar brand of torture.

According to the ancient laws Rianna had invoked, he wasn’t permitted to speak to anyone but the Queen herself, on threat of having his tongue removed. Andar wanted to believe his monarch lacked the cruelty to enact such a barbaric price should he slip up and say something in the presence of the others, but he wasn’t willing to risk it.

Doing so would also undermine the entire purpose of the sentence, and despite his seditious acts during the ritual at the Black Lake, he was still loyal to the Queen. Rianna needed him to be an object lesson to her still-loyal followers; an ever-present reminder that anything other than absolute, unquestioning loyalty would be met with harsh consequences.

Yet even though he was now a slave, there were advantages to his new position. He was the Queen’s personal attendant, present at virtually every meeting of the war council. Despite being officially removed from any position of authority, he was still privy to the innermost workings of the monarchy and the Danaan campaign against the barbarians of the Frozen East.

Andar liked to believe Rianna had done this intentionally, that some part of her admired how he had stood up to Orath and wanted to keep him close so he could advise her and help guide her through her most difficult decisions.

And maybe even protect her from falling too far under Orath’s influence.

Once the table was set, Andar began to place the food. Loaves of bread, bricks of cheese, and sides of meat were placed in the

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