The Secret of Ashona by Kaza Kingsley

Author:Kaza Kingsley
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781416979937
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2012-02-07T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The Spider Boy

GLEAMING GOLD plates and thick silver cutlery adorned the long, polished oak table. Gems in the table were inlayed in intricate designs, and its legs were carved into ornate scrolls and gargoyles. Heavy pewter mugs beaten into waffle patterns sat beside thick-cut crystal goblets that thinned to impossibly delicate tops.

Seated at the table, in a room lit by hundreds of candles, were generals, business executives, and politicians. Erec recognized Jesper Konungsson, the president of the United Nations, from a news story about a horrible accident that his wife and daughter had gotten in. At the head of the table sat Baskania, King Pluto, and Washington Inkle—the president of Alypium. Two seats beside him were for Rosco and Erec.

Erec could not believe that he was in the Inner Sanctum, Baskania’s headquarters in the Green House in Alypium. Was it possible that Baskania truly trusted him now? Probably not completely. But Erec was getting the respect Baskania gave to his closest advisors. He knew it was this kind of attention from Baskania that turned his friend Oscar into the Rosco Kroc who ended up doing so many horrible things before realizing the truth.

Baskania waved them into the empty chairs. Instantly, blind servants rushed to each seat and placed more soups, salads, and appetizers on the table than could possibly be eaten.

“So glad you are joining us.” Baskania tilted his head to Erec cordially. “I have some good news. After thinking it over, I’ve decided to bring you in at a higher level than I originally planned. Although I admit it would be greatly pleasing to see the famous Erec Rex as one of my blind servants, it strikes me that you have more to offer. The courage and strength that you have shown so far in coming here is not to be taken lightly. No, you will be far more to me than just a trophy. I have offered you power before, and now I’m going to give it to you.

“First of all, you will keep your sight. It won’t be hard to remove the dragon eyes from the backs of your own. This way I will be able to give you back one of your eyes, for you to use. Of course, as with all of my followers, I will keep the other so that I can see what you are seeing and thinking if I need to.”

Erec bit his tongue, suddenly afraid. If Baskania had his eye and could read his mind he would be in immediate danger. But, then again, the Furies had made that impossible.

Baskania looked pleased. “Second—and you may like this even better than keeping your eyesight—I plan to give you a scepter to use. It will be Queen Posey’s, not the one that you will be returning to me from the Furies. But I liked what I saw when you wielded it before. I believe that its power will make you become a stronger person. More like me.”

Erec nodded. He was sure that a scepter would make him more like Baskania—he would instantly be a selfish, power-hungry maniac.

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