The Silver Serpent by David Debord

Author:David Debord [Debord, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Gryphonwood Press
Published: 2015-05-15T06:00:00+00:00

Hierm had created quite a scene when one of the servants had tried to bathe him, yelling and jumping out of the tub, only to remember that he was naked, and jump back in with a splash that sent soapy water everywhere. The indignant servant had left in a huff, suds covering the entire front half of his body.

“Where are the women?” Bertram snapped at the servant girl who was hurrying toward them.

“A thousand pardons,” she said. “We had trouble getting the redhead into a dress.”

Oskar looked past her to see Khalyndryn and Shanis coming toward them. Khalyndryn looked positively regal. Her blonde hair was piled up on top of her head, and held in place with jeweled pins. Her dress was of deep blue silk, cut to accentuate all of her curves. She smiled with delight as first Allyn, then Larris greeted her with a bow and a kiss of the hand. Oskar and Hierm probably should have done the same, but they were distracted.

Shanis wore a dark green dress, cut high at the thigh and low at the chest. The black dye had been washed from her hair, which she now wore pulled back in an intricate series of braids interwoven with gold thread. She walked stiffly, as if she feared falling. Her angry countenance was as close to purple as Oskar had ever seen on a person.

“Don’t either of you dare laugh,” she growled. Her hand clutched at her waist, seeking the hilt of her absent sword.

“Shanis, you look exquisite.” Larris swept past them. Dropping to one knee in front of Shanis, he reached for her hand.

“Stuff yourself, Larris.” She snatched her hand back and folded her arms across her chest. She stood, tapping her foot and staring at the ceiling.

Bertram’s eyes widened, and he made a squawking sound in his throat, which he attempted to cover with a cough. “Excuse me, Highness,” he said. “His Majesty awaits.” Larris and Allyn followed the steward through the open doors and into the throne room. Oskar and Khalyndryn entered next, followed by Hierm, then Shanis.

The throne room was immense, with ornately carved columns supporting a high vaulted ceiling. Colored floor tiles formed the flag of Lothan in the room’s center. Set against the far wall was a dais of polished marble, topped by a massive throne of dark red wood, lacquered to a high sheen. Spread across the back wall, framing the throne, was a giant tapestry woven into a map of the lands between the ocean in the east and the Walls of Stone in the west. Oskar was amazed at the detail. There was Galdora, almost in the center!

“Kneel, you dolt,” Bertram hissed in his ear. Oskar looked around and saw that on either side of him, the others had dropped to one knee, heads held low. Shanis dress had ridden well up her thigh and he could almost feel the heat from her blushing. He hastily took a knee, with Bertram dropping down alongside him.

“You may rise,” said a bored voice.

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