The Throne of Crowns (The FirstLord Chronicles Book 1) by Fox Simon

Author:Fox, Simon [Fox, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Fox
Published: 2014-01-09T23:00:00+00:00

10

23rd day of Spring, 902 XE

Bannskar’s Palace, Zarr, Xunna

“My Lord, it’s evidently Lanndra’s intention to weaken your authority, or even to dethrone you,” remarked a frowning Dassan as he and Jaddra made their way through the long dingy corridors of Bannskar’s Palace towards its skyzone. “But I promise you, Lanndra won’t win this battle! I’m going to work night and day to protect your position.”

Although shaken by the events that had just transpired in the Hall of Council, Jaddra was encouraged by his friend’s steely determination. Dassan was, after all, a political tactician of the very highest calibre. If anyone could sort out this mess, it was surely him.

“I know you will, Parrja,” replied Jaddra. “Thank you, my friend. I’ll leave this matter in your capable hands – and in the hands of the Anthall.”

The two men then parted. With Hannsto and the Bodyguards, Jaddra boarded his private Z-Field ship and returned to the Island Palace, hoping to ease the day’s stresses with the help of a bottle of Krallish red wine.

However, he had reckoned without his wife’s anger.

When he entered their private apartment, Leenesh was waiting for him, simmering with rage, the wild disarray of her long dark-red hair accurately expressing her mood.

“How could you be so stupid?!” she demanded. Apparently she had heard the news from the Hall of Council. Dressed in a loose-fitting one-piece lounge-suit the same colour as her glorious hair, she stood defiantly with her feet apart, fists on her shapely hips. “Why did you have to publicly own up to your crazy religious beliefs?!”

“The WarMaker left me no choice,” he replied, stung by the harshness of her tone. “He came straight out with it and asked me whether I was a Follower of the Anthall. I couldn’t lie about it, could I?”

She just shook her head in disbelief. “I’ve never understood your religion, Jadd,” she said. “It’s so … so un-Xunnish! Can’t you see it’s undermining your position as FirstLord?”

He went to a window and gazed out at the palace gardens. “Lee, I never planned to become a Follower. But when the Anthall made himself known to me … I just had to follow him. I couldn’t turn away from the most important truth in my life!”

“I don’t want to hear about it!” she snapped. “I’ve heard it all before!”

There was a long, tense silence between them.

Then she added, “Do you know what bothers me most about all this?”

He heard the pain in her voice, and turned around to look at her face. Tears were forming in her beautiful golden-brown eyes.

“This religion of yours drives a wedge between us,” she said. “It’s a part of your life I can’t share!”

He went to her and enfolded her in a big warm hug. More than anything, he wished she could share his faith. Knowing that she felt excluded pained him deeply.

At first she resisted his embrace, but then she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his broad chest.

“Jadd,” she said with a sigh, “sometimes I think you’re slightly mad.

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