The Uncrowned King by Ayla Marie

Author:Ayla Marie [Marie, Ayla]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter

Twenty-Five

LEO

The gates around Enzly shine a deep blue that matches the thick pine trees from which we’ve just emerged. I shake Antares awake and he barely has the chance to complain before the words are stolen by the sight before him. Archers stand at attention at the top of the wall, bows slung over their shoulders. I feel their eyes on me as the dark metal gates slide open, allowing us through. Soldiers with stoic faces and clad in blue wear bronze helmets so low their eyes are almost completely concealed. They hold their positions unflinchingly as we move into the city.

There’s too much around to take in all at once. Blue and silver banners hang from houses and businesses, every building unique in its frame and material. Pine trees of all sizes decorate the streets. Each one is covered in silver strings glistening in the sunlight.

As we head deeper into the city, people amass in the streets. Children stop to stare as the adults set down their tasks, each wiping away the flour, and dirt, and clay, and paint from their hands. They smile at us as they touch the fingers of their right hands to their foreheads. During our travels, Ceto taught us about the sign of respect the Anateyans use as a greeting. Seeing so many people greet you in such a way instead of treating you as a threat with fear in their eyes is surreal.

There are no walls around the palace. Tall gray-blue stone pillars are scattered around the grounds and stretch up high enough to bite the clouds. We stop before the garden leading up to the front steps and dismount our horses. A stable hand arrives to grab the reins, allowing me to clumsily slide off my horse. I hold out my arms and help Antares down. He stands on the ground for barely a second before his legs give out and he’s lying on his back.

“Leave me,” he says dramatically as he throws his arm over his face. “I’m done for.”

I huff a laugh as I pull him up and set my brother back on his feet. “How will you meet the queen if you’re lying on the ground?” I take Saiph from Cael’s arms, allowing him to dismount as Altair joins us.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to walk up the steps to meet her,” Cael says with a wince as he rubs his back.

“I doubt they’ll let us in smelling like horse,” Byrne adds with a grin.

Cael and I laugh as we pull our belongings out of the saddlebags.

“What are you doing?” Ares demands as he rounds the horse.

My brows scrunch together as my hands hold the bag. “What do you mean?”

“Why are you opening the saddlebag?”

Cael and I exchange confused glances as I shift my arms to hold Saiph against my hip.

“To get our belongings,” Cael replies, stating the obvious. “Why else would we open the bags?”

Ares scoffs as if it’s a joke, looking at us for a reaction. When he realizes we’re serious, he says, “The embassy will gather our belongings.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.