The Maid of Chateau Winslow by Pippa J Frost

Author:Pippa J Frost [Frost, Pippa J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: novel
Publisher: Huntson Press
Published: 2020-06-15T22:00:00+00:00

Kingdom of Schattenberg—Mining Kingdom

Sixtus and King Jörg had traveled hours into the dank bowels of the Kingdom of Schattenberg to speak with King Gian. Now they stood before him, at the bottom of the stone steps to his throne. Posted on either side of him were his loyal subjects, creatures with the faces of gargoyles, their humanoid bodies covered in black feathers, like oversize hybridizations of ravens. They observed the prince and his vater with slitted citrine eyes, their snake-like tongues flicking out. One gurgled, then hissed.

Shadows stretched across the cave floor, cast by creatures that soared overhead in the infinite cavern canopy, awaiting the signal of their king. The air was heavy with the pungent scent of iron and brimstone from the flames that burst forth with their rasping cries.

“What have you done?” King Jörg’s voice reverberated off the red-stone walls glittering with gems of various colors and sizes.

King Gian’s long nails clicked repetitively on the skulls of his enemies, fashioned into end caps on the sleek arms of his copper throne. “It is as I stated, cousin: the power belongs to me.” His tone remained calm, but his gnarled face twisted with hatred for King Jörg.

King Jörg’s mouth gaped before he snapped it shut. “For how long? I knew you were capable of such corruption with your hatred of humans, but do you feel no allegiance with your kinsmen?”

“To rise, it must devour souls, and the blood of the innocent has been proven to accelerate its mutation.” His insinuation was unmistakable.

Bile rose in Sixtus’s throat as he recalled the aftereffects of the Seelenfresser when he and Crispian had investigated a tip. “Our informant notified me of the creature’s trip to the human village.”

“It is young and not yet tamed. The man was an obstacle. Consider him target practice. You needn’t worry, I’ll see it’s trained appropriately.”

“You will cause the destruction of us all.” King Jörg’s hands clenched at his sides. “Greed and the need for dominance have fueled your actions for too long.”

“We must defeat the monster before there are no dwarves or humans left,” Sixtus said.

King Gian cocked his head at the sound of Sixtus’s voice. “Don’t tell me you feel pity for the humans.”

Sixtus grimaced. “I hold no love for humans, but it isn’t only humans that are in jeopardy.”

A sinister smirk rippled across King Gian’s face. “Dwarf magic stands no chance against what is coming.”

Sixtus’s hand moved to his sword, but his vater stopped him. “Speak what you know,” King Jörg said.

King Gian’s laughter thundered. “Has your mind dulled with age? Why would a commander reveal his strategies to the enemy?”

“We are enemies now, are we?” Spittle sprayed with the force of King Jörg’s words. “It is no secret, the animosity we feel for each other, but we are kinsmen. It is our duty to our tribesmen to put their interests and that of our kingdoms above our rivalry.”

“Do you think I’m still bitter that the people of Himmelart chose you to be their king, and I was elected to rule Schattenberg? Then you’re more of a gull than I thought.

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