The Twelve Kingdoms: The Mark of the Tala by Jeffe Kennedy

Author:Jeffe Kennedy [Kennedy, Jeffe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2014-05-27T04:00:00+00:00

13

This descent was the shadow side of our arrival.

No cheering crowds lined the route. Instead troops, weary of the weeks of siege, wearing their losses hard, stood at somber attention, saluting me as we passed. The bright morning had surrendered to another stormy day, and the wind off the ocean carried a new bite, tumbling ominous black clouds overhead. Between the defeated and grieving faces of the people who stood vigil and the oppressive feel of a looming storm, I had trouble shaking the feeling I rode to my own funeral.

At least I no longer saw an overlay of blood and bodies on the rocky slopes. A possible future averted, then, if I accepted that these visions were real.

It seemed I had no other choice.

The wooden platform stood out at the bottom of the hill, where the road widened and branched, leading out to farmland and forest. The attempt to make it seem festive had the opposite effect. The chill winds tugged at the scarves, ripping one away and sending it tumbling through the assembled soldiers. The pink-clad priest of Glorianna huddled miserably in one corner of the platform, looking pitifully out of place.

And there was Rayfe. Waiting for me.

He stood out in any crowd. He wore his long black hair loose, and the wind tore at it, whipping it like a pennant, a contrast to the deep bloodred of his garments. His face looked fierce, eyes hooded and fastened on me.

Next to him, a weeping Amelia was held upright by several Tala guards, two blades at her throat.

Hugh hissed out a furious breath and kicked his horse into a gallop for the last short distance, his horse shouldering past our armed escort that surrounded Terin. So much for ceremony. I urged my palfrey after him.

By the time I rode up, Hugh had already swung down and charged up the platform steps—only to be stopped by spears. A cry went up from the escort, several pulling swords.

“Stop it! All of you, stand down!” I shouted. Judging by the array of astonished faces, I’d surprised more than myself. “Prince Hugh—would you help me down, please?”

He flashed a furious red look over his shoulder at me and gestured to Amelia. “Surely this is not necessary! What beast treats a Princess in such a way?”

“Simply a guarantee, my enemy,” Rayfe growled, eyes never leaving my face. “In case any of you think to renege.”

“Renege!” Hugh pushed his white-velvet-clad chest into the spear points while Amelia wailed for him. “How dare you impugn my honor!”

I blew out my frustration and struggled with the stupid saddle. I would never strap myself to one of these contraptions again. To my surprise, Terin appeared at my knee to help me down, hastily followed by his erstwhile guards. No contempt for the moment, just that foxy sardonic expression. “Allow me to escort you, Princess.”

He didn’t waste time, but lifted me down and led me immediately to Hugh’s side. I put a hand on Hugh’s arm. When he ignored me, I tugged sharply on him, then ducked under the spears.

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