The Votive Crown: Coin and Corruption are King (Visigoths of Spain Book 1) by Paula Constant

Author:Paula Constant [Constant, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780648735861
Publisher: Fehu Press
Published: 2020-06-22T22:00:00+00:00

Hours later, they sat in the garden of Laurentius’s family villa. Despite the villa’s position in the most elite part of Toletum, less than half a mile from the palace walls, it was set in generous grounds, and in the spring twilight they were peaceful with the sound of birdcall. Citron trees vied with white jasmine against the walls, beyond which the Toletum streets throbbed with excited chatter.

The king’s speech would be repeated in every tavern until the early hours of the morning. Even the lowliest wine wench understood the implications of the council: Egica meant to dispossess his own wife’s family and all those who had once been allied to King Erwig. He meant to dispossess Sunifred and grant Count Frogellus’s claim to the lands and title of Hispalis, one of Spania’s greatest southern holdings, though he pretended the matter was still before his council and yet to be decided.

“What will happen to Alaric now?” Shukra asked. “He is betrothed to the Duke of Hispalis’s daughter.”

“Alaric’s father, Suinthila, has already sent word to his son to discontinue the betrothal.” Laurentius moved restlessly about the garden. He stood with his hands on his hips, legs spread, and when he spoke it was with his back to Shukra and in a weary, grey voice.

“Suinthila and Count Paulus have made a new agreement,” he said. “A betrothal between Alaric and Lælia.”

Shukra stared at his back, shocked temporarily into silence.

“Aziz-am,” he said finally, “I am as acquainted with the tempers of young men as you yourself. We have trained them in war from one side of the Circle of Lands to the other. Are you truly believing that Alaric will be agreeing to such a thing? And Lælia? Perhaps, yes, she is a young girl. But she loved Theo –”

“I know.” Laurentius cut him off harshly. “I did not say I agreed. But we none of us have choices in such times, Shukra. Not Alaric, not Lælia. Not…” He turned away, staring out over the garden walls. “I went to see Athanagild yesterday,” he went on, striving to maintain an even tone. “At the monastery here in Toletum.” He turned back to Shukra. “I have never seen a man grieve more deeply than him. And I could do nothing – say nothing – to help.”

He shook his head wearily. “I had no right even to be there,” he said, feeling his voice catch. “It was I, Shukra, who sent them – Theo and Yosef – to their deaths.” He shook his head, unable to continue. Shukra did not offer any words of reassurance, for which Laurentius was grateful. They had faced too many battles together to cling to false hopes like children.

“We know that Yosef made it to Septem,” Shukra said instead. “He is somewhere in the sands now, riding amongst the fiercest fighters ever to wield iron. We must believe him alive, aziz-am.”

“To what purpose,” said Laurentius wearily, “if Theo will not be there to assist him?”

“I told you I had a contact, Athanais, who will find Theo if he lives.

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