Thief of Slaves by R.R. McCoy

Author:R.R. McCoy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thiefofslaves, trafficked
Publisher: R.R. McCoy

Chapter Nineteen

Remmah sat outside on the bedroom terrace of the king's quarters; in the Throne of the Kings of Aliyl, studying the darkening sky. Tufts of cirrus clouds painted crimson and orange fingers across the western horizon to his left. To his right, twilight began to descend on the kingdom sprawling to the edges of the circular valley. Far below, lighted windows dotted the city as evening fires lit the densely populated parishes, the lights appeared red from the soot-polluted air hanging in wreaths around the many constantly operating forges.

Personal attendants and heavily armed Forge guards, their bows fitted with black arrows, ready at a moment’s notice, flanked the blacksmith. The servants steadied trays of bread, meat, cheese, fruit and wine, as Remmah always required food at hand for the constant stream of visitors to his chambers.

The throne of Aliyl was simply used as lounging chair, a gilded chaise from which to survey his domain, removed from the Great Hall to this terrace as a gesture of contempt for the judgment seat. After all, he was not the true monarch but took up residence in the castle after the disappearance of Malkuth. Remmah felt more at home in the forges and rarely walked the palace halls but now the king's chambers were empty and he was content to entertain here and be entertained. He also desired to be where he could keep an eye on the treasury, just a small winding staircase away. The richest man in Aliyl, his success in creating weapons of war allowed him the ability to amass a formidable army and fortify the city's defenses . Malkuth once shared in Remmah's wealth and through an alliance of greed, the two plundered the royal coffers.

No opposition met this coup, most of the king's sons died in manufactured crusades or never returned from distant journeys; tragedies carefully orchestrated by Remmah. Zerah, the youngest son and Princess Agath were the only two unaccounted heirs and the young woman disappeared some days ago, slipping away from the Forge guards.

Remmah frowned as his thoughts turned to the escape of Ronoh the priest, whom he kept prisoner for ten years. He hoped to find the ancient arrow Ronoh possessed and put an end to the threat it posed. The beautiful young Nabiyah who he sent to retrieve the artifact failed to bring it back. She and Ronoh were lost and all of Remmah's spies were out looking for them.

As Remmah mused, he was interrupted by the approach of several black forms in the sky gliding toward him. His guards drew their bows, Remmah's raised hand stayed them from shooting. Black vultures pulled up and flapped to land at the edge of the terrace, hopped a few times, folded their long wings on their backs and stood with piercing, beady eyes.

"Ah, Nirgan," said Remmah, "You're back. It's been a long time. I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten the way here. What is your report?"

The larger of the three birds stretched its neck and clapped its beak at Remmah.

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