Twisted Brand - Clare London by Clare London

Author:Clare London [London, Clare]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-12-09T04:25:52+00:00

CHAPTER 10

ELESTE stood tall and imposing, her gaze ranging around the Training field. “This will be a momentous event for Aza City,” Sshe announced from the shallow platform, her voice carrying easily in the thin air of the early morning. “The City Convocation will soon be hosted here, as I have promised my people – this time of preparation and anticipation will bring its just rewards. It will be an event worthy of our Histories, an event remembered throughout the planet. Aza City will be the City to lead you all to a better life – I will be the Queen to lead you to a life made all the more glorious for Devotion to the City!”

“ Service to the City is our Reward!” came the response from the many, strong voices. All the soldiers of her Guard stood to attention, facing her. I saw Zander at the side of his men, and all the other Gold Warriors too, for the Queen had more officers than any other Household. They had dressed in their most formal uniform with breastplates that shone in the morning sunlight, and helmets standing proudly on their heads. The Silver Captains were less extravagantly dressed but their armor was polished to its brightest. The metal bore with pride the scars of previous skirmishes, but the surfaces had been hammered back to regular shape by the City blacksmiths, and the buckles of their shoulder straps glinted against the dark leather. Behind them were the Bronzemen, placed ceremonially behind their protective Captains because they were still untried in battle, but also emphasizing their treasured status in the Household. They were slender young men with a mixture of eye and hair color, of different builds. Their muscles were already developing well but they were still at that stage between youthful enthusiasm and the strong confidence of a Trained soldier.

They stood both bravely and proudly, but I recognized the amazement in many pairs of eyes at the rare sight of their Queen, and the fearful148 | Clare London aggression in others, determined to be noticed by her. I knew they would be brought to heel over the course of their Training. They would become the best of the City’s soldiers. Only if they failed to live up to the potential of their original purchase would they be returned to the Central School and a career of manual labor with the Remainders, to become an equally devoted – and yet completely unacknowledged –

servant of the City. It was a powerful motivation for success, for such passionate young men. It had been a while since Seleste had demanded a full inspection, having allowed a certain amount of relaxation since the Battle for Queenship. She had called this parade at a moment’s notice, but the soldiers had been ready on time and showing all the arrogant splendor that she expected of them. It made my own heart beat a little faster to see them, although I stood to one side of her platform, neither allowed nor welcomed into their ranks.

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