Wyvern's Call: A Battle of Gods and Kingdoms (Rise of the Summer God Book 3) by Summer H Hanford

Author:Summer H Hanford [Hanford, Summer H]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Summer Hanford
Published: 2022-04-14T00:00:00+00:00

XIII

Kylem tried to shake his unease over the days that followed their arrival in the Twinriver Dukedoms. Tonor certainly seemed relaxed, showing off his home with obvious delight. Dinners were held, and balls, and Kylem danced with both of Tonor’s younger sisters and many other young women of the upper set. Not a one had Pana’s vivacity. Her spark.

Or her dark hair and eyes, though some had similarly pert noses and full lips, and after the festivities each evening, more than one returned to his bedchamber with him. But much as he enjoyed their company, he couldn’t decide if partaking of what they offered made him miss Pana less or more.

What he didn’t miss was her demanding nature. The women of the Twinriver often had hope in their eyes but they seemed to know better than to press. Having grown up in the keep or surrounding city or villages, not in some strange dark forest, they knew they could expect little more from Kylem than his gratitude. Perhaps, if they left enough of an impression, he would send them back coin or a trinket once he reached the Keng and the duke’s coffers. Some small gift to ease their lives. Nothing more, as they weren’t worthy of being the next Duchess of the Keng and they knew as much.

He liked how they made him feel, he mused as he strode through Tonor’s keep in answer to a summons from the king. They reminded him of his importance. He wasn’t the son of a knight, or someone’s companion or page. He was Lord Kylem, son of His Grace, Lord Onurrun, Duke of the Keng. A title Kylem would someday hold. The heir to a dukedom didn’t fall in love with the first girl willing to share his bed.

Head high and pleased he knew his way, for Tonor’s keep offered logical passage from place to place and frequent views of the angle of the sun, Kylem went to meet his king. He passed tapestry after tapestry on his way, the ones depicting battle his favorites, and reflected that they certainly enjoyed their wall hangings in the Twinriver. He frowned and lengthened his stride, wondering how many of the intricate works hid passageways.

Kylem rounded a corner. Tonor stepped from behind a tapestry, coming out right in front of him. Kylem, his thoughts on exactly such an event, started and let out a curse.

Tonor turned a surprised look on him. “What?”

“I don’t enjoy all these secret doors,” Kylem muttered as they fell in stride.

“Secret? There’s nothing secret about any of them.”

“Then why cover them up?”

“It’s windy up here on the bluff. If we don’t cover the passages with something heavy, the wind cuts through in torrents. It knocks things over and robs us of warmth.” Tonor shrugged. “Besides, it gives the womenfolk something to do while we men manage our lands and people.”

“Why not hang them only over passageways?” Kylem protested, still chagrined that Tonor had heard his yelp of surprise. “Or put up doors.

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