Burden: A Vatan Chronicle (The King's Renegade Book 2) by L. Steinworth

Author:L. Steinworth [Steinworth, L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: theartofliz
Published: 2022-05-10T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THE GUEST

Sun winked through the thinning forest, warming Alden’s cold thoughts since leaving Dregs. Kira had made her choice. So had Briar. To them, his time to rule was saved for a later date, and in all honesty, he couldn’t blame them.

If he wanted, he could have stepped forward to rule. To forget the accusations cast upon him and foster a kingdom. There were plenty who did see him as innocent. The Brimleyn refugees caravanning with them proved as much. They could have created a militia and fought to defend his name. But Alden knew it would only end in more bloodshed. The way their enemies continued to harass them, burning their homes, refusing their business, and humiliating them was proof enough. His reign would have been limited, and it wouldn’t have solved the murder or proven anything other than his greed. Alden honored himself and his people enough to acknowledge that now, despite his desires.

As the forest began to wane, Alden looked from the newly trampled road hugging the Draclynn River to the sandstone bluff ahead. Above it, dark stone walls crowned its plateau. Turrets still armored all but one far-off corner. Where the great tower once stood as tall as the sun, rubble now flowed to the beach. Each stone—a grave marking Brimley’s demise.

The castle looks how I feel. Defeated.

“Brimley?” Squirrel slowed his horse.

Alden sighed, leaning back on Emory to match pace. “Yes,” he said, surprised by how choked he sounded.

Squirrel looked over his shoulder as if not realizing the journey with a mass of other Brimleyn refugees, signs pointing towards Brimley Castle, and the thick forest were not clues enough. He walked his horse closer to Alden’s, nearly bumping their stirrups. “Why?”

“I suppose to further my studies on who killed Mayli’s mother and who hired the guild to take her.” Alden frowned further. The likelihood he’d learn anything more than what he’d already known slimmed by the day. But another try back where it began was worth investigating. Besides, this time Mayli wasn’t lingering, he wasn’t wounded, and he had friends loyal to the cause. Alden reached across, tapping Squirrel on his arm. “Maybe with your keen eyes, I might find something.”

Squirrel squinted. “What will happen if we find out what really happened with Queen Margaret?”

“Then whoever was involved will face justice...”

Squirrel stared at Alden, his face long and worrisome. However, the look didn’t last enough for Alden to question as he clamped his jaw up forming a toothy grin. “To Brimley then!” he cheered, leading his horse forward while pointing.

Ahead, a town he hardly recognized was blistering with life. Sheep ran through a field of newly pitched tents. Children laughed. People sang. In the distance, a ring of hammers clambered against steaks and nails as foundations of new homes, businesses, shops, inns, and farms were being built from the ash. While it all promised hope and unity, seeing the yellow paint invading his homeland still had Alden shiver in the light.

A couple of men paused from digging a trench to look up as he passed.

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