Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
“You will find, the longer this war lasts in Airen, and True is away fighting it, how onerous is the mantle of rule.”
The Airenzian war, if no ravens had gone astray that provided conflicting information, had now officially lasted all of four bloody days.
Alfie didn’t get into that either.
“On the contrary,” he replied blithely, “I find incarcerating those who caused harm and moving forward in bringing them to justice, righting a troubled treasury, and overseeing the expansion of the scope of our economy in an optimistic manner the likes of which this realm has not ever seen quite rewarding.”
“Yes, and you have the luxury of one day stepping down when all that goes to hell.”
“So did you,” Alfie reminded him, watching Wilmer’s body jerk. “Though, for my part, as my king’s counsellor, and after swearing an oath to protect my land that I intend to keep, regardless I am now crippled, I don’t intend to do that until I retire to a hearth and my books at a day when I am gray with age.”
“I tire of this conversation,” Wilmer decreed.
“This is good, for so do I.”
After giving Alfie a long, hard look, Wilmer whipped his head around before his body in a manner that made Alfie nearly burst with laughter, before he flounced out much like Bronagh had done.
The door again slammed.
And Alfie put Wilmer out of his mind, and doing so, Bronagh entered it.
A carriage ride.
What was that woman thinking?
Alfie then had to force Bronagh from his mind (a much more difficult endeavor), and he did so as he picked up his sticks, hefted himself out of his chair and moved to the fire.
Carefully, he balanced on one stick as he quickly fed fuel to the irons.
He then maneuvered himself to the chair by the fire and settled in, equally pleased with himself he got where he was without a tumble, just as he was frustrated that was something he considered a victory.
He picked up the reports True had commissioned on how the counties and groups of charmed folk were reacting to the idea of a parliament. Files he’d abandoned when Tor and Apollo had arrived after he’d called for them when Mikaelsson came to make his report.
He was in the depths of reading them when another knock came at the door.
Calling leave for entry, a trainee soldier quickly delivered a bundle of parchments wrapped in military green ribbon that was sealed by a sergeant’s wax mark.
He opened it without delay.
It took him an hour.
And he had to drag himself back to the desk to search through the drawers to find a calendar.
Thankfully, Wilmer’s secretary had noted the dates of the quakes in the king’s agenda.
But in making the connections, that was the only thing Alfie was thankful for.
He stared at the parchment on which he’d jotted all the dates with connecting lines.
He then bellowed, “Corporal!”
131
The New Airen
The People of Airen
The Royal Grazing Fields, South of Highgate, Sky Bay
AIREN
The cow herders in the fields and the soldiers that guarded the gate atop the cliffs were the only ones who saw them.
But at what they saw, the news would travel quickly as that news was two unicorns galloping into view from thin air, behind them riding their Prince Regent and his betrothed.
And then…
Then…
Oh, the spectacle!
The King and Queen of Firenze.
The King and Queen of Wodell.
The Dragon Commander and his Ice Bride of Lunwyn.
The Princess Serena and a man with the coveted mantle of a Firenz Trusted.
And finally…
Vast armies, including men, women, horses and supply carts.
Just as the ravens had heralded.
Just so.
Led by Prince Cassius and his golden-haired Nadirii queen, they entered the steep-graded, switchback avenue that climbed the face of the cliffs that marked the southern boundary of Sky Bay, riding toward Highgate.
The tall gates were open for day entry and the long procession rode right through.
And thus, it was the citizens of Sky Bay who witnessed what seemed to be a never-ending parade of royalty and military might making its way through the paved streets of the city, not dallying, but riding straight toward the lane that would take them to the Sky Citadel.
But birds had travelled far and fast since the Battle of the Heights five days ago, and the Battle of the Veil, which was just four.
Whispers had become open talk about the vanquishing of the Allied Gentry by their Regent in two places far away from each other, one battle which was described much more as a thrashing.
And these rumors, many found humorous.
Oh, those many Airenzian who clung so tightly to their traditions finding their just desserts in humiliation and defeat.
Really, what manner of man was threatened so by a woman?
She could cook and clean and mend and fuck, but not teach?
Not heal?
Not build?
Not guard?
The Nadirii warriors who assisted their Regent in trouncing the Allied Gentry proved all that so misguided, it was laughable.