Orphan's Blade. Aubrie Dionne

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ think Braxten Thoridian would like that.”

      As if summoned by a name, the solider turned toward them and dismounted. All four raiders lay at his feet. He pulled his helmet from his head, and brown, curly hair fell around his shoulders. His eyes were a rich, amber brown, his features sharp and rugged. He fell to one knee and bowed before her. “Princess, allow me to help you.”

      Hope glimmered in Valoria’s heart, followed by a swell of desire. This man had led the Royal Guard into battle. His armor had Ebonvale’s double sword crest and the deep violet colors of the ruling house. It had to be Braxten Thoridian. “Yes, help me carry him to the carriage. My handmaiden can tend to his wounds.”

      The soldier took one arm, and Valoria took the other. They lifted Echo and walked carefully to the carriage. Around them, the soldiers patrolled the fields as the last raiders fled.

      The soldier glanced at Valoria with melancholy. “My apologies, Princess. It seems for many of your retinue, we came too late.”

      “Helena looked upon us with grace today. We’re fortunate you came.” Valoria gave him a thankful nod. His modesty impressed her. He’d just defeated an entire horde with only a brigade, yet it was a sad victory. He spoke as if the fallen were his own.

      “Another raid held us up. We had planned to meet you at the forest’s edge.”

      She studied his profile, wondering if he was as kind as he was handsome. “Another raid?”

      “These are dire times we live in. After the wyverns destroyed the southern towns, many of Ebonvale’s people fled north. We only had room for so many refugees, so the rest had to fend for themselves. Who knew they’d become outlaws.”

      They hefted Echo into the carriage. He grunted and held his wounded shoulder.

      Cadence covered him with a blanket. “I’ll keep him safe, my lady.” She stole a glance at the soldier, then looked back to Valoria and raised her eyebrows.

      Valoria ignored her unspoken question. “Thank you.” She placed her hand on Echo’s cheek. “Rest now.” His eyes flickered as he fell in and out of consciousness.

      She exited the carriage, picked up her harp, and took the reins of a fallen minstrel’s horse.

      The soldier followed her and offered his hand to help her mount. “You are not riding in the carriage, Princess?”

      She snorted. “This is where I should have been in the first place: riding with my harp tied to my back.”

      His eyes held amusement and something more. Was it admiration? “Better to fend off foes?”

      She held her breath. Did he know she’d called the mist from the hills to disorient the raiders and buy the minstrels more time? “Better to protect my people.”

      She adjusted the saddle and kicked the horse into line with the others. Just because they were promised to each other didn’t mean she should lose her head like a giddy girl at Summer’s Eve fest. Many had died that day, and she had to honor their memory. “Tell your army they’d best let the minstrels play the fanfare.”

      “’Tis not my army, Princess.”

      She yanked the reins and her horse swiveled back in his direction. Was this some sort of game? “You are Braxten Thoridian, are you not?”

      Ironic amusement passed through his eyes. “You are mistaken. I’m Lieutenant Nathaniel Blueborough, son of the late Alhearn Blueborough, the blacksmith of Shaletown. Queen Danika Thoridian and her husband adopted me. I’m Braxten’s brother, if not by blood, then by name.”

      He mounted his own horse and called over his shoulder. “Around the castle, I’m known as Nip.”

      Chapter 2

      Paintings

      Nathaniel rode to the front of the line distracted and intrigued by the princess of the House of Song. Had disappointment flickered in her gaze when he told her he wasn’t Brax? How could she not know he was the adopted son? Had she never left the resonant walls of the House of Song?

      He resisted the urge to turn back and study her large, silver eyes. She was Brax’s intended, and he had to remember his place. Even though he was the elder brother, he had no blood ties to the throne. Since Brax had achieved legendary warrior status, becoming even stronger than his father, Bron Thoridian, Nathaniel had no chance in commanding the army either.

      Guilt weighed him down. The king and queen had opened their hearts and adopted him, so he should have been grateful for any place in Ebonvale’s castle. Even as a scullion. They could have left him to die as a beggar in the ashes of Shaletown, and he might have turned into a raider himself.

      Grasping the reins, he reminded himself of his debt to the House of Thoridian. He’d served them well all his life, and he wasn’t about to squander his honor on one lovely girl.

      “Battle leave you with ill feelings, my lord?” Timber Rollins kicked his horse up beside him. Flecks of blood and earth painted his timeworn face. An old scar from his left forehead to the bottom of his right cheek shone white and fleshy in the sun.

      “Not battle. Fate.”

      “Ah, a vile beast. Fate can give you the world, then take it away.” The old man had been in battles long before Nathaniel could hold a sword. He’d served King Thoridian, and King Rubystone before him. He was one of the few men who’d seen the dead rise at the necromancer’s hand and lived to speak of it.

      Although Brax passed him off as an old fogey, Nathaniel listened to his council. “My life is the opposite. Fate took everything away, then dealt me a decent hand.”

      “Decent?”

      “Better than the one I had before. I was to become a blacksmith’s son, and now I’m second in command of the Royal Guard. So why am I not content?”

      The old man placed a hand on his armored shoulder. “Nothing can replace what you lost. No matter how illustrious or grand.”

      The minstrels’ fanfare picked up tempo as they crested a hill. Ebonvale’s stone ramparts claimed the horizon. Built around the remnants of Helena and Horred’s temple, the stone buildings piled up upon one another until lofty turrets poked from the mass, towering above the highest ramparts. Purple pennants waved in the breeze as soldiers patrolled the battlements.

      “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Timber goaded his horse forward.

      Nathaniel nodded, taking a moment to reflect upon the first time he’d ever seen the castle as boy. “She’s home.”

      They passed the orchards and the farmlands, reaching the city walls. Nathaniel rode ahead. He recognized the guard at duty, yet he still presented the Royal Seal.

      “Tough journey, my lord?” The guard ran his eyes up and down Nathaniel’s muddied armor.

      “Thank the gods we delivered the princess in one piece. We need medics immediately.”

      “I’ll send word.” The guard nodded, allowing the entire retinue through.

      Nathaniel СКАЧАТЬ