A Reign of Steel. Morgan Rice

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СКАЧАТЬ show it. She did not want to give Romulus the satisfaction. She wanted him to kill her when she was staring him in the face. At least that would give her something. She just wanted him to get it over with.

      Instead, Romulus’s smile broadened, and he continued to stare directly at her, rather than at the bridge, as she expected he would.

      “You have what you want,” she said, puzzled. “The Shield is down. The Ring is yours. Aren’t you going to kill me now?”

      He shook his head.

      “You are not what I expected,” he finally said, summing her up. “I might let you live. I might even take you as my wife.”

      Luanda gagged inside at the thought; this was not the reaction she’d wanted.

      She leaned back and spit in his face, hoping that would get him to kill her.

      Romulus reached up and wiped his face with the back of his hand, and Luanda braced herself for the blow to come, expecting him to punch her as before, to shatter her jaw – to do anything but be nice to her. Instead, he stepped forward, grabbed her by the back of her hair, pulled her to him, and kissed her hard.

      She felt his lips, grotesque, chapped, all muscle, like a snake, as he pressed her to him, harder and harder, so hard she could barely breathe.

      Finally, he pulled away – and as he did, he backhanded her, smacking her so hard her skin stung.

      She looked up at him, horrified, filled with disgust, not understanding him.

      “Chain her and keep her close to me,” he commanded. He had barely finished uttering the words before his men stepped forward and bound her arms behind her back.

      Romulus’s eyes widened with delight as he stepped forward in front of his men, and, bracing himself, took the first step onto the bridge.

      There was no Shield to stop him. He stood there safe and sound.

      Romulus broke into a wide grin, then burst out laughing, holding his muscular arms out wide as he flung back his head. He roared with laughter, with triumph, the sound echoing throughout the Canyon.

      “It is mine,” he boomed. “All mine!”

      His voice echoed, again and again.

      “Men,” he added. “Invade!”

      His troops suddenly rushed past him, letting out a great cheer that was met, high above, by the host of dragons, who flapped their wings and flew, soaring above the Canyon. They entered the swirling mist, screeching, a great noise that rose to the very heavens, that let the world know that the Ring would never be the same again.

      Chapter Four

      Alistair lay in Erec’s arms on the bow of the huge ship, which rocked gently up and down as the huge ocean waves rolled past again and again. She looked up, mesmerized, at the million red stars blanketing the night sky, sparkling in the distance; warm ocean breezes rolled in, caressing her, lulling her to sleep. She felt content. Just being here, together with Erec, her whole world felt at peace; here, in this part of the world, on this vast ocean, it felt as if all the troubles in the world had disappeared. Endless obstacles had kept the two of them apart and now, finally, her dreams were coming true. They were together, and there was no one and nothing left to stand between them. They had already set sail, were already on their way to his islands, his homeland, and when they arrived, she would marry him. There was nothing she wanted more in the world.

      Erec squeezed her tight, and she leaned in closer to him as the two of them leaned back, looking up at the universe, the gentle ocean mist washing over them. Her eyes grew heavy in the quiet ocean night.

      As she looked out at the open sky, she thought of how huge the world was; she thought of her brother, Thorgrin, out there somewhere, and she wondered where he was right now. She knew he was on his way to see their mother. Would he find her? What would she be like? Did she even really exist?

      A part of Alistair wanted to join him on the journey, to meet their mother, too; and another part of her missed the Ring already, and wanted to be back home on familiar ground. But the biggest part of her was excited; she was excited to start life again, together with Erec, in a new place, a new part of the world. She was excited to meet his people, to see what his homeland was like. Who lived in the Southern Isles? she wondered. What were his people like? Would his family take him in? Would they be happy to have her, or would they be threatened by her? Would they welcome the idea of their wedding? Or had they envisioned someone else, one of their own, for Erec?

      Worst of all, what she dreaded most – what would they think of her once they found out about her powers? Once they found out that she was a Druid? Would they consider her a freak, an outsider, like everyone else?

      “Tell me again of your people,” Alistair said to Erec.

      He looked at her, then looked backed out at the sky.

      “What would you like to know?”

      “Tell me about your family,” she said.

      Erec reflected in the silence for a long time. Finally, he spoke:

      “My father, he is a great man. He’s been king of our people ever since he was my age. His looming death will change our island forever.”

      “And have you any other family?”

      Erec hesitated a long time, then finally nodded.

      “Yes. I have a sister… and a brother.” He hesitated. “My sister and I, we were very close growing up. But I must warn you, she’s very territorial and too easily jealous. She’s wary of outsiders, and does not like new people in our family. And my brother…” Erec trailed off.

      Alistair prodded him.

      “What is it?”

      “A finer fighter you will never meet. But he is my younger brother, and he has always set himself in competition with me. I have always viewed him as a brother, and he has always viewed me as competition, as someone who stands in his way. I do not know why. It just is how it is. I wish we could be closer.”

      Alistair looked at him, surprised. She could not understand how anyone could look at Erec with anything but love.

      “And is it still that way?” she asked.

      Erec shrugged.

      “I have not seen any of them since I was a child. It is my first return to my homeland; nearly thirty sun cycles have passed. I do not know what to expect. I am more a product of the Ring now. And yet if my father dies… I am the eldest. My people will look to me to rule.”

      Alistair paused, wondering, not wanting to pry.

      “And will you?”

      Erec shrugged.

      “It is not something I seek. But if my father wishes… I cannot say no.”

      Alistair studied him.

      “You love him very much.”

      Erec nodded, and she could see his eyes glistening in the starlight.

      “I only pray our ship arrives in time before he dies.”

      Alistair СКАЧАТЬ