Dark One Rising. Leandra Martin

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ don’t want to be disturbed. But please, Mel, just stay put until I come for you. Promise?”

      “I promise.”

      “It’ll be alright. I swear on my life it will.”

      He kissed her cheek and left her alone in the darkening room. Night was coming and soon it would be too dark to see anything. She didn’t bother to light the candles or start a fire in the hearth. The blackness fit her mood. She would open the door for the servants when they brought her supper, but she would stay locked away until she heard from her brother. She was sure that he wouldn’t be able to save her this time, and she would be forced to leave. The thought saddened her, and scared her a bit, too. She was not afraid of what was out there. She was more afraid of losing the only people in the world she loved. But the alternative, marrying a monster like Fallon, scared her more. She knew the night would drag by, for she would never be able to sleep. She would just wile away the time until she knew whether she would run away or be saved by her knight in shining armor, her brother, who she knew really did love her. She didn’t think there was a chance, but she prayed she was wrong.

      CHAPTER 5

      Just inside the border of the Dark Woods, underneath a hooded heavy woolen cloak, Alekzand’r Kenyon Morgan waited for his companion and calmed his horse who was more fidgety than normal today. His side of the kingdom was finally seeing signs of spring, but this side, the raw winter went on. The horse’s breath could be seen in the raw bitterness of the cold, and he suddenly longed for the warmth of a fire and a tankard of spiced ale. But that would have to wait. There was business to attend to first. He flexed his fingers to try and work out the frozen joints. Despite the protective leather of his thick gloves, the cold air still caused the fingers of his hands to get stiff after so many hours in the saddle, and his back and neck were getting sore as well. Spring seemed to be coming later and later every year here. It wasn’t normal, and it made him irritable. Too many nights sleeping under the stars in the bitter cold, not enough warmth to perk up his soul.

      There was something dark and disturbing hanging over this side of the kingdom, but he’d be damned if he knew what it was. He spent too much time riding the countryside not to notice the change. The people were more nervous these days, rather jumpy when it came to strangers in their villages. They went to market to do their trading, but rarely stayed out to enjoy the festivities that always followed a day of bartering. The artisans and entertainers complained of light purses due to the anxiousness and tight fisted patrons. He couldn’t figure out what people were so afraid of, but he feared something wicked was blowing in the wind.

      He guessed that whatever was amiss very likely had something to do with the Duke of Xenos, but he had no solid proof, just his gut. People talked, and it was easy to get information out of the villagers with the right motivation, usually the clinking kind. He had been told stories of dark arts being performed inside the walls of Sexton Manor, and people seemed more afraid of Fallon than usual. It was no secret that he was a crass and quick tempered ogre. Peasants always created made-up stories, for they were a superstitious lot, but Alekzand’r didn’t think they were all just stories this time. He felt something stirring, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He heard of strange things and seen some as well, but he couldn’t explain any of them. He would not start worrying about it just yet, but he refused to just brush it off as nothing either. Soon, he would have to find out what was happening, and he hoped it wouldn’t be too late when he did.

      Alekzand’r saw a horseman approach who looked over his shoulder as if making sure no one was following, then slipped in behind the trees and pulled his horse in next to him. The stranger reined in his mount and pulled his hood from off his head, his breath making mist in the bitter air.

      Alekzand’r, now knowing the coast was clear, pulled his hood off as well. He put out his hand for his companion to shake, and they nodded to each other.

      “Kevaan, it’s been a long time.”

      “Yes, it has. Too long I’m embarrassed to say.”

      “How goes things on your side of the fence?”

      Kevaan shook his head. “Not so good. My father has been acting strange lately, but I cannot put into words why I feel he’s not himself. Just random things. Random acts and deeds.”

      “Is he not well?”

      “Physically he seems fine, but mentally..” He left it hanging in the air. “That’s why I have come. I need a big favor. I trust no one else as much as you for this. It’s extremely important.”

      “We’ve been friends for many years, Kevaan. Anything I do for you would be no favor, only an act out of friendship.”

      Kevaan nodded his head. “You’re one of my closest friends too; that’s why I feel I can’t trust anyone else with this task. It’s too delicate.”

      “What is it?”

      “It’s about my sister.”

      “Ah, fiery Melenthia. How is she these days? I haven’t seen her since she was practically a child.”

      “Well she’s no longer a child and hasn’t yet picked a man to whom she wants to marry. My father is at his wits end with her, and in saying so, has decided that he will no longer accept an old maid for a daughter. He has given her hand in marriage.”

      “I find it hard to believe that she hasn’t had many such offers. She was a lovely child, although precocious, but I assume has grown into a beautiful woman.”

      “She has. But, she is also not quite a normal girl. She does not hold the same ideals as the rest of the girls in court her age. She wants someone to love, not someone in name only, which has made the decision harder. Men find her extremely attractive, until she opens her mouth, then they are insecure about themselves. It’s my fault, really. I should never have allowed her to learn things that only men should know. I have ruined her chances of finding a man who will actually love her. They want a wife, not competition.”

      Alek smiled at that. “You’re a doting brother, and you only did what you thought was necessary at the time. Learning those things is not a total detriment. It may serve useful in the future. One cannot know.”

      “Yes, you may be right, normally. However, my father does not see things as you and I do. He has given her hand to someone, and I cannot sway his decision.”

      “Who is the lucky man?”

      Kevaan frowned. “The Duke of Xenos.”

      “Fallon Rommel? What in the name of all that’s holy was your father thinking?”

      “That’s the problem, he wasn’t. As I said, he’s been acting strange, and this only adds to my suspicion that something is terribly wrong. I fear for my sister’s life. Fallon is cruel and frightening. If I hadn’t stepped in between them at her party, he would’ve taken her by force that very night. I shudder to think what may happen to her in his house if she does anything to make him angry, and chances are very likely that she will.”

      “I have heard strange stories around the land about the Duke. I fear he has made a pact with something dark. There is something threatening in the winds. I feel it everywhere.”

      “I too have heard stories and felt eerie things. Melenthia also mentioned things, but I acted as though they were nothing. I didn’t want to frighten her. Now I’m afraid Melenthia may be a pawn in some sinister game Fallon is playing, but what it is, СКАЧАТЬ