Dark One Rising. Leandra Martin

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ Your Highness, that you are famished after your long ride.”

      She smiled again. He had gone so far as to get a servant to bring supper to her room, knowing that in her father’s ire, he would demand she go straight upstairs, that dinner was over.

      “As you were, Squire Tomas.”

      He bowed to her and went back to his gate post. She went into the kitchen and trotted up the back stairs. Her father was waiting for her at the top. Busted.

      “You missed dinner again, Melenthia. Where have you been?”

      “In town, father. I have been talking to the citizens of Kingswell about how they are faring these days. I lost track of the hour.”

      “That is the third time this month you have left this castle without escort and been late coming in.”

      She became a bit rebellious. “I’m not a child anymore, father. I am perfectly capable of coming and going by myself. Besides, I did have escort. Tomas was with me.”

      “Do not take me for a fool, Melenthia. I know Tomas likes you and covers for you often. If only you could charm a baron or a count so easily.”

      She frowned. “If men of nobility were so easily charmed then I wouldn’t have a problem, but they only see what they want.”

      “You are a lovely young woman, Melenthia. I wish you’d act more like a lady.” He looked down at her attire, then at her wind blown hair. “Look at you, you look like a ruffian.”

      “I don’t need the pomp and circumstance that my station requires to know who I am. I have opinions and feelings, and I should not be brushed aside as if I were nothing. I am not some giddy child who follows around a handsome face like a love-sick puppy.”

      “All this nonsense comes from education. Your brother had you study behind my back. Just one more thing he chose to do without my consent.”

      “Maybe he felt it was important for me to know how my world works in order to understand the people in it. I’m able to help if you’d just give me a chance.”

      “They are not your people, Melenthia, they are mine. I have Kevaan to help me in the affairs of state. It’s not for you.”

      She scowled at him and crossed her arms over her chest. “What did mother do? Sit next to you and look pretty; a rose and her thorn. Did she not help make decisions to shape the kingdom that she shared in?”

      “She was my wife, yes, and there were certain things she understood, but she didn’t overstep her bounds. She knew when to speak up and when to remain quiet, a skill you have yet to emulate. She didn’t parade around the kingdom in the open and make promises to the people that she could not fulfill. You just don’t understand the responsibilities that I have, Melenthia.”

      “Yes, father, I do. Your responsibilities are the people under your guidance and protection, and they feel you’re failing them. They are suffering and are frightened, and you don’t know it. There are things going on that you don’t see because you refuse to look closer.”

      “There will be no more discussions about this, Melenthia. You will not leave the grounds again without permission. Are we clear?”

      “But, father, won’t you just…”

      His voice rose. “Are we clear, Melenthia?”

      “Yes, father, we’re clear.”

      He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I love you child, but I swear you are going to be the death of me. When I don’t know where you are, I’m scared for you. Why do you do things to make me fret so?”

      “I don’t mean to make you worry, father.”

      He smiled down at her with all the love in his eyes she knew he felt. “I came to tell you your brother is on his way here. He should arrive by tomorrow.”

      “Kevaan is coming?” She was suspicious. “What’s wrong? Why is he leaving Charbonneau?”

      “There are things I need his help with, things he and I need to talk about.”

      “Why can I not help you?”

      “Lord, child did we not just have this discussion. There are issues of state I need him for. Nothing you need to worry about. Enjoy him while you can, and don’t worry over the reason why he’s here.”

      She was not completely convinced but knew she could get it out of Kevaan if necessary. He would tell her anything if she asked; he could never resist her.

      “How long will he be here?”

      “I don’t know. A few weeks perhaps. You will have plenty of time to spend with him. Now since you missed dinner, I asked the servants to bring a bite to your rooms.”

      “You asked them?”

      He smiled down at her, knowing exactly what she was wondering. He continued. “Next time you miss, I will not be so generous and you will go without.”

      She glanced up at him, slightly embarrassed.

      “And don’t think the kitchen staff will turn their heads when you steal from the larder again.”

      She was busted. He knew about it all. She decided admitting the truth was better. “What about Tomas?”

      Her father eyed her. “I will allow his disobedience to me to slide this one time, but I would suggest you tell him not to lie for you again, or I will find a punishment suitable. I don’t think you want anyone to get in trouble for you, do you?”

      “No, father, I don’t.”

      “Good. No more talk tonight. Eat and sleep, for tomorrow you and your brother will have much catching up to do.”

      He turned from her and went down the hall, leaving her alone in the dimly lit corridor. She bit her lip and went into her room, closing the door.

      ***

      King Dainard Llewellyn Grayson, ruler of Azlyn, was sitting in his private lounge with one leg thrown haphazardly over the arm of one of the chairs, one arm draped over a blond, his other over a brunette. The women were both buxom and were giggling and blowing in his ears as they fed him from a silver platter filled with fresh fruit and cheese.

      His dirty blond hair was neat except for a stubborn lock that always fell on his forehead. His pale blue eyes were bloodshot, and there was a hint of a leftover black eye on his left, put there the previous week in a scuffle at a party gone awry. They also drooped from lack of sleep and nights of partying and debauchery. He wore black hosen and calf high black boots. His white shirt was ruffled down the front and his red silk brocade doublet was unhooked halfway down, showing off a good portion of his broad chest.

      The women leaned on him. One had her arm looped around his, the other woman had hers draped in his lap. The brunette handed him his glass of ale and held it to his lips as he drank, then sipped the pungent Keiran ale after him. The blond plucked another piece of ripe fruit from the stem and fed it to him. He sucked on her fingers as she was removing them from his mouth. She looked up at him underneath sensuous СКАЧАТЬ