Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Dar’s smile faded, his response surprising. “Aye, so would I.”
The moment Bria stepped through the door, raised voices greeted her.
“This is unacceptable.”
Lord Oaken stood at the far end of the room, his silver hair nearly gleaming in the morning light pouring through the windows.
Across from him stood a broad-shouldered Hunter. Unlike Dar, there was little warmth about the man. Impatience radiated from him.
“We were given orders,” the Hunter argued. “My duty is to carry them out.”
“Your duty,” Lord Oaken said sharply, “is to remember where you stand.”
The Hunter’s jaw tightened, his hand inching toward his sword handle. “I stand where the king sent me.”
The room fell silent.
Kaelan’s hand settled along Bria’s back as they entered. The gesture appeared casual, but Bria knew better. He had already assessed the room and decided he did not like what he saw. He intended to stay close to her, ready to protect her.
Bria’s glance hurried across the room searching for her great-grandmother. She did not stand far from Lord Oaken, and Seren stood beside her. She was safe, for now.
Dar hurried to stand by the woman near the hearth… Elara, his wife.
The Hunter noticed Bria and Kaelan but dismissed them almost immediately and returned his attention to Lord Oaken.
“I was sent by Cadmus, Chieftain of the Venngraith, with orders from King Dravic to locate the Wise woman and escort her to Caerith.”
“Escort?” Marek asked dryly. “That is an interesting way to describe taking someone against their will.”
The Hunter ignored him. “The king impatiently waits her arrival.”
“The king should learn patience,” Lord Oaken said. “And he evidently needs to be reminded that he does not rule Driochmor.”
The Hunter bristled. “The king rules all of Scotara.”
Lord Oaken raised his voice. “The king does not rule magic.”
A reminder of where he stood had the Hunter visibly shaken.
Dar stepped away from the hearth, drawing attention. “If I had known your true purpose, you would never have entered Driochmor.”
“Your father feared that, which is why he ordered me to give the message directly to Lord Oaken and the council.”
“And if I don’t comply?” Lord Oaken asked.
The Hunter looked around at everyone there. “Then the king will have his answer… Driochmor refuses to stand united with Scotara.”
“Magic can be a powerful ally and even a more powerful enemy,” Marek warned.
“The king will not suffer a threat,” the Hunter said.
Marek was quick to reply, “No threat, an observation.”
Without thinking, Kaelan moved slightly in front of Bria. Not enough to hide her. Just enough to remind everyone present that anyone wishing to reach his wife would need to go through him first.
Wynn noticed. The faint smile that touched her lips lasted only a moment.
“You either comply with the king’s command, or you don’t,” the Hunter said. “The Wise woman comes with me or I and my troop leave alone. I will give you time to discuss it and return for an answer by midday.”
The Hunter left the room without saying another word or glancing at anyone in particular.
Silence lingered after he departed.
No one seemed eager to be the first to speak.
It was Dar who finally broke the silence.
“My apologies,” he said. “Had I known the reason for their arrival, I would have never brought them here.”
“No apology is necessary,” Lord Oaken said, though his tone remained sharp. “The deception was not yours.”
Dar ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “My father sent word that an urgent message needed to be delivered directly to the council. I still do not understand why the king did not simply entrust it to Elara and me.”
A humorless laugh escaped Marek. “Perhaps the king trusts you less than you believed.”
Dar snorted. “The king trusts no one.”
“A wise habit for a king,” Rowan said.
“A lonely one,” Seren countered.
The room fell silent again, but only briefly.
Then Kaelan spoke. “Bria and I encountered Hunters searching for the Wise woman just before reaching here.”
Every eye turned to him.
“And they openly admitted their purpose?” Dar asked.
Kaelan nodded. “They believed we might have information.”
A troubled look crossed Dar’s face.
“Then why send another troop?” Marek asked, trying to make sense of the strategy.
“Tell them about the spy from Drogath you encountered and Ogga the witch,” Lord Oaken urged.
Kaelan did, though he did not mention Braden. It was his responsibility to handle Braden, not anyone in Scotara.
Bria listened for a few moments, but she had heard it all before, and she had lived it. Yet only one thing truly mattered to her at that moment… Wynn.
Her gaze found her great-grandmother seated apart from the others. This was the perfect time to speak with her.
Bria slipped away from Kaelan and crossed the room, the discussion continuing behind her. No one seemed to notice. Or perhaps they understood exactly where she was going.
Wynn looked up as Bria approached. A gentle smile touched her lips, and she stretched her hand out to her.