Amaskan's Blood Raven Oak (polar express read aloud TXT) 📖

grab the healer’s hand. “I know. I know. He’s been poisoning me, too, hasn’t he?”

The physician nodded.

“Is it reversible? This cough I have. Can this illness be undone?”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I think your body has taken in too much of the poison. However many days you have left, I can’t fathom a guess. But you will eventually die from this poison.”

King Leon stared at the tapestry hanging on the wall across from his bed. Tears swirled the picture into a mass of green. How many people would this traitor’s actions cost him? First his father, then his wife, fifteen years with Iliana, and now his own life.

“Order his rooms searched. I want to know who hired this weasel to plot against my family,” said Leon.

“It is already being done, Your Majesty. When we thought you dying—immediately dying, I mean—I ordered the search in hopes of finding answers.” King Leon nodded and closed his eyes again. “Rest, Your Majesty. We will discover the root of this evil.”

Ah, my poor Margaret. I hope I live long enough to see you happy. And to see you home, Iliana. His body weighed him down, weary from his thinned hair to the tip of his toes. Gods help us discover the snake in our home and root it out.

Gods help me live long enough to see it done.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Forest of Alexander / Town of Tarmsworth

“My name’s Shendra Abner, sister of Malaki Abner—but ya know ’im under his Amaskan name. Eli Bredych.”

Adelei wobbled in the saddle, and she grabbed hold of the pommel for support. “Sister to Master Bredych?”

“Yes. I was also Amaskan. I was servin’ the Order when I—” Adelei’s head spun in confusion. “I brought ya to the Amaskans under my brother’s orders. I thought… I thought I was bringin’ ya to safety, but when I discovered that they planned to kill ya, I couldn’t do it, child. I asked to be released from the Order.”

“But you can’t—”

“—Leave. I know. How do ya think I got this?” Ida pointed at the long scar on her neck.

“If you’re Amaskan, where’s your tattoo?” When Ida tilted her head for Adelei to better see the old scar that ran across her neck, the scar’s tip began where the tattoo had been. Underneath the slightly raised and lighter skin, hints of the circle remained. Like random dots that formed a quarter circle. Invisible unless one knew what to look for.

“My own, dear brother, the one ya call Father, slit my throat and left me for dead. Someone found me and healed me. After, I fled east and returned to Alexander with the intention of tellin’ your father the truth, but the hands of Amaska are ever reachin’. I feared they would silence me for good. So I hid. Different name. Different person.”

Ida’s eyes teared up as they pleaded with Adelei. “But once I saw ya, grown up and-and—alive, I returned to His Majesty and confessed. Now I’m ordered to bring ya home safely, as I couldn’t do before. I’m so very sorry for my part in this.”

“Tell me.”

“What?”

“Tell me what you told him. Tell me exactly why you kidnapped me.”

“I would ask that it wait ’til we reach Tarmsworth. I feel the need for a good pint and a comfortable chair before I tell it.”

Adelei sheathed her dagger. “You don’t deserve the reprieve, no matter how temporary, but a drink sounds like an excellent idea for soothing betrayal. We’ll wait until Tarmsworth.” And if you don’t tell me there, I’ll kill you myself and finish the job Bredych started.

A hard silence lay between them, its sharp edge slicing them both with words unspoken. Their horses continued picking their way across the dense forest toward the town of Tarmsworth. Master Bredych wouldn’t have slit her throat unless she’d betrayed the Order. Once an oathbreaker, always an oathbreaker. If King Leon still trusted her, they were going to have a problem.

Ida wisely remained mute through the evening. She lit a torch to guide them and finally broke the quiet. “Troubled as ya are, I thought it might help ya to know that despite your upbringin’, your father chose to send for ya once he learned ya were alive. He wished to make the best of the situation.”

“Then he should have left me at home.”

“Angry as ya may be, he can’t just bring ya back from the dead and introduce ya as a princess. Even you must see the folly in that plan. He’s doin’ the best he can though, and the least ya could do is live up to the expectations of the Order. I know it’s not the ideal situation or the easiest news to hear, but ya must move beyond the wallowin’ and prepare to do the job your kingdom has asked of ya.”

“Which kingdom?” Adelei retorted. “If I’m to believe you, my father’s a liar and a kidnapper. Everything I know about him is false. And I’m supposed to just do my job as if nothing’s changed.”

Ida rested a gentle hand on Adelei’s shoulder, a pained expression on her face. “Forgive me, Adelei. I forgot how young ya are, despite your reputation. I don’t expect ya to wall it off, but if ya aren’t in some control when we reach Alexander, your emotions may get your sister or ya killed. We don’t have much longer before we reach the capital, two days at the most. Deal with the betrayal later. For now be Amaskan.”

Even Adelei’s slow breaths were jagged and her chest ached. “If ya must,” Ida said, “perform the Ro-maá.”

Adelei swallowed hard and handed her reins to Ida. Horse secure, she sank into the darkness of closed eyelids and pushed away thoughts until her mind sat empty. The wall was there. Waiting. Brick by brick she built it—between herself and the emotional turmoil. Her mind tapped against it, but Adelei hummed beneath her breath and focused on stillness.

Another memory popped into her mind and dissolved a brick. The first time she’d seen