Gilded Serpent Danielle Jensen (i can read with my eyes shut .TXT) 📖

noting that most of the soldiers were clustered around Tremon’s temple. Frowning, she pushed her way inside and found Marcus examining the artwork, which depicted great battlefields, warriors dressed in leather and bronze, curved metal weapons resembling scythes held in their hands. Many of them rode scaled lizard creatures native to the far side of the Southern Continent. The beasts wore saddles like horses, but Teriana knew for fact that they were known for eating their riders.

At the front lines of the armies rode men and women who wore elaborate masks and who seemed larger than the others. Commanders, for certain, but also likely to represent those marked by Tremon. As she glanced at Marcus, she wondered if any of them still fought for the inlanders, or if they’d all been lost in the war with the Arinoquians.

“I’ve seen enough,” Marcus said, his voice echoing through the temple. “Take me to see the terminus stem.”

 29KILLIAN

Thanks to the scouts he’d sent ahead, the Rowenes clan was prepared for their arrival. Soldiers belonging to the fortress garrison took charge of his men and their horses as they came through the gate. Only Killian, in the company of Sonia and Finn, headed on to the palace.

“You sure there’s gold to be found on the ground?” Finn muttered as they passed the manned gates of the inner wall. “Because it looks like they used every ounce of it to build their palace.”

The boy wasn’t wrong. While the building itself was built from sandstone, very little of the rock was visible beneath all the gold leaf, gold plate, and gold paint, the centerpiece a massive central dome that gleamed yellow in the sunlight. And having been here before, Killian knew the interior gleamed just as bright. A testament to Rowenes wealth, but he’d never liked it. Had always preferred his family’s home on the coast. Though equally as large, Teradale was built as much from wood as it was from stone, all balconies and open windows that allowed in breeze from the sea it overlooked. Surrounded by horse pastures and orchards full of fruit, Teradale seemed to breathe, whereas the only life to Rotahn was the people living in it.

Many of whom stood on the steps waiting, seemingly unfazed by the relentless heat of the sun overhead, and all of them related in some way to the King. None of them made a move or said a word until several servants approached with bowls of water and toweling. Killian wished he could dump the basin over his head but settled on washing the travel from his hands.

As he passed off the towel he’d used, the dark-haired woman at the head of the group said, “Lord Calorian, we are most pleased to welcome you and your soldiers,” then she walked gracefully down the steps toward him.

Lady Ria Rowenes was King Serrick’s niece and ruled Rotahn in his absence. Perhaps in her midtwenties, she was small and pretty, her eyes the same amber hue as Malahi’s. The similarity sent a jolt of pain into Killian’s chest as he looked into them. “We are grateful for your hospitality, my lady.”

She extended a hand, and he grazed her knuckles with his lips, extremely aware that he’d not had a proper bath in far too long and reeked of sweat and horse. But to her credit, she only smiled, then turned to Sonia, swiftly closing the distance to kiss his lieutenant’s cheeks. “Darling, it has been too long!”

He lifted one eyebrow. “You’re acquainted?”

“Yes, of course,” Ria answered. “I spent some years in Revat, which is truly the brightest star on all of Reath, and I had the pleasure of making Sonia’s acquaintance.” Then she gave her head a little shake. “Kaira is a fool to have let you go.”

“Kaira’s heart belongs to Gamdesh,” Sonia answered, tucking her short dark curls behind one ear. “I was a fool to have thought it might ever be otherwise.”

Ria made a soft noise. “Her loss is our gain. You and your blade are most welcome in Rotahn.” Then she gestured to the steps. “We’ve much to discuss, but first you must refresh yourselves from the journey.”

“Are the war camp commanders here?” Killian asked. “I’d speak with them directly.”

One of Ria’s eyebrows rose, and she looked him slowly up and down before saying, “It’s been a long time since you were here last, Lord Calorian, but allow me to remind you that we’ve traditions in Rotahn. And bathing is one of them.”

Pulling off his clothing, Killian handed it to the attendant. “Most of it is beyond repair,” he said. “But do what you can.”

The man held up Killian’s torn and travel-stained garments, his brow furrowing. “I’m sure we can procure something more appropriate, my lord. You did intend to dine with Lady Ria this evening, yes?”

Reluctantly. “Nothing red. And most definitely nothing gold.” He glanced over at Finn, who was glaring at the attendant trying to take his clothes from him. “Get the boy something appropriate while you’re at it.”

Wrapping a towel around his waist, Killian plucked up two bars of soap from the large collection on one of the tables and then caught Finn by the arm, hauling him out of the door and into the cool room housing the springs. It was open to gardens on the far side, the smells of flowers and leafy things filling Killian’s nose as he strode toward the pool, which was empty.

“That man took my things,” Finn grumbled. “He’d better not pocket anything, or I’ll—”

“The only things in your pockets worth taking are things you took from mine,” Killian interrupted. Then he pushed a bar of soap and a cloth into Finn’s hand. “Scrub. With the soap. My horse smells better than you do, and as you might have noticed, the Rowenes clan are an uppity sort about such things.”

“I know how to wash.” Finn scowled. “And you aren’t smelling so fresh yourself, you know.”

“Then I suppose we’d both better get to it.”

Wading down the steps,