Read Online Reign of Beasts by Tansy Rayner Roberts - Free Book Online Page B

here.’
    â€˜Nothing but an oath,’ Velody said.
    â€˜Two oaths,’ he corrected her. ‘Both broken by death. Or cancelled out by each other.’
    â€˜I’m not dead,’ she reminded him.
    Priest looked her over. ‘You died. It is enough.’
    â€˜Are you so sure about that?’ she said. ‘Enough to risk becoming an oathbreaker? You know what happened to Dhynar Lord Ferax.’
    â€˜If anything, it is Garnet who has the prior claim,’ Priest said, sounding entirely comfortable. ‘Perhaps you should raise the subject with him.’
    â€˜Garnet isn’t here right now,’ said Velody. ‘Just me. Look me in the eyes, Priest, and tell me that you are willing to walk away from the city, from the Court, from your Power and Majesty.’
    He met her gaze placidly. ‘I have done it before.’
    â€˜So why Bazeppe? Is that where you come from?’
    She knew he wasn’t from Aufleur, but had never detected a regional accent of any kind.
    â€˜I have never been there before,’ said Priest. ‘But I hear things. They can use a man like me, I think.’
    â€˜Why?’ she said. ‘Why leave? It can’t just be hurt feelings.’
    Priest shook his head. ‘You Kings. Mad, impatient children. No one in this Court has ever paid any attention to important matters. To the words spilled by Seers, or by the Smith. You have no history, no interest in learning anything, just sky, fight, frig, over and over again.’
    â€˜What do you know?’ she demanded. ‘What do you think you know that makes you better than us?’
    â€˜I know that the End of Days is upon us. I know that the salamander has joined the ranks of the Creature Court. I know that a devil climbed inside my skin and no one noticed until I started murdering children.’ He blew out a long breath of a sigh. ‘I know that if I stay, this city will kill me. Perhaps elsewhere I can be a great man again.’
    Velody could hear a screech in the distance. The train came rattling into sight, around a bend.
    She was caught by another memory, her first memory perhaps. Sage, sitting up on the wall at the south station in Tierce, dangling his legs. ‘Ever seen a steam angel, mouseling? Watch as the train rushes in. If you stare at the steam long enough, you can see people in it.’
    Little Velody, barely four years old, had stared valiantlyinto the steam until her eyes were sore and red from the dust and did not see a thing. Sage laughed all the way home.
    Dead, he was dead, the sky had taken him years ago. There was nothing left of her family. He would never have called her mouseling, either — it was a nickname of the Creature Court. Even her memories had been corrupted by this place.
    â€˜This, I believe, is my train,’ said Priest as the engine slowed, filling the platform with dense smoke and steam. Velody stared into the steam for a moment, looking for the answer.
    Priest moved his head slightly and Velody followed his gaze. Ashiol stood on the edge of the platform, wind blowing his long black coat around him. He was staring into the steam as well. Velody turned her head and saw Garnet at the other end of the platform, posed just as dramatically. They stared at each other, no eyes for anyone else.
    â€˜Go,’ she said softly.
    â€˜Majesty?’ Priest was surprised enough to let the title slip out.
    â€˜Who am I to stop anyone from escaping this life? Go, Priest. Have my blessing. I hope you find what you’re looking for.’
    Velody felt tired, so tired. She had thought coming home would solve everything, but she was back to this, to fighting over every moment, every conflict.
    Priest hesitated only a moment, then he stood, scooping his enormous trunk up as if it weighed nothing. ‘You are a true King, Velody,’ he said. ‘Good luck.’ Then he stepped onto the train, Damson and Fionella with him.
    The whistle blew,