Read Online A Castle of Ashes (The Fifth Kingdom Book 2) by Lisa M. James - Free Book Online
Authors: Lisa M. James
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water and appearing at the shore would draw too much attention. She left Geenessa as first in command, and had Zekiel as her second. The man was quiet and hesitant around her now but was honored to continue serving her.
It was midday and the shores were busy when her ship reached land. When she stepped out onto the shore no one took notice at first, thinking that she was just another traveler returning from a journey. Yet, soon they saw her green eyes. Gasps surrounded her followed by subtle whispers. To her surprise, no one dared approach her, but many went running toward the kingdom. A path started forming on both sides of her, creating a wall as she approached the castle gates.
“Princess!” Somebody yelled. “Our Princess!”
Lucinda was concerned about the reception she would receive from the East Kingdom, wondering if they desired her return at all. Yet her concern was put to rest as the wall of people around her started to lower to a knee as she passed them. An overwhelmed feeling came upon her and she resisted the urge to cry. She wanted to approach the people and her father with confidence and courage. As she neared the gate, a group of guardsmen came before her. She recognized her personal guard growing up, Jax, as he approached her.
“Identify yourself.” He said with sternness, but Lucinda knew he recognized her. Tears started to well in his eyes.
“I am the eldest daughter of King Hamlyn of the East Kingdom. Princess Lucinda of the East.” She hesitated before continuing. “Queen Lucinda of the Fifth Kingdom of the Kingdoms of the Green Sea. I have been missing for over seven years and I wish to see my father, the King.”
He studied her. “There are only four legitimate kingdoms of the Green Sea, my lady, but that is not for me to argue. If you are who you claim to be, the King will take audience with you.” He turned to the men behind him. “Open the Gate!”
A distance away at the castle doors, she could see them. Her Father and Denalyn were clear to her. The others she was uncertain of but she knew her sisters and her young brothers must look different after so many years. As she stepped closer to the castle entrance, those around her father had disappeared. It was only her father waiting for her. She continued her steps, each one heavier than the last until she was within a few feet of him. She bowed to the ground.
“Your Majesty, Father.” She said in a voice that she hoped sounded strong.
He lifted her face to his and studied it. He spoke in a low voice heavy with emotion, “Lucinda, it truly is you.”
“Yes, Father.” She confirmed. “It is me. I have returned to you, and I am so sorry for the pain I caused.” She felt herself breaking inside. She held on to so much guilt for making him suffer for all these years. “I am sorry to have hurt you, but I had to go. I did not want to leave you but I needed to restore the castle, and my kingdom. Mother always knew it.”
Her father pulled her to her feet. He said nothing and led her inside to the throne room. There was a crowd of people flooded into the room. She recognized her father’s council men who gasped and whispered when she entered. A few steps in, she saw Denalyn, two young beautiful women and two young boys by the throne.
“Lucinda!” The two young women cried in unison as they ran to her. They embraced her fiercely. “Why did you leave us? We were so worried about you? Where have you been?” Lucinda pulled away from them.
“Drissa, Erica.” She said in disbelief. The two little sisters she had left behind had grown into beautiful young women.
“Boys,” Denalyn said in a soft voice. “Greet your eldest sister.” Lucinda looked at the boys clinging to their mother. She had left when her half-brothers were only two and one in age. She was a stranger to them, only heard in stories and memories. She extended her hands to them
It was midday and the shores were busy when her ship reached land. When she stepped out onto the shore no one took notice at first, thinking that she was just another traveler returning from a journey. Yet, soon they saw her green eyes. Gasps surrounded her followed by subtle whispers. To her surprise, no one dared approach her, but many went running toward the kingdom. A path started forming on both sides of her, creating a wall as she approached the castle gates.
“Princess!” Somebody yelled. “Our Princess!”
Lucinda was concerned about the reception she would receive from the East Kingdom, wondering if they desired her return at all. Yet her concern was put to rest as the wall of people around her started to lower to a knee as she passed them. An overwhelmed feeling came upon her and she resisted the urge to cry. She wanted to approach the people and her father with confidence and courage. As she neared the gate, a group of guardsmen came before her. She recognized her personal guard growing up, Jax, as he approached her.
“Identify yourself.” He said with sternness, but Lucinda knew he recognized her. Tears started to well in his eyes.
“I am the eldest daughter of King Hamlyn of the East Kingdom. Princess Lucinda of the East.” She hesitated before continuing. “Queen Lucinda of the Fifth Kingdom of the Kingdoms of the Green Sea. I have been missing for over seven years and I wish to see my father, the King.”
He studied her. “There are only four legitimate kingdoms of the Green Sea, my lady, but that is not for me to argue. If you are who you claim to be, the King will take audience with you.” He turned to the men behind him. “Open the Gate!”
A distance away at the castle doors, she could see them. Her Father and Denalyn were clear to her. The others she was uncertain of but she knew her sisters and her young brothers must look different after so many years. As she stepped closer to the castle entrance, those around her father had disappeared. It was only her father waiting for her. She continued her steps, each one heavier than the last until she was within a few feet of him. She bowed to the ground.
“Your Majesty, Father.” She said in a voice that she hoped sounded strong.
He lifted her face to his and studied it. He spoke in a low voice heavy with emotion, “Lucinda, it truly is you.”
“Yes, Father.” She confirmed. “It is me. I have returned to you, and I am so sorry for the pain I caused.” She felt herself breaking inside. She held on to so much guilt for making him suffer for all these years. “I am sorry to have hurt you, but I had to go. I did not want to leave you but I needed to restore the castle, and my kingdom. Mother always knew it.”
Her father pulled her to her feet. He said nothing and led her inside to the throne room. There was a crowd of people flooded into the room. She recognized her father’s council men who gasped and whispered when she entered. A few steps in, she saw Denalyn, two young beautiful women and two young boys by the throne.
“Lucinda!” The two young women cried in unison as they ran to her. They embraced her fiercely. “Why did you leave us? We were so worried about you? Where have you been?” Lucinda pulled away from them.
“Drissa, Erica.” She said in disbelief. The two little sisters she had left behind had grown into beautiful young women.
“Boys,” Denalyn said in a soft voice. “Greet your eldest sister.” Lucinda looked at the boys clinging to their mother. She had left when her half-brothers were only two and one in age. She was a stranger to them, only heard in stories and memories. She extended her hands to them
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