Read Online Avondale V by Toby Neighbors - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Toby Neighbors
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Draggah’s presence when a fit of rage took him. Usually, the demon simply tormented Leonosis. The mental torment was nearly unending, but the demon also refused to eat, causing Leo’s physical body to suffer, as well.
“That is too long!” Draggah screamed.
“My king, if we board the ships now, we’ll only have to re-provision before leaving. It won’t save us any time.”
“Have the soldiers on the ships by noon,” Draggah said. “I want each ship fully provisioned and ready to sail.”
“Where are we going?” the general asked.
Draggah grabbed the man’s throat so tightly the officer couldn’t breathe. He struggled to remove Leonosis’ hand from his throat. The general was a big man, his chest thick with muscle and his arms bulging, but he couldn’t remove the demon’s supernatural grip. His eyes bulged, and his tongue protruded from his lips in a grotesque fashion. Leonosis was only slightly concerned that Draggah was killing the general of the king’s army. When the demon had first taken over his body, Leonosis might have tried to intervene, but he knew there was nothing he could do to save the officer and his efforts would only incite the beast’s wrath.
“My king!” The door burst open, and a red-faced soldier scrambled into the room. “A ship is returning!”
Draggah tossed the general as if he were a child, then stalked to the large windows of the castle tower. He could see the war ship in the distance as it sailed toward the castle. Leonosis felt relief flood through him. It was a combination of the demon’s relief and the cessation of Leonosis’ own torment. For a moment, the demon had forgotten Leo, and the constant torture stopped.
“At last,” Draggah said, mainly to himself. “General, get my troops ready. And prepare my ship, as well.”
The general nodded, bowed, and hurried from the room, rubbing his neck as he went. The messenger followed. Leonosis sobbed quietly in the corner of his own mind, which was no longer his alone. He did his best not to attract the attention of the demon. The last thing Leonosis wanted was to become the target of the wicked creature’s cruel games.
Draggah shouted for his personal servants to ready his weapons and armor. Queen Ariel came in and looked out the large window. Leonosis hated seeing her. The once-proud princess was now almost as fearful as everyone else in the castle. She ate little, and her skin had grown so pale that it looked sickly. Her hair was lank and dull. Large dark bags had formed under her eyes, which were bloodshot and glassy.
“What is it?” she asked.
“News from the scouts,” Draggah said. “Soon we will leave this frigid aerie and find the Balestone.”
“I’m going, too,” she said, her voice whining almost like a child.
“Of course, my dear,” Draggah said. “I wouldn’t think of leaving without my precious bride.”
“Don’t patronize me.”
“Then don’t act like a child. You are vital to my plans, you know this. Stop acting as if you fear my betrayal.”
Servants brought in clothes and armor. When they disrobed Leonosis, he could see his frail body in the mirror. Draggah was fully in control of Leonosis, and he rarely looked down at himself. But in the mirror, Leonosis could see how painfully thin he had become. His stomach was distended, and the bones in his shoulders, hips, and knees stuck out in a grotesque fashion.
They pulled a soft wool tunic over his head and helped him step into pants. Then came a set of fine chainmail, followed by a thick vest of stiff leather. A wide belt was wrapped around his thin waist and cinched tight. Tall boots that had long strips of metal to protect his lower legs were forced onto his feet, and he donned thick gauntlets. Finally, a helmet forged of dark metal with a gold inlay that formed a king’s crown was gently placed on his head.
By the time King Leonosis was dressed in his finest armor, the warship from Avondale had arrived. Leonosis waited in
“That is too long!” Draggah screamed.
“My king, if we board the ships now, we’ll only have to re-provision before leaving. It won’t save us any time.”
“Have the soldiers on the ships by noon,” Draggah said. “I want each ship fully provisioned and ready to sail.”
“Where are we going?” the general asked.
Draggah grabbed the man’s throat so tightly the officer couldn’t breathe. He struggled to remove Leonosis’ hand from his throat. The general was a big man, his chest thick with muscle and his arms bulging, but he couldn’t remove the demon’s supernatural grip. His eyes bulged, and his tongue protruded from his lips in a grotesque fashion. Leonosis was only slightly concerned that Draggah was killing the general of the king’s army. When the demon had first taken over his body, Leonosis might have tried to intervene, but he knew there was nothing he could do to save the officer and his efforts would only incite the beast’s wrath.
“My king!” The door burst open, and a red-faced soldier scrambled into the room. “A ship is returning!”
Draggah tossed the general as if he were a child, then stalked to the large windows of the castle tower. He could see the war ship in the distance as it sailed toward the castle. Leonosis felt relief flood through him. It was a combination of the demon’s relief and the cessation of Leonosis’ own torment. For a moment, the demon had forgotten Leo, and the constant torture stopped.
“At last,” Draggah said, mainly to himself. “General, get my troops ready. And prepare my ship, as well.”
The general nodded, bowed, and hurried from the room, rubbing his neck as he went. The messenger followed. Leonosis sobbed quietly in the corner of his own mind, which was no longer his alone. He did his best not to attract the attention of the demon. The last thing Leonosis wanted was to become the target of the wicked creature’s cruel games.
Draggah shouted for his personal servants to ready his weapons and armor. Queen Ariel came in and looked out the large window. Leonosis hated seeing her. The once-proud princess was now almost as fearful as everyone else in the castle. She ate little, and her skin had grown so pale that it looked sickly. Her hair was lank and dull. Large dark bags had formed under her eyes, which were bloodshot and glassy.
“What is it?” she asked.
“News from the scouts,” Draggah said. “Soon we will leave this frigid aerie and find the Balestone.”
“I’m going, too,” she said, her voice whining almost like a child.
“Of course, my dear,” Draggah said. “I wouldn’t think of leaving without my precious bride.”
“Don’t patronize me.”
“Then don’t act like a child. You are vital to my plans, you know this. Stop acting as if you fear my betrayal.”
Servants brought in clothes and armor. When they disrobed Leonosis, he could see his frail body in the mirror. Draggah was fully in control of Leonosis, and he rarely looked down at himself. But in the mirror, Leonosis could see how painfully thin he had become. His stomach was distended, and the bones in his shoulders, hips, and knees stuck out in a grotesque fashion.
They pulled a soft wool tunic over his head and helped him step into pants. Then came a set of fine chainmail, followed by a thick vest of stiff leather. A wide belt was wrapped around his thin waist and cinched tight. Tall boots that had long strips of metal to protect his lower legs were forced onto his feet, and he donned thick gauntlets. Finally, a helmet forged of dark metal with a gold inlay that formed a king’s crown was gently placed on his head.
By the time King Leonosis was dressed in his finest armor, the warship from Avondale had arrived. Leonosis waited in
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