Read Online Azurite (Daughter of the Mountain Book 1) by Megan Dent Nagle - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Megan Dent Nagle
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Milo is all. And I don’t concede to chaperons.” He eyed her suspiciously, so she quickly changed the subject.
“Have you received any word from the Queen? Do you know when she’ll be returning to Mizra?” Zora hoped she could extract some information from Arvil about the Queen’s dealings and whereabouts. All she knew was that her mother left a week ago on urgent business to Nomanestan to meet with the Overlord there. For what reasons, Zora couldn’t fathom. She watched as Arvil’s eyes moved from the tome to her questioning face, clearly unconcerned with the subject listed on the outside of the large book.
“She returned two days ago, Lady Zora,” Arvil answered. “But the first day she was conducting meetings well into the night. And then yesterday, she had to leave Alumhy for the day. Still, I suppose someone should have told you.”
Zora looked down at her feet. “Have you any idea if she wants me to call?”
“She asked not to be disturbed, as usual,” Arvil replied. “If you need to relay a message to her I suggest getting ahold of Ashley. She can take care of it from there.” He cleared his throat uncomfortably. No one on Mizra’s staff liked getting involved in the Queen’s strained relationship with her daughter.
“Do you know how long she will be home for?” Zora questioned him again. If her mother refused to communicate her comings and goings to her daughter, Zora would force the information from one of her advisors instead.
Arvil looked like he wanted to tell her something, but refrained from doing so. Instead he said, “On the other hand, maybe it is better if you wait for the Queen to contact you for an audience, instead of bothering her ahead of time. Now, I must be off. But just a word of advice: I wouldn’t make myself too visible while creeping around the deserted parts of Mizra, regardless of the reason.” He tapped her book. “You really should learn not to wander. Good day.” He gave her a slight bow before continuing on his way. He paused for a moment and turned back towards her.
“I’d be careful down there. I was just checking in with Master Leatherby, and his team is planning on detonating today. I don’t want to be responsible for having to pull you out of a pile of mountain rock.”
Detonating? Zora thought. She didn’t know what that was. Regardless, she was sure Arvil was only saying this because he felt sorry for highlighting the nearly nonexistent relationship Zora had with her mother, but she appreciated the warning all the same. She watched as Arvil’s robes faded into the darkness of the corridors as he walked away.
Zora gave a deep sigh, trying to push away the hurt feelings surrounding her mother’s lack of interest in her. Been home for two days and not a word sent to your daughter, Zora thought bitterly. But what’s new?
After several more minutes, Zora came to the end of the long corridor. She looked up to see bits of sunlight filtering in from the opening of an old cylindrical mine shaft that ran hundreds of feet above her. She was beneath Mizra now, and the darkness of the underground caves before her seemed to swallow up the meager light of the torches still lighting her path. A small supply station was set up here for miners who might be entering the caverns from Mizra, which was fairly unusual, but the supply station was still stocked. Zora had left some of her own belongings here including traveling boots and a cloak. She changed into them then grabbed a lantern, extra oil in a skin, and matches. She lit the lantern and held it up in front of her to illuminate the steep downward staircase that lead into the mines.
The country of Samaria lay burrowed in the largest valley of the Anion Mountain
“Have you received any word from the Queen? Do you know when she’ll be returning to Mizra?” Zora hoped she could extract some information from Arvil about the Queen’s dealings and whereabouts. All she knew was that her mother left a week ago on urgent business to Nomanestan to meet with the Overlord there. For what reasons, Zora couldn’t fathom. She watched as Arvil’s eyes moved from the tome to her questioning face, clearly unconcerned with the subject listed on the outside of the large book.
“She returned two days ago, Lady Zora,” Arvil answered. “But the first day she was conducting meetings well into the night. And then yesterday, she had to leave Alumhy for the day. Still, I suppose someone should have told you.”
Zora looked down at her feet. “Have you any idea if she wants me to call?”
“She asked not to be disturbed, as usual,” Arvil replied. “If you need to relay a message to her I suggest getting ahold of Ashley. She can take care of it from there.” He cleared his throat uncomfortably. No one on Mizra’s staff liked getting involved in the Queen’s strained relationship with her daughter.
“Do you know how long she will be home for?” Zora questioned him again. If her mother refused to communicate her comings and goings to her daughter, Zora would force the information from one of her advisors instead.
Arvil looked like he wanted to tell her something, but refrained from doing so. Instead he said, “On the other hand, maybe it is better if you wait for the Queen to contact you for an audience, instead of bothering her ahead of time. Now, I must be off. But just a word of advice: I wouldn’t make myself too visible while creeping around the deserted parts of Mizra, regardless of the reason.” He tapped her book. “You really should learn not to wander. Good day.” He gave her a slight bow before continuing on his way. He paused for a moment and turned back towards her.
“I’d be careful down there. I was just checking in with Master Leatherby, and his team is planning on detonating today. I don’t want to be responsible for having to pull you out of a pile of mountain rock.”
Detonating? Zora thought. She didn’t know what that was. Regardless, she was sure Arvil was only saying this because he felt sorry for highlighting the nearly nonexistent relationship Zora had with her mother, but she appreciated the warning all the same. She watched as Arvil’s robes faded into the darkness of the corridors as he walked away.
Zora gave a deep sigh, trying to push away the hurt feelings surrounding her mother’s lack of interest in her. Been home for two days and not a word sent to your daughter, Zora thought bitterly. But what’s new?
After several more minutes, Zora came to the end of the long corridor. She looked up to see bits of sunlight filtering in from the opening of an old cylindrical mine shaft that ran hundreds of feet above her. She was beneath Mizra now, and the darkness of the underground caves before her seemed to swallow up the meager light of the torches still lighting her path. A small supply station was set up here for miners who might be entering the caverns from Mizra, which was fairly unusual, but the supply station was still stocked. Zora had left some of her own belongings here including traveling boots and a cloak. She changed into them then grabbed a lantern, extra oil in a skin, and matches. She lit the lantern and held it up in front of her to illuminate the steep downward staircase that lead into the mines.
The country of Samaria lay burrowed in the largest valley of the Anion Mountain
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