Read Online Bellona (Part 1.5 of The Saskia Trilogy) by Aoife Marie Sheridan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Aoife Marie Sheridan
Ads: Link
try to smile back at her, but I know I must look as if I am in a great deal of pain. “I was only going to suggest that you bring your friend Donum back to the castle, a friend of the princess should have a nice place to rest.” Her words sound kind, but her face isn’t. I can’t object, so once again I force a smile and turn to Donum.
“Come on, Donum,” I call and take a step back, my heart breaks when he follows me. He trusts me.
My mother leads the way and Donum continues to follow me. I don’t encourage him yet he still comes.
We enter the court yard and my mother veers off towards the training yard. As she walks she calls five guards to follow, dread pools in my stomach, and each time I look behind me I hope Donum is gone but each time he still follows me.
“A bird is a creature of the sky, Bellona,” my mother starts to speak as she stands in the centre of the training yard, the guards seem to fan out either side of her. “A creature of the sky has no loyalties to us that reside on the earth.”
I start to speak but she holds up a finger, and the gleam in her eye tells me not to speak.
“Birds are for hunting, eating, killing. They are not pets.” Now she turns to the guards. “Or friends,” she says with a smirk, on cue they all smirk with her. Tears brim my eyes, please God, don’t take him away from me. Don’t do this.
“Make him fly, Bellona.”
I shake my head back and forth at her request and the guards sneer at me again, as if I am a child.
“Please just let him go. I promise I will never go near him again.” And I mean it, I would give him up in order to save him.
My mother takes a step towards me, her head held high. “Now, Bellona, don’t make say it again.”
I turn to Donum but my vision is blurred and I can’t see him properly. I kneel down and let the tears fall, clearing my vision. I keep my voice at a whispered level so no one only Donum can hear me. “Thank you for everything. I will never forget you.” I rub the spot in-between his wings, and he cocks his head back, making me smile through my tears.
“Bellona, my patience are running out, now make him fly towards the castle.”
I swallow the last of my tears and order Donum to fly, but not towards the castle, away from it. He stares at me for a second, a sadness passing between both of us before he takes flight into the air. He is a magnificent creature when he is in full flight.
“How dare you disobey me,” my mother snarls from behind me. I know I will pay dearly for what I have done, but I don’t regret it. Instead I watch Donum.
“Archers,” my mother’s order has me whipping my head around to the men that place arrows into their bows. My mother’s hands grip my shoulders as she swings me back around so I can watch Donum, she moves closer, whispering in my ear, “You will watch him die.”
I scream for him to fly higher as arrows whistle through the air, the first lot miss him and he moves further away. My excitement grows that he will be safe. But the second set whizz towards him, and my heart breaks along with a scream as he falls from the sky, I want to reach him but my mother holds me firmly.
“You go back to the castle and get dressed nicely for dinner with your father and I. We will be severing bird for dinner. Or should I say Donum.” She releases me with a laugh and walks away. I’m not sure what part of me broke, but I’m terrified in case it is my mind.
Chapter Ten
The Secret Room
For days I feel broken after watching Donum die, so I stay in my chambers. I don’t even see Nierra, it is better this way. I love him, and everything I love dies. The Rebels in Saskia grow bolder each day and small attacks strike the castle. Fires are easily put out and servants easily replaced. It’s stupid how they wish to harm us but only harm their own people in the process. I keep away from the politics,
“Come on, Donum,” I call and take a step back, my heart breaks when he follows me. He trusts me.
My mother leads the way and Donum continues to follow me. I don’t encourage him yet he still comes.
We enter the court yard and my mother veers off towards the training yard. As she walks she calls five guards to follow, dread pools in my stomach, and each time I look behind me I hope Donum is gone but each time he still follows me.
“A bird is a creature of the sky, Bellona,” my mother starts to speak as she stands in the centre of the training yard, the guards seem to fan out either side of her. “A creature of the sky has no loyalties to us that reside on the earth.”
I start to speak but she holds up a finger, and the gleam in her eye tells me not to speak.
“Birds are for hunting, eating, killing. They are not pets.” Now she turns to the guards. “Or friends,” she says with a smirk, on cue they all smirk with her. Tears brim my eyes, please God, don’t take him away from me. Don’t do this.
“Make him fly, Bellona.”
I shake my head back and forth at her request and the guards sneer at me again, as if I am a child.
“Please just let him go. I promise I will never go near him again.” And I mean it, I would give him up in order to save him.
My mother takes a step towards me, her head held high. “Now, Bellona, don’t make say it again.”
I turn to Donum but my vision is blurred and I can’t see him properly. I kneel down and let the tears fall, clearing my vision. I keep my voice at a whispered level so no one only Donum can hear me. “Thank you for everything. I will never forget you.” I rub the spot in-between his wings, and he cocks his head back, making me smile through my tears.
“Bellona, my patience are running out, now make him fly towards the castle.”
I swallow the last of my tears and order Donum to fly, but not towards the castle, away from it. He stares at me for a second, a sadness passing between both of us before he takes flight into the air. He is a magnificent creature when he is in full flight.
“How dare you disobey me,” my mother snarls from behind me. I know I will pay dearly for what I have done, but I don’t regret it. Instead I watch Donum.
“Archers,” my mother’s order has me whipping my head around to the men that place arrows into their bows. My mother’s hands grip my shoulders as she swings me back around so I can watch Donum, she moves closer, whispering in my ear, “You will watch him die.”
I scream for him to fly higher as arrows whistle through the air, the first lot miss him and he moves further away. My excitement grows that he will be safe. But the second set whizz towards him, and my heart breaks along with a scream as he falls from the sky, I want to reach him but my mother holds me firmly.
“You go back to the castle and get dressed nicely for dinner with your father and I. We will be severing bird for dinner. Or should I say Donum.” She releases me with a laugh and walks away. I’m not sure what part of me broke, but I’m terrified in case it is my mind.
Chapter Ten
The Secret Room
For days I feel broken after watching Donum die, so I stay in my chambers. I don’t even see Nierra, it is better this way. I love him, and everything I love dies. The Rebels in Saskia grow bolder each day and small attacks strike the castle. Fires are easily put out and servants easily replaced. It’s stupid how they wish to harm us but only harm their own people in the process. I keep away from the politics,
Similar Books
