Read Online Empress Aurora Trilogy Quest For the Kingdom Parts I, II, and III Revised With Index (Quest For the Kingdom Set) by L. M. Roth - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: L. M. Roth
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Marcus
informed his father of all that had happened since that far-off morning in June
when his world was destroyed and all hope nearly snuffed out, like the waning
of a candle whose wick is nearly spent. He told him of the journey by sea to
Eirinia, of the bondage to Cadeyrn, and his release as a debt of gratitude.
Valerius listened in anguish at the suffering of his son, then with visible
pride as he spoke of slaying the wolf. He held his breath as Marcus related how
Cadeyrn had freed him in debt for saving his life.
“Who would
have ever thought that an Eirini could have acted so nobly? For truly, my son,
they are some of the most savage people I have ever seen.”
“Savage, yes,
but…Father, Empress Aurora told me that it was my great-great-grandfather who
brought the Eirini under subjugation to Valerium. Is that true?”
“Why, yes, of
course, it is true. He was given great honor and promoted to the head of the
Imperial Army. And I now hold that position just as he did. Or I did hold that position.”
His face
darkened and he tightened his lips. He clenched his fist impotently in the
gloom.
“Is it also
true that my great-great-grandfather ordered the grass and the forests to be
burned, to starve the Eirini? Is it true that he ordered their villages to be
put to the torch? For their women and children to be burned alive?”
Valerius sat
in silence. He appeared to hesitate, then to come to a decision.
“Marcus, you
have always wanted to be a soldier. From the time you were able to walk you
delighted in playing at drill, in marching proudly with a toy sword at your
side. But, truly I say to you, that you do not know what war is like. You have
never known the heat of battle, the clashing of metal, the screaming of the
wounded and dying. You have never faced a foe with the knowledge, even in the
horror of the revelation of that knowledge, that it is a matter of your life or
his.
“Yes, your great-great-grandfather
was the one who devised the torching of the grasslands, the forest, and the
villages. But he was a Valerian soldier, a great Valerian soldier. And
the Valerians have never been known for weakness.”
“Weakness? No,
for it was utterly ruthless!” Marcus burst out.
“Ruthless, I
grant you,” Valerius agreed. “Yet if one wants power, one must seize it. It
will not come to you; you must grasp it. That is what has made Valerium a great
Empire, the greatest empire the world has ever known.”
Marcus felt
suddenly a heavy weight descend on his shoulders. He admired and esteemed his
father dearly. All of his life he had been proud to be his son, to be a citizen
of Valerium. He loved to hear his name whispered in the marketplace, to be
greeted with awe by the humble plebs who saluted the son of the great Valerius
Maximus. But now he felt a taste in his mouth as bitter as an orange not yet
fully ripe.
He decided in
deference to his father to not disagree with him. He did not wish the parting
from him to be an acrimonious one, to be spent in useless words that could only
bring pain to both their hearts.
For Aurora had
granted him this one wish: to be permitted to take leave of his father before
venturing on his quest. He wanted proof that his father was still alive, and to
also assure him of his safe return. The thought of Aurora brought another
question to his mind.
“Father, what
quarrel does the Empress have with you that she should imprison you? What harm
have you ever done to the Empire?”
Valerius
flinched and turned his gaze from Marcus. His hawk-like profile was presented
to his son as he stared at the floor as though deep in thought. Then he cleared
his throat and faced his son. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin.
“To the
Empire, I have done no harm. I have ever served it faithfully, honorably,
always proud to be a soldier of Valerium.
“But between
Empress Aurora and myself there is another matter, one that lies in the past,
in the days of our youth. For we knew each
informed his father of all that had happened since that far-off morning in June
when his world was destroyed and all hope nearly snuffed out, like the waning
of a candle whose wick is nearly spent. He told him of the journey by sea to
Eirinia, of the bondage to Cadeyrn, and his release as a debt of gratitude.
Valerius listened in anguish at the suffering of his son, then with visible
pride as he spoke of slaying the wolf. He held his breath as Marcus related how
Cadeyrn had freed him in debt for saving his life.
“Who would
have ever thought that an Eirini could have acted so nobly? For truly, my son,
they are some of the most savage people I have ever seen.”
“Savage, yes,
but…Father, Empress Aurora told me that it was my great-great-grandfather who
brought the Eirini under subjugation to Valerium. Is that true?”
“Why, yes, of
course, it is true. He was given great honor and promoted to the head of the
Imperial Army. And I now hold that position just as he did. Or I did hold that position.”
His face
darkened and he tightened his lips. He clenched his fist impotently in the
gloom.
“Is it also
true that my great-great-grandfather ordered the grass and the forests to be
burned, to starve the Eirini? Is it true that he ordered their villages to be
put to the torch? For their women and children to be burned alive?”
Valerius sat
in silence. He appeared to hesitate, then to come to a decision.
“Marcus, you
have always wanted to be a soldier. From the time you were able to walk you
delighted in playing at drill, in marching proudly with a toy sword at your
side. But, truly I say to you, that you do not know what war is like. You have
never known the heat of battle, the clashing of metal, the screaming of the
wounded and dying. You have never faced a foe with the knowledge, even in the
horror of the revelation of that knowledge, that it is a matter of your life or
his.
“Yes, your great-great-grandfather
was the one who devised the torching of the grasslands, the forest, and the
villages. But he was a Valerian soldier, a great Valerian soldier. And
the Valerians have never been known for weakness.”
“Weakness? No,
for it was utterly ruthless!” Marcus burst out.
“Ruthless, I
grant you,” Valerius agreed. “Yet if one wants power, one must seize it. It
will not come to you; you must grasp it. That is what has made Valerium a great
Empire, the greatest empire the world has ever known.”
Marcus felt
suddenly a heavy weight descend on his shoulders. He admired and esteemed his
father dearly. All of his life he had been proud to be his son, to be a citizen
of Valerium. He loved to hear his name whispered in the marketplace, to be
greeted with awe by the humble plebs who saluted the son of the great Valerius
Maximus. But now he felt a taste in his mouth as bitter as an orange not yet
fully ripe.
He decided in
deference to his father to not disagree with him. He did not wish the parting
from him to be an acrimonious one, to be spent in useless words that could only
bring pain to both their hearts.
For Aurora had
granted him this one wish: to be permitted to take leave of his father before
venturing on his quest. He wanted proof that his father was still alive, and to
also assure him of his safe return. The thought of Aurora brought another
question to his mind.
“Father, what
quarrel does the Empress have with you that she should imprison you? What harm
have you ever done to the Empire?”
Valerius
flinched and turned his gaze from Marcus. His hawk-like profile was presented
to his son as he stared at the floor as though deep in thought. Then he cleared
his throat and faced his son. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin.
“To the
Empire, I have done no harm. I have ever served it faithfully, honorably,
always proud to be a soldier of Valerium.
“But between
Empress Aurora and myself there is another matter, one that lies in the past,
in the days of our youth. For we knew each
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