Read Online Gate to Kandrith (The Kandrith Series) by Nicole Luiken - Free Book Online Page B

of guilt she felt. “Annoyed me? I loathe you, for reasons you know very well.” Reasons which had nothing to do with his constant mockery and only partly to do with the callous way he had treated her when she was fifteen and naive enough to have tender feelings for him. She blamed Julen for the worst day of her life and all the terrible consequences that had followed.
    “Now that I think about, I’m glad I suggested you as my companion,” Sara said starkly. “Because you’re correct—my father will find a new right hand. And that means that as soon as we return to the Republic I’ll never have to speak to you again.” She looked him dead in the eye. “Bearing your company now is well worth the price.”
    And Julen looked away. She saw the guilt on his face.
    Felicia looked wildly curious. Not even she knew all the details of that terrible day. Nor was Sara inclined to share them even now.
    Unfortunately, Julen’s attack of conscience only lasted until the carriage passed through the city gates into the country. For the next hour, as they traveled down a well-maintained stone road that ran as straight as an arrow, Julen began his campaign to be sent back to Temborium, by making himself obnoxious.
    He showered her with syrupy compliments until Sara thought she would go mad. “Your eyes are the sapphire blue of the Kunal Sea on a sunny day. No, nothing so common as that. Let me try again, even though I am doomed to fail. Your eyes are the blue of a summer sky, celestial orbs of wondrous beauty.”
    If he intended to wear her down, he would fail. Sara tried to ignore him.
    “Your lips are like pink roses that have been brushed with dew…”
    It didn’t help that Felicia could hardly contain her mirth. Sara glared at her maid and wished she’d taken Rochelle with her instead.
    She’d found it surprisingly hard to say goodbye to Rochelle. Rochelle had wanted to come along, and only after Sara had pointed out how hard the journey would be on Tulio had Rochelle ceased arguing. The degree of her fervency had worried Sara; she’d begun to think of all the things that could happen to a cuorelle with no nearby protectors. If some steward decided Rochelle should scrub floors, who would be there to say no? Worse, hundreds of people had business in the Primary Residence. What if Nir’s eye fell on her?
    In the end, Sara had decided Rochelle and her son would be safer with Aunt Evina. She’d penned a swift note, praising Rochelle’s skills and asking that she be given only light work, and sent them off.
    “What about her ears?” Felicia asked, breaking Sara’s reverie. “Aren’t they pretty too?” She blinked innocently.
    Julen obliged. “My lady’s ears are like snail shells.”
    He was giving her a headache. Sara gave up on pride.
    “Enough. Julen, hand me your dagger.”
    “Of course, Lady Sarathena.” He drew it, then hesitated. “Might I enquire why you need it?”
    “So I can stab you through the heart with it,” she said coldly. He had no right to question her.
    Julen smiled faintly, but handed over his dagger. Sara used the hilt to rap on the roof of the carriage, sparing her knuckles. Within moments the carriage swayed to a halt beside a field of green grain, the heads just beginning to fill out.
    Sara didn’t wait for the coachman to jump down, but opened the door herself and climbed out.
    The captain, a fit-looking man of thirty, trotted his horse up. “Is there a problem, Lady Sarathena?” His name was Marcus, she remembered, and he’d seemed competent when she spoke to him earlier.
    “I want to stretch my legs,” she told him.
    Captain Marcus nodded politely, but said no more. Sara appreciated his restraint.
    Felicia descended too. She looked questioningly at Sara; Sara shook her head—she didn’t want to be attended right now—and Felicia smiled up at the captain. Felicia liked handsome men, and Captain Marcus qualified despite his unfortunate jug-handled ears.
    He dismounted, which