Read Online Rules of Ascension: Book One of Winds of the Forelands by David B. Coe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: David B. Coe
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by the river.”
His friend smiled, and Cadel knew why. Kebb. God of beasts, god of the hunt.
“How appropriate,” was all Jedrek said.
The great hall of Thorald Castle shimmered with torch fire and candlelight. The smells of roasting meat, baking bread, and sweet wine filled the air. Dozens of long wooden tables, each piled with mutton and fowl, rich stews and dark breads, steamed greens and fresh fruits, and large flasks of light wine from the Thorald cellars, lined the walls of the enormous room. All of them were crowded with men, women, and children, whose voices and laughter blended into an incomprehensible din.
The floor in the center of the chamber had been left open for the
dancing that would follow the banquet, and just in front of the main table, which had been placed on a great dais, a group of musicians played.
It was a scene that Filib had always loved. For as long as he could remember, the Revel banquet had been, along with his own naming day, and the Night of Two Moons in Bohdan’s Turn, one of the high points of each year.
Somehow, though, this year was different. Perhaps it was the knowledge that he would soon be leaving Thorald. Maybe it was simply that he was growing up. Whatever the reason, it felt to Filib that this year’s feast had been going on for hours, though townspeople were still trickling into the hall to start their meal.
It didn’t help that Renelle was here, sitting on the far side of the room, wearing the black dress he had given her, her fiery hair down around her shoulders the way he liked it. Occasionally their eyes would meet, and she’d give him that small, inscrutable smile that usually made his heart dance so.
Your mother fears you’ve grown too attached to the girl . Filib wasn’t even sure what that meant. Too attached. How was that possible?
She had been angry with him about the night before, just as he had feared. But she could never remain that way for long. After finding each other in the marketplace, they had stolen out of the city by way of thieves’ gate, circled around the outside of the castle and its famed double moat, and taken their hidden path to the riverbank. There, as they had so many times over the past year, they made love in the shade of the willows.
Just before sundown, with the shadows deepening and the air turning cold, he left her there. But before he did, he promised her that they would be together tonight and, rashly, every night to follow. It was a foolish oath. Both of them knew it. But he would gladly have traded the entire kingdom for the smile it brought to her lips.
He could still taste her skin, he could still feel her hands splayed against his back. Yet sitting at the front of the great hall, flanked by his mother and his uncle, he felt as though the distance between them had never been greater.
I’ll be with her tonight, after I ride , he told himself.
As if in answer, another voice—might it have been his father’s?—echoed in his mind. You’ll be king within the year.
I can take her with me to the City of Kings.
To what end? The two of you can never marry. The children she
bears you will be bastards. And what of your wife? Are you ready to doom your marriage before you even meet the woman who will be your queen?
All he wanted was to ride. To get out of this hall, this castle, this city.
“Are you well, my lord?”
He turned in his chair and saw the first minister, seated to his mother’s left, gazing at him, concern in her pale yellow eyes.
“Yes, thank you, Enid.”
“Are you still planning to ride tonight, Filib?” his uncle asked.
Filib felt his mother stiffen beside him.
“Yes. As soon as the banquet ends.”
“I think it’s a fine way to honor the duke’s memory. Don’t you agree, Nerine?” Tobbar winked at Filib, who responded with a grin.
“I think the two of you have been plotting behind my back,” she replied, her expression severe. After a moment her face softened, and she allowed herself
His friend smiled, and Cadel knew why. Kebb. God of beasts, god of the hunt.
“How appropriate,” was all Jedrek said.
The great hall of Thorald Castle shimmered with torch fire and candlelight. The smells of roasting meat, baking bread, and sweet wine filled the air. Dozens of long wooden tables, each piled with mutton and fowl, rich stews and dark breads, steamed greens and fresh fruits, and large flasks of light wine from the Thorald cellars, lined the walls of the enormous room. All of them were crowded with men, women, and children, whose voices and laughter blended into an incomprehensible din.
The floor in the center of the chamber had been left open for the
dancing that would follow the banquet, and just in front of the main table, which had been placed on a great dais, a group of musicians played.
It was a scene that Filib had always loved. For as long as he could remember, the Revel banquet had been, along with his own naming day, and the Night of Two Moons in Bohdan’s Turn, one of the high points of each year.
Somehow, though, this year was different. Perhaps it was the knowledge that he would soon be leaving Thorald. Maybe it was simply that he was growing up. Whatever the reason, it felt to Filib that this year’s feast had been going on for hours, though townspeople were still trickling into the hall to start their meal.
It didn’t help that Renelle was here, sitting on the far side of the room, wearing the black dress he had given her, her fiery hair down around her shoulders the way he liked it. Occasionally their eyes would meet, and she’d give him that small, inscrutable smile that usually made his heart dance so.
Your mother fears you’ve grown too attached to the girl . Filib wasn’t even sure what that meant. Too attached. How was that possible?
She had been angry with him about the night before, just as he had feared. But she could never remain that way for long. After finding each other in the marketplace, they had stolen out of the city by way of thieves’ gate, circled around the outside of the castle and its famed double moat, and taken their hidden path to the riverbank. There, as they had so many times over the past year, they made love in the shade of the willows.
Just before sundown, with the shadows deepening and the air turning cold, he left her there. But before he did, he promised her that they would be together tonight and, rashly, every night to follow. It was a foolish oath. Both of them knew it. But he would gladly have traded the entire kingdom for the smile it brought to her lips.
He could still taste her skin, he could still feel her hands splayed against his back. Yet sitting at the front of the great hall, flanked by his mother and his uncle, he felt as though the distance between them had never been greater.
I’ll be with her tonight, after I ride , he told himself.
As if in answer, another voice—might it have been his father’s?—echoed in his mind. You’ll be king within the year.
I can take her with me to the City of Kings.
To what end? The two of you can never marry. The children she
bears you will be bastards. And what of your wife? Are you ready to doom your marriage before you even meet the woman who will be your queen?
All he wanted was to ride. To get out of this hall, this castle, this city.
“Are you well, my lord?”
He turned in his chair and saw the first minister, seated to his mother’s left, gazing at him, concern in her pale yellow eyes.
“Yes, thank you, Enid.”
“Are you still planning to ride tonight, Filib?” his uncle asked.
Filib felt his mother stiffen beside him.
“Yes. As soon as the banquet ends.”
“I think it’s a fine way to honor the duke’s memory. Don’t you agree, Nerine?” Tobbar winked at Filib, who responded with a grin.
“I think the two of you have been plotting behind my back,” she replied, her expression severe. After a moment her face softened, and she allowed herself
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