Read Online Siege: A Borrowed Magic Novella by Shari Lambert - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shari Lambert
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beyond the wall, once teeming
with soldiers draining the city of life, were now abandoned,
destroyed, thin plumes of smoke the only movement. What was left of
the lush, green fields sat charred and barren. Desolate.
“Anything?”
Maren jumped back from the window and felt
the color rise to her cheeks.
“It’s all right, Maren,” Adare said, trying
to get her own view of the street below. “We’re all curious. And
you have more right than the rest of us. You knew him better than
anyone.”
The dull, familiar ache in her chest forced
Maren to hesitate until she was sure she could speak without her
voice breaking. Even then, she couldn’t meet the queen’s eyes. “I’m
not sure I knew him at all.”
Adare didn’t comment, instead turning her
attention back to the crowd. “I wish I could be out there with
them. But that would be beneath my station .”
Maren managed a small laugh. “But would you
really give it all up?”
Adare thought. “Most of it. But not Daric.
Although what he ever saw in a plain girl with no fortune or
political connections will always be a mystery.”
True, Adare wasn’t beautiful. Her eyes were
too small, her nose too wide, and although her hair was a rich
shade of gold, it neither hung in a beautiful, straight curtain, or
in large, soft curls like Maren’s own. None of that mattered when
she smiled. It was like the sun coming out after a storm. “I think
the king fell in love.”
Now it was Adare’s turn to laugh. “Yes, he
did. Despite all the advice of his Council.” She shrugged. “You
can’t help who you fall in love with.”
No, Maren thought. You can’t.
After another moment, Adare sighed and
stepped away from the window. “They’ll be at the castle within the
hour.”
Maren’s stomach knotted. “I’m not sure I can
do this.”
“Are you all right?” Adare’s brows wrinkled
in concern. “Does it hurt?”
Maren instinctively pulled the fabric of her
dress over her shoulder as far as possible. “No more than normal.
It isn’t that.”
“You’ll have to face him sometime.”
“I know, but it’s been three years.”
Adare’s smile was full of sympathy. “All the
more reason not to put it off any longer.” She paused. “I won’t
order you to come. I’d never order you to do anything. I’m asking.
I can’t stand up there in front of everyone with only the other
Ladies. I need you. As a friend.”
Maren kept her eyes lowered. “Daric will be
there.”
“But even he doesn’t understand. He’s been on
display his entire life. It comes natural.” She took a deep breath.
“It’s easier for him to hide his heartache. Besides, the people
love him.”
The people loved her even more. But Adare
would never believe it.
“I’ll come.”
A dimple appeared at the corner of Adare’s
mouth. “Good. I want to watch his reaction when he sees you.”
Maren managed a weak smile, afraid his
reaction wouldn’t be at all what the queen was expecting.
Maren fidgeted as she followed Daric and
Adare down the threadbare, red carpet of the Great Hall. The room
was already crowded with members of the nobility and a few
commoners who had managed to find a spot. They pushed up against
the walls, whispering, eyes flicking to the doors at the back of
the room, anxious for the first glimpse of their hero. The
excitement in the air was tangible – for everyone except her. She
was nervous and apprehensive, terrified of what the next few
minutes might bring. Even the familiar surroundings didn’t help.
They only reminded her how much had changed.
Everything about the castle had once been
beautiful – stained-glass windows that sparkled in the sunlight,
tapestries prized for their rich colors and intricate detail,
marble laced with slivers of silver. Now only a shadow of that
remained.
A siege took its toll.
And as Maren walked between the
once-glistening marble columns, as she felt the breeze from
glassless windows that brushed against her cheeks and
with soldiers draining the city of life, were now abandoned,
destroyed, thin plumes of smoke the only movement. What was left of
the lush, green fields sat charred and barren. Desolate.
“Anything?”
Maren jumped back from the window and felt
the color rise to her cheeks.
“It’s all right, Maren,” Adare said, trying
to get her own view of the street below. “We’re all curious. And
you have more right than the rest of us. You knew him better than
anyone.”
The dull, familiar ache in her chest forced
Maren to hesitate until she was sure she could speak without her
voice breaking. Even then, she couldn’t meet the queen’s eyes. “I’m
not sure I knew him at all.”
Adare didn’t comment, instead turning her
attention back to the crowd. “I wish I could be out there with
them. But that would be beneath my station .”
Maren managed a small laugh. “But would you
really give it all up?”
Adare thought. “Most of it. But not Daric.
Although what he ever saw in a plain girl with no fortune or
political connections will always be a mystery.”
True, Adare wasn’t beautiful. Her eyes were
too small, her nose too wide, and although her hair was a rich
shade of gold, it neither hung in a beautiful, straight curtain, or
in large, soft curls like Maren’s own. None of that mattered when
she smiled. It was like the sun coming out after a storm. “I think
the king fell in love.”
Now it was Adare’s turn to laugh. “Yes, he
did. Despite all the advice of his Council.” She shrugged. “You
can’t help who you fall in love with.”
No, Maren thought. You can’t.
After another moment, Adare sighed and
stepped away from the window. “They’ll be at the castle within the
hour.”
Maren’s stomach knotted. “I’m not sure I can
do this.”
“Are you all right?” Adare’s brows wrinkled
in concern. “Does it hurt?”
Maren instinctively pulled the fabric of her
dress over her shoulder as far as possible. “No more than normal.
It isn’t that.”
“You’ll have to face him sometime.”
“I know, but it’s been three years.”
Adare’s smile was full of sympathy. “All the
more reason not to put it off any longer.” She paused. “I won’t
order you to come. I’d never order you to do anything. I’m asking.
I can’t stand up there in front of everyone with only the other
Ladies. I need you. As a friend.”
Maren kept her eyes lowered. “Daric will be
there.”
“But even he doesn’t understand. He’s been on
display his entire life. It comes natural.” She took a deep breath.
“It’s easier for him to hide his heartache. Besides, the people
love him.”
The people loved her even more. But Adare
would never believe it.
“I’ll come.”
A dimple appeared at the corner of Adare’s
mouth. “Good. I want to watch his reaction when he sees you.”
Maren managed a weak smile, afraid his
reaction wouldn’t be at all what the queen was expecting.
Maren fidgeted as she followed Daric and
Adare down the threadbare, red carpet of the Great Hall. The room
was already crowded with members of the nobility and a few
commoners who had managed to find a spot. They pushed up against
the walls, whispering, eyes flicking to the doors at the back of
the room, anxious for the first glimpse of their hero. The
excitement in the air was tangible – for everyone except her. She
was nervous and apprehensive, terrified of what the next few
minutes might bring. Even the familiar surroundings didn’t help.
They only reminded her how much had changed.
Everything about the castle had once been
beautiful – stained-glass windows that sparkled in the sunlight,
tapestries prized for their rich colors and intricate detail,
marble laced with slivers of silver. Now only a shadow of that
remained.
A siege took its toll.
And as Maren walked between the
once-glistening marble columns, as she felt the breeze from
glassless windows that brushed against her cheeks and
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