Read Online Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria: Book One) by Morgan Wylie - Free Book Online Page A

suspicious of everyone, especially Daegan. He never could understand why. As the years went by it became clear to him that his uses were becoming more important to Maleina than he himself would ever be.
    He met Halister in the foyer, waiting to be granted entrance. A servant retrieved them and led them into the High Court chamber, where they were announced. 
    Wren and Maleina entered from a doorway off to the side of their thrones. Maleina was as close to perfection as always, dressed flamboyantly with expensive fabrics in rich colors. Her long flaming red hair was braided and draped down below her shoulders. But in a flash, Daegan saw instead of hair, six snakes entwined, heads raised above her shoulders. He was seeing beyond the glamour he realized she had so carefully constructed. It almost broke his composure. There were three more, one encircling each wrist and the last one wrapped loosely around her neck. He blinked and they were gone. He looked at Hal, who appeared to see nothing unusual.
     After formally greeting them, Wren quickly sat down, seeming a bit wobbly on his feet, holding a glass of his favorite drink. As usual, he looked the part of a royal, dressed in a dark blue expensive velvet jacket with tails and a gray ruffled blouse.
    “Welcome back, dear ones. What news might you have discovered on your journey?” Maleina asked, her words drenched in slippery sweetness. 
    Daegan cleared his throat, gave a slight bow of his head, and, refocusing his mind from what he just saw, spoke. “We scoured the city looking for anything unusual and listening intently to all conversations and whisperings we could find. We heard firsthand the rumors of the Sol-lumieth. They say that it is coming from the mortal realm in the form of a human. It is rumored that the human may be vulnerable and unaware.” Daegan snuck a quick look at Hal, who stood relaxed but focused with his hands behind his back. Hal’s eyes spoke his agreement as to where Daegan was directing the conversation.
    Hal looked back to Maleina. “If it is your wish, Mother, let us go to the mortal realm and find the human. If these whispers are true, we will bring this Sol-lumieth back to you.”
    Hal looked quickly to Wren. “What do you think, Father?” Hal knew this would irritate Maleina, but he really wanted to know. As the years passed, he had watched his father withdraw into himself.
    Maleina turned her gaze out a window, as if aloof to the present conversation. Wren looked at Hal with eyes of love and remorse. “You know me, son, I have no use for the whispers of Elves and Shifters,” he said softly with a smile as he took in the stature of these two young Ferrishyn warriors. “But you know your mother... she—” he started with a soft chuckle.
    “It probably means nothing, especially if it IS human ,” Maleina said loudly, cutting off her husband as if she’d heard nothing. Then with a calm voice, “But for the sake of our people we should look into it. It would be the wise thing to do.” Maleina rose, looking both in the eye, but folding her hands to her mouth as if thinking up a plan. “Halister, you will remain here as, Rheina’s debut party is tomorrow evening. Daegan, you will go retrieve the human . It is to be unharmed and brought here to us as swiftly as possible. This will be your responsibility until you return. This is my decision. Carry it out at first light.” 
    With that, she walked toward them both. Stopping at Daegan, she looked briefly into his eyes with her right hand on his arm. He felt a shock, but refused to register the sting on his face. Then moving to her left, she grazed Hal’s right cheek as she kissed his left. Without another word she left the chambers.
    Wren rose from his seat. Approaching Daegan, he smiled. “Be safe.” He paused, looking down for a moment, then continued. “You are the best of our kind, Daegan. I’ve never known your equal.” Then leaning into Daegan’s right ear, he whispered,