Read Online Taliesin Ascendant (The Children and the Blood) by Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson
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“They will keep the crowd at bay. Your only responsibility is to walk forward. Keep your eyes straight ahead. Show nothing of your emotions or fear. Do you understand?”
She looked up at him, words escaping her.
“You can do this.”
“But…”
“You are their queen. Whether you believe it or not. And you have to show them strength. Confidence. Someone worthy of the fight it has taken for our people to survive.” He paused. “They need this, Ashe. For your father’s sake, do not disappoint them.”
She swallowed hard. “But…”
He gripped her arm. Her feet worked where her mind could not, obeying the pressure to move as he led her back to the door.
The factory floor was crammed.
Smashed up to the walls and shoved against the barrier of guards lining the narrow space through the center of the throng, people filled every inch of the room. By the bottom of the stairway, the council waited, and as she reached the steps, Cornelius dropped his arm from hers.
“Walk forward,” he said again, his words a low murmur.
Her feet obeyed.
On legs held up by motion alone, she reached the base of the stairs. At the landing, the council stepped aside, clearing her path. She faltered and fought frantically to keep her face as emotionless as possible as she looked to Darius in alarm.
The barest tinge of sympathy showed past the regal expression on his face. His gaze slid to the side, motioning her along.
She walked forward.
Standing shoulder to shoulder, guards walled a straight path through the crowd, their impassive eyes gazing out at the middle distance while behind them, the mass of wizard humanity stared.
“Long live Merlin! Long live the queen!”
She flinched and, an instant later, the shout reverberated off the walls as the crowd picked up the cheer. Her knees wanted to buckle at the din, but her eyes locked on the stairway, clinging to it as a lifeline. With each step it drew closer, and it took every shred of willpower she possessed to keep from breaking into a run.
The guards at the stairs bowed and then stepped aside as she approached. Gripping the banister, she climbed the steps, finally reaching the walkway.
“To the left, your majesty,” Darius said behind her.
She followed the direction, and turned when he quietly said the word.
The chanting died into expectant silence.
Her heart scrambled into her throat, choking her completely.
“Nod, my lady,” Darius murmured, his lips motionless.
Her head dipped toward the crowd. The roar of cheering returned, even stronger than before. Darius and the other council members echoed her motion, and then he gestured for her to exit via the hall.
Fighting the urge to bolt, she turned and walked into the narrow corridor as behind her, Darius began speaking about coronation ceremonies and other such lunacy to the throng. Beyond the corner, the next hall was blessedly empty and without hesitation, her feet picked up speed, rushing her back to her room.
The door slammed behind her. Heart pounding, she started forward and then stumbled, her legs unwilling to carry her farther. Her knees met the ground with a painful jolt as her arms wrapped around her middle in desperate attempt to stop the trembling.
This couldn’t be happening. This was stupid. This was insane. This was…
A dry sob choked her. Twenty-four hours ago, she’d watched Carter die. Thirty-six hours ago, she’d killed a wizard to save Spider’s life. Three days ago, she’d been living at the Abbey.
One month ago, she’d been a farm kid in Montana, putting up pinwheels with her eight-year-old sister while planning what kind of cake to have for her seventeenth birthday.
Her hand hit the floor to keep her from falling, and her fingers pressed into the concrete.
This wasn’t real.
She had to get out of here.
This was psychotic and insane and–
The door opened and she spun, terrified.
Cornelius stared. Carefully, he eased the door shut behind him, never looking away from her.
She looked up at him, words escaping her.
“You can do this.”
“But…”
“You are their queen. Whether you believe it or not. And you have to show them strength. Confidence. Someone worthy of the fight it has taken for our people to survive.” He paused. “They need this, Ashe. For your father’s sake, do not disappoint them.”
She swallowed hard. “But…”
He gripped her arm. Her feet worked where her mind could not, obeying the pressure to move as he led her back to the door.
The factory floor was crammed.
Smashed up to the walls and shoved against the barrier of guards lining the narrow space through the center of the throng, people filled every inch of the room. By the bottom of the stairway, the council waited, and as she reached the steps, Cornelius dropped his arm from hers.
“Walk forward,” he said again, his words a low murmur.
Her feet obeyed.
On legs held up by motion alone, she reached the base of the stairs. At the landing, the council stepped aside, clearing her path. She faltered and fought frantically to keep her face as emotionless as possible as she looked to Darius in alarm.
The barest tinge of sympathy showed past the regal expression on his face. His gaze slid to the side, motioning her along.
She walked forward.
Standing shoulder to shoulder, guards walled a straight path through the crowd, their impassive eyes gazing out at the middle distance while behind them, the mass of wizard humanity stared.
“Long live Merlin! Long live the queen!”
She flinched and, an instant later, the shout reverberated off the walls as the crowd picked up the cheer. Her knees wanted to buckle at the din, but her eyes locked on the stairway, clinging to it as a lifeline. With each step it drew closer, and it took every shred of willpower she possessed to keep from breaking into a run.
The guards at the stairs bowed and then stepped aside as she approached. Gripping the banister, she climbed the steps, finally reaching the walkway.
“To the left, your majesty,” Darius said behind her.
She followed the direction, and turned when he quietly said the word.
The chanting died into expectant silence.
Her heart scrambled into her throat, choking her completely.
“Nod, my lady,” Darius murmured, his lips motionless.
Her head dipped toward the crowd. The roar of cheering returned, even stronger than before. Darius and the other council members echoed her motion, and then he gestured for her to exit via the hall.
Fighting the urge to bolt, she turned and walked into the narrow corridor as behind her, Darius began speaking about coronation ceremonies and other such lunacy to the throng. Beyond the corner, the next hall was blessedly empty and without hesitation, her feet picked up speed, rushing her back to her room.
The door slammed behind her. Heart pounding, she started forward and then stumbled, her legs unwilling to carry her farther. Her knees met the ground with a painful jolt as her arms wrapped around her middle in desperate attempt to stop the trembling.
This couldn’t be happening. This was stupid. This was insane. This was…
A dry sob choked her. Twenty-four hours ago, she’d watched Carter die. Thirty-six hours ago, she’d killed a wizard to save Spider’s life. Three days ago, she’d been living at the Abbey.
One month ago, she’d been a farm kid in Montana, putting up pinwheels with her eight-year-old sister while planning what kind of cake to have for her seventeenth birthday.
Her hand hit the floor to keep her from falling, and her fingers pressed into the concrete.
This wasn’t real.
She had to get out of here.
This was psychotic and insane and–
The door opened and she spun, terrified.
Cornelius stared. Carefully, he eased the door shut behind him, never looking away from her.
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