Read Online The Blackguard (Book 2) by Cheryl Matthynssens - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cheryl Matthynssens
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at Sordith, knowing he was pushing the man’s tolerance and anger, but delighting in it nonetheless.
“I like living.”
Sordith’s cryptic reply was not lost on Aorun, who chortled and opened the door to sweep into the room. At his entry, those present except his men dropped to a knee. He wandered down the line of those that had been gathered. There were five half-breeds: three women and two men. There were also several Lerdenian women, some dirty and unkempt. Two were obviously from the plain's farms. All of them were beautiful to look at, despite the fear and soil of being housed in the kennels. There were also two full-blooded Daezun men, their eyes filled with hatred as they looked at their captor. “Well, here is a surprise,” Aorun said. “Where did these two come from?”
One of the men guarding them stepped forward. “We found them on the outer edges of the farms, claiming they were outcasts. Apparently their own people turned them out. Won’t say what they did to be thrown out of The Peoples’ lands.” The man gave a sharp salute to h is chest and stepped back.
A orun moved before the two, looking at them in consideration. “I do not think the stable lord will be seeking full-blooded Daezun males. I could be wrong, but it is outside the realm of what he usually orders. We will leave them for now and see his reaction. He is going to be disappointed in our numbers this week.” Aorun noted that the Daezun men were well secured, and when he noticed the disdainful expression from the one on his left, he kicked him in the face. Aorun didn’t care about causing permanent damage; he only looked on as blood spewed from the fallen man’s nose. Aorun hated the Daezun, a fact that he did not conceal from any that lived in the trenches. “You will keep your dog faces down until spoken to,” he hissed. His eyes moved to the second Daezun, who slowly lowered his gaze, though his fury and hate were evident as it dropped.
He glanced over to where Sordith stood by the door. Aorun’s right-hand man didn’t seem to see anything in the room, but he noted the white fingers that curled around the hilt of his sword. Aorun was pleased with his restraint. He walked back to Sordith casually. “What do you think of those before us, Sordith?”
“You didn’t bring me here for my opinion. You are well aware of that.” As if to make his point, Sordith stepp ed out the doorway to stand guard on the other side.
Aorun grinned but did not follow to rebuke the man; Veaneth, the stable lord, was approaching. Veaneth had two of the Blackguard with him. The half-Daezun looked young, but hard. Their faces held no emotion as they walked a half-step behind the mage. Aorun bowed only slightly as Veaneth entered. The man was of the third tier, and normally he would not have bowed at all, but the High Minister had commanded Aorun to work with the man. He had no respect for Veaneth, who was soft and held little magic. What little he had was in the way of charms and illusions.
Aorun did not regret his own inability to channel magic; he watched those who had it and it seemed to Aorun that most mages served themselves. Few truly did anything worthwhile with the skills they had, other than to make others with less magic fawn upon them. Aorun had earned respect through steel and action. It seemed far nobler than those who waved magic to stand apart, like this man before him.
Veaneth was balding, and his face was cruel; not like Aorun’s hard look, but like someone who enjoyed what he did. Veaneth only acknowledged him with a slight nod. Aorun frowned, but decided to let the slight go. He heard Sordith’s soft growl and was glad the man had stepped outside. Perhaps Aorun should have brought Owen, after all…he would keep that in mind for future meetings.
Veaneth moved down the line of bowing Lerdenians and half-breeds, tsking as he went. “This is the best you could find?” He looked over at
“I like living.”
Sordith’s cryptic reply was not lost on Aorun, who chortled and opened the door to sweep into the room. At his entry, those present except his men dropped to a knee. He wandered down the line of those that had been gathered. There were five half-breeds: three women and two men. There were also several Lerdenian women, some dirty and unkempt. Two were obviously from the plain's farms. All of them were beautiful to look at, despite the fear and soil of being housed in the kennels. There were also two full-blooded Daezun men, their eyes filled with hatred as they looked at their captor. “Well, here is a surprise,” Aorun said. “Where did these two come from?”
One of the men guarding them stepped forward. “We found them on the outer edges of the farms, claiming they were outcasts. Apparently their own people turned them out. Won’t say what they did to be thrown out of The Peoples’ lands.” The man gave a sharp salute to h is chest and stepped back.
A orun moved before the two, looking at them in consideration. “I do not think the stable lord will be seeking full-blooded Daezun males. I could be wrong, but it is outside the realm of what he usually orders. We will leave them for now and see his reaction. He is going to be disappointed in our numbers this week.” Aorun noted that the Daezun men were well secured, and when he noticed the disdainful expression from the one on his left, he kicked him in the face. Aorun didn’t care about causing permanent damage; he only looked on as blood spewed from the fallen man’s nose. Aorun hated the Daezun, a fact that he did not conceal from any that lived in the trenches. “You will keep your dog faces down until spoken to,” he hissed. His eyes moved to the second Daezun, who slowly lowered his gaze, though his fury and hate were evident as it dropped.
He glanced over to where Sordith stood by the door. Aorun’s right-hand man didn’t seem to see anything in the room, but he noted the white fingers that curled around the hilt of his sword. Aorun was pleased with his restraint. He walked back to Sordith casually. “What do you think of those before us, Sordith?”
“You didn’t bring me here for my opinion. You are well aware of that.” As if to make his point, Sordith stepp ed out the doorway to stand guard on the other side.
Aorun grinned but did not follow to rebuke the man; Veaneth, the stable lord, was approaching. Veaneth had two of the Blackguard with him. The half-Daezun looked young, but hard. Their faces held no emotion as they walked a half-step behind the mage. Aorun bowed only slightly as Veaneth entered. The man was of the third tier, and normally he would not have bowed at all, but the High Minister had commanded Aorun to work with the man. He had no respect for Veaneth, who was soft and held little magic. What little he had was in the way of charms and illusions.
Aorun did not regret his own inability to channel magic; he watched those who had it and it seemed to Aorun that most mages served themselves. Few truly did anything worthwhile with the skills they had, other than to make others with less magic fawn upon them. Aorun had earned respect through steel and action. It seemed far nobler than those who waved magic to stand apart, like this man before him.
Veaneth was balding, and his face was cruel; not like Aorun’s hard look, but like someone who enjoyed what he did. Veaneth only acknowledged him with a slight nod. Aorun frowned, but decided to let the slight go. He heard Sordith’s soft growl and was glad the man had stepped outside. Perhaps Aorun should have brought Owen, after all…he would keep that in mind for future meetings.
Veaneth moved down the line of bowing Lerdenians and half-breeds, tsking as he went. “This is the best you could find?” He looked over at
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