Read Online The Exodus Sagas: Book II - Of Dragons And Crowns by Jason R Jones - Free Book Online Page A

his golden necklace with a large feathered cross of Alden, also of solid gold. He handed it to James Andellis. “Give this to my cousin, Cristoff Bradswellen the Third, Lord of Saint Erinsburg. Tell him we require hi s assistance here , and to meet us on the road to the Saint Tarumin Mission, at the first foothills of the Zuran Mountains.”
    “And what are we to do in the king’s court then, Lord Savanno, if you plan already to help them escape?” Kalzarius trusted the Lord, but wanted to know what he was thinking.
    “Delay them. As long as possible, for I know Richmond the Second, he is not his father. He is young, greedy, and will want to see the scroll and take glory any way he can since his rule is unpopular. He will see this as an opportunity to get the church behind him, you and I disc redited, and the people rallying toward his crown . Javiel sees this only as a religious matter, yet it is about to become very political.” Savanno was stone faced and serious, and pointed his w hite stallion out to the southern knight. He handed him the reins that were wrapped around a post outside the castle gates. “Ride hard, and tell him to bring supplies and men if possible . Go, Sir James of Chazzrynn.”
    James mounted the lord’s horse, looked to the north, and gave a bow to the wizard and Savanno as he kicked the mount into a gallop. He had never been to Harlaheim, let alone rode through her streets and out to another city. He thought of the others, hoping they would make it safely to the meeting place without him. Desperately wanting to be in the court of the king to speak the truth of the matter, James felt his duty to his friends and their journey rise above his ambitions. That duty swelled in his chest, realizing now that he was on a mission from a high lord of a foreign kingdom. James Andellis felt useful and needed for once, and rode even harder to Saint Erinsburg.
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    Dark brown rough stone surrounded them in the grand hall of L’Herrim. The pillars and decorated ceiling of old Altheac design made every soul that entered feel much smaller and watched . Harlaheim was one of the oldest settlements on Agara, and the castle felt like the ages old stones it was made of. Even the circular mahogany table holding thirty chairs was dwarfed in comparison to the grand chamber and its epic and ancient dimensions. They sat at the two polished thrones that were laid with blue velvet and trimmed with golden crown inlays. Tapestries of twenty or more feet in length lined the walls, walls long enough to house a small army. The King and Queen of Harlaheim listened, not entirely, to the tax collectors findings, the morning sermons from the church, and the reports from the knights and lords of the realm. Most of these men were here on behalf of the true officers or nobles, which bored the youn g royalty even more. Rosana, a former princess of Caberra, waved her hand giving her royal approval as queen , after she saw her arranged husband do the same. Order after order, report after dull report, it was the same every morning.
    Richmond looked at Rosana, his queen, and admired her tan skin and dark eyes. He looked to her dark braids, perfect and exquisite beauty , and probed her delicate features for some emotion, a caring glance, anything. For six years now, there was none. His father had arranged the marriage, and it had fared both Caberra and Harlaheim well, but she was older and wiser than he. Her long gowns of blue and white, her innocence, her soft word s from a kind and educated mind; he hated her and all that she pretended to be. In court she would tease with words, smile through men that would die for her, and speak so eloquently that the king looked much less noble and royal than she. Had he not needed an heir, he would have sent her back to her family in Caberra years ago. Not that an heir was in the immediate future, Rosana would have to visit her kings bed for that to occur. He wanted her just