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

for that reason, desired her, and she was well aware of it. Besides his feelings of lust that he played out on chamber maids instead , Richmond had no desire to be near his two-faced queen and thought of arranging her untimely and accidental death many times.
    Queen Rosana did cast a look to her husband, and met his brown eyes staring back at hers. His long nose, his youth, curls of brown hair around his round uncaring face stood out to her. He was born and bred nobility, but not brave or just like h is knights and lords of Harlaheim . When she looked upon Richmond, she saw a cowardly boy, flimsy and weak, dressed in the regal robes and adorned with a crown that he did not deserve. She felt herself a powerful ruler, fair and willful, yet wore the crown of a kingdom that had a child of a man as their king. Unless to murder his family off for more power, h is sword would never see a scratch. H is eyes never would gaze upon a battle and he would never lead , only command others to lead for him. Rosana despised Richmond, for all that he was and was not. Should it not benefit the people of two kingdoms, she would have left for Caberra years ago. The pressure for her to bear a child was diverted many times, as she could not bear herself to be closer to him than she was at this moment. Rosana wondered if her pompous husband had ever thought of killing her, like she did so often of him.
    The king and queen smiled at one another, false and full of contempt, but nonetheless the ruling couple looked united in front of their court. Heavy wooden doors opened, shedding light into the dim royal chamber, the castle guard walking with Bishop Javiel at a quickened pace. Past rows of stained glass and statues of old Aldane saints, t he Bishop of Harlaheim marched in and looked troubled.
    “Your majesties, Bishop Javiel of Harlaheim wishes to speak to the court.” t he sergeant bowed, followed by the Bishop, rising as the hands of the king and queen elevated in favor of his request.
    “Bishop, you look tired and fevered at the same time. What troubles you so?” Rosana motioned for him to stand before the thrones, at the proper position on the blue carpet before the steps to the rais ed dais .
    “Let him catch his breath my queen, it seems God did not grant him a horse this morning.” Richmond laughed, followed by all in the court, nearly twenty men in all. The queen did not follow suit in the acknowledgement of humor, nor did Javiel.
    “Your majesties, there is a matter of grave importance to the church that I wish to discuss and request your sanction of.” t he old priest caught his breath and composed himself as the highest representati on of the Aldane in the kingdom should.
    Silence fell over the court. “Speak, bishop, and we shall see.” Richmond always liked anything that cut the tedious boredom from his rule.
    “I have come across a relic, in the hands of those that were responsible for the sinking of the Altesani warship last month. Fugitives from Chazzrynn arrived with a holy scroll, most likely blasphemous and stolen in nature, yet a powerful artifact important to the church to be certain. They have it in the Tower of Kalzarius, and have not sought to allow any member of the clergy to view or appraise its validity.” Javiel chose his words carefully, yet accentuated the point of view to his favor.
    “I have heard of this scroll you speak of, in passing. Are you certain it is truly that important?” t he king looked to his knights, a mere seven of them present at court today. He met the gaze of Sir Bernardus with his red beard, Sir Sebastian the young cousin of the Cardinal, Sir Sulian who was Savanno’s nephew, and Madame Florin who acted as Seneschal if , and when , the rulers were away from court. Sir Leonard and Sir Karai were both present from the knightly order of Saint Tarumin, and Sir Phillip stood behind his uncle, Sir Bernardus , as always. Richmond’s eyes fixed for a moment on Seneschal Florin’s dark eyes,