Read Online The Guardians: Book One of the Restoration Series by Christopher Williams - Free Book Online Page B

briskly. So intent was the man on the papers in his hands that he almost walked into Henotairin before he noticed them.
    “Oh, my apologies Ambassador.” The man said, pulling up short. He was a tall man, over six feet, and in good shape. He had long black hair that hung past his shoulders and a well-trimmed beard. His clothes looked silky and luxurious. He had a rather sharp chin and thick bushy eyebrows, but it was eyes that caught Flare's attention, they looked dead. “I didn't realize that you were scheduled to be here tonight.” He glanced over at Flare, seeming disinterested. He was just starting to look away again, when his eyes widened and he quickly swept his gaze back. “And whom do we have the pleasure of meeting tonight.”
    Henotairin squeezed past the man, “My apologies Angaria. I would love to stay and talk, but I do not want to keep the king waiting.”
    Flare followed Henotairin past Angaria, and even though he didn't look back, he could still feel the eyes of the man following them.
    He waited until they had turned a corner before speaking, “Henotairin, who was that, and why were you so rude to him?”
    Henotairin slowed down and looked back as if he expected the man to be following them. “Sorry about that. You remember how I said some humans were evil? Well, Duke Angaria Wellis is a good example of that. I have never met such a cold and conniving person.” He shook his head, “Duke Angaria's great-grandfather committed high treason, he tried to usurp the throne for himself. The king at the time had him executed, and his head was hung from the wall of the city.” Henotairin stopped walking and turned, pointing his finger at Flare's chest. “The only reason that Angaria is alive today, is because his grandfather managed to escape.”
    “Well, how is it that Angaria is a lord of Telur, then?” Flare asked.
    Henotairin started walking again, and he answered quietly, “Angaria's father returned to Telur and begged King Darion's father for clemency. King Deratheel agreed and even reinstated him as a lord, although not with the power and importance that the Wellis family had once enjoyed.” He leaned in closer to Flare, “The other lords of Telur do not like the Wellis family and it is rumored that Angaria's father bought his way back into the nobility. The nobles liked them even less when King Darion appointed Angaria onto his council of Lords.”
    They continued on down the hallway which curved to the left, past a couple of doorways. Flare was opening his mouth to ask about the council of Lords, when the hallway ended into a huge wooden door with two guards on either side. The guards were both young, but despite their youth, they had a commanding presence. They were wearing black plate armor, with the golden sun of Telur on their chest. Helmets hid most of their faces from view, but he could see blond hair poking out from under the right guard’s helmet. The guards were holding pikes at attention. Henotairin stopped, and turned towards Flare. “Are you ready?”
    “Yes,” Flare managed to say. His heart was pounding, and he thought that he might get sick. He grinned at the thought of introducing himself to the king by fainting in his presence.
    Henotairin smiled, and turned back to the guards. “Hello Nathaniel, we are here to see the king. I was told he would meet us here.”
    Nathaniel, the young guard on the left, answered, “Yes sir, I was told to expect you. Unfortunately, the king has been detained. I was instructed to tell you that he will be along presently. You are welcome to go in and wait, if you like.”
    “Thank you.”
    The other young guard reached out and opened the door for them.
    The room turned out to be a study. It had a warm feeling about it that just seemed to hang in the air. It had exquisite red mahogany paneling and trim, with book shelves that also appeared to be made of mahogany. The book shelves were packed full of books, some new and some so old that they