Read Online The Prince Deceiver (The Silk & Steel Saga Book 6) by Karen Azinger - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Azinger
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He carried himself with a rare confidence
that belied his years. A royal riddle, the prince was intriguing and deeply mysterious
despite his youth.
He took a seat
opposite her. “Once more we meet across the chessboard."
"We trust
this outcome will be different.”
The prince flashed
a haughty smile, yet his blue eyes remained cold as ice. “Your beauty is
exceeded only by your unbridled confidence.”
"Unbridled?"
He gave an
elegant shrug. "Having lost the first battle, there is no reason to
believe you shall win the second."
The queen
smothered a tart reply, her desire for victory multiplied.
Light against
dark, the exquisite chessboard sat between them, a lavish gift from the prince.
Malachite knights, monks, and soldiers stood in straight ranks, ready to battle
his phalanx of onyx dragons, wizards, and gargoyles. Chess was a game of wits,
patience and strategy, a game the Spider Queen intended to win.
He gestured to
the board. “Yours to begin.”
“We opened the
last game. Shouldn’t you take the lighter side?”
“Never.” He gave
her a courtly nod. “As a gentleman, I’ll play the Dark, ceding the first move
to the queen.”
His words held
an unexpected edge, yet the queen accepted the advantage. Besides, green was
ever her color. She scrutinized the board, considering her first move. Expecting
a bloody conflict, Liandra decided to strike first. She chose a bold move,
opening with her queen’s knight, setting up a strong attack. “Your gift is an
interesting choice, knights against dragons, reality vying against myth.”
“Myth or
metaphor?” The prince opened with his king’s pawn, advancing the gargoyle by
one space.
An intriguing
reply … and he makes a conservative opening, more proof the prince is
layered with riddles. The queen considered the board while plying him with
questions. “Myths we understand, but if dragons, wizards and gargoyles are
meant as a metaphor then we confess to be confused. What is the message behind
your gift?"
His gaze
remained fixed on the board, as if consumed by the game, yet the queen refused
to let silence reign. "Surely you know the intent behind your own gift?”
“Intent should
be discovered, not explained. Why take the mystery out of life?” The prince
moved another pawn.
Such a mature
answer for one so young. She took a stab at his meaning. “As the Empire of
Ur is ever shrouded in myth?”
“Conveniently
so.”
Liandra moved
her queen across the board. Already the game was shaping up to be an epic
struggle, a convoluted tangle of moves, so different from the first bloody
onslaught. Black evaded green, always slipping away from her traps, as if he
was afraid to engage. The prince displayed a devious mind, so different from
his ruthless attack of their first game. He played the second game like an
intricate dance, delaying the inevitable clash. Move and counter move, the
tension built to a fever pitch.
A log fire
snapped and crackled in the hearth, releasing a breath of pine. Bathed in the
ruby glow of the firelight, they sat across from each other, goblets of wine
and platters of cheese long forgotten.
The queen eased
back in her chair, forcing herself to take a break. “We are curious about your
title, the twelfth-fold prince of Ur?”
“Merely a
measure of my nearness to the throne.”
“So you have
eleven brothers?”
“Hundreds.” He
flashed a startling smile. “We are legion, for the Emperor has many wives and
many more concubines.”
A harem, the
queen hid her distaste. “So how is succession decided?”
“By deeds, by
duels, by the machinations of the harem, by the knife of an assassin, and
ultimately, by the Emperor’s favor.”
“So you’ve come
to Erdhe to set yourself apart?”
“Precisely.”
“Or perhaps
you’ve come to evade the assassins?” She could not resist the jab.
“I have no fear
of assassins.” His dragon took her castle, the first major loss of the game. “I
find it passing strange
that belied his years. A royal riddle, the prince was intriguing and deeply mysterious
despite his youth.
He took a seat
opposite her. “Once more we meet across the chessboard."
"We trust
this outcome will be different.”
The prince flashed
a haughty smile, yet his blue eyes remained cold as ice. “Your beauty is
exceeded only by your unbridled confidence.”
"Unbridled?"
He gave an
elegant shrug. "Having lost the first battle, there is no reason to
believe you shall win the second."
The queen
smothered a tart reply, her desire for victory multiplied.
Light against
dark, the exquisite chessboard sat between them, a lavish gift from the prince.
Malachite knights, monks, and soldiers stood in straight ranks, ready to battle
his phalanx of onyx dragons, wizards, and gargoyles. Chess was a game of wits,
patience and strategy, a game the Spider Queen intended to win.
He gestured to
the board. “Yours to begin.”
“We opened the
last game. Shouldn’t you take the lighter side?”
“Never.” He gave
her a courtly nod. “As a gentleman, I’ll play the Dark, ceding the first move
to the queen.”
His words held
an unexpected edge, yet the queen accepted the advantage. Besides, green was
ever her color. She scrutinized the board, considering her first move. Expecting
a bloody conflict, Liandra decided to strike first. She chose a bold move,
opening with her queen’s knight, setting up a strong attack. “Your gift is an
interesting choice, knights against dragons, reality vying against myth.”
“Myth or
metaphor?” The prince opened with his king’s pawn, advancing the gargoyle by
one space.
An intriguing
reply … and he makes a conservative opening, more proof the prince is
layered with riddles. The queen considered the board while plying him with
questions. “Myths we understand, but if dragons, wizards and gargoyles are
meant as a metaphor then we confess to be confused. What is the message behind
your gift?"
His gaze
remained fixed on the board, as if consumed by the game, yet the queen refused
to let silence reign. "Surely you know the intent behind your own gift?”
“Intent should
be discovered, not explained. Why take the mystery out of life?” The prince
moved another pawn.
Such a mature
answer for one so young. She took a stab at his meaning. “As the Empire of
Ur is ever shrouded in myth?”
“Conveniently
so.”
Liandra moved
her queen across the board. Already the game was shaping up to be an epic
struggle, a convoluted tangle of moves, so different from the first bloody
onslaught. Black evaded green, always slipping away from her traps, as if he
was afraid to engage. The prince displayed a devious mind, so different from
his ruthless attack of their first game. He played the second game like an
intricate dance, delaying the inevitable clash. Move and counter move, the
tension built to a fever pitch.
A log fire
snapped and crackled in the hearth, releasing a breath of pine. Bathed in the
ruby glow of the firelight, they sat across from each other, goblets of wine
and platters of cheese long forgotten.
The queen eased
back in her chair, forcing herself to take a break. “We are curious about your
title, the twelfth-fold prince of Ur?”
“Merely a
measure of my nearness to the throne.”
“So you have
eleven brothers?”
“Hundreds.” He
flashed a startling smile. “We are legion, for the Emperor has many wives and
many more concubines.”
A harem, the
queen hid her distaste. “So how is succession decided?”
“By deeds, by
duels, by the machinations of the harem, by the knife of an assassin, and
ultimately, by the Emperor’s favor.”
“So you’ve come
to Erdhe to set yourself apart?”
“Precisely.”
“Or perhaps
you’ve come to evade the assassins?” She could not resist the jab.
“I have no fear
of assassins.” His dragon took her castle, the first major loss of the game. “I
find it passing strange
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