Read Online The Quest (The Hidden Realm Book 5) by A. Giannetti - Free Book Online
Authors: A. Giannetti
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Merula, suspicion instantly clouding his handsome face upon hearing the Dark King’s offer.
“Because I am your friend, but if that reason fails to satisfy you then consider this,” replied Torquatus, maintaining an amiable and eminently reasonable tone to his voice. “It will be advantageous for me to have you for an ally, for you are high in the counsels of Orianus. Speak favorably of me in his presence and I will be well recompensed for helping you.” Merula’s eyes again took on a fevered look as desire warred with caution in his mind.
“Once I have Orianus’s daughter safe, you may step through my portal and visit her whenever you wish,” added Torquatus slyly. “You may then do with her as you will.” Merula’s eyes grew even brighter at the image of Anthea suddenly subject to his commands.
“I am the most worthy of her suitors and the most deserving of her hand,” he reasoned to himself. “What does it matter the methods I use to achieve my purpose? If I must resort to abduction and an alliance with the ancient enemy of my people to gain my ends then the fault is hers alone,” he thought bitterly to himself. “Despite my worthiness, she has spurned me over and over, both publically and privately in favor of the outlander, diminishing me in everyone’s’ eyes. There is risk here in trusting this Goblin, but I must have her or go mad.” His gaze fell then on the furred form of Malevolus crouching obsequiously at Torquatus’s feet.
“Have your familiar hand me the vials,” said Merula at last. He was not so trusting of his dark ally as to place himself in his power by stepping through the portal.
“Bring them to him,” Torquatus coldly commanded Malevolus. Taking the vials into his furred right paw, the Goblin turned spadix carried the bottles to Merula, keeping his furred head lowered to conceal the wicked amusement in his yellow eyes.
“Wise fool,” thought Malevolus to himself. “You avoid one trap by not stepping through the portal but fall into another by accepting these potions from my master.” With a right hand that trembled slightly, influenced by the turmoil in his mind, Merula took the bottles when Malevolus offered them in a stubby fingered paw.
“Call on me as soon as you have Orianus’s daughter in your grasp,” said Torquatus to Merula after Malevolus returned to his side. “I will immediately open a portal and have her carried through it to an apartment which I will have prepared for her.”
“I must go then to make my arrangements,” replied Merula before turning abruptly on his right heel and striding away. Behind him, Torquatus closed his portal before seating himself on his throne, smiling as if in anticipation of some savory feast.
“If he is so foolish as to bring this woman to me, it will be the last he ever sees of her in this world,” thought Torquatus sardonically to himself. “Once I have her in my iron grip, I will never release her again alive, for she has a role in Dymiter’s prophesy. I will keep her demise a secret, however. When the Tarsian returns, I will present him with a counterfeit who, through subtle means, may bring him and the Tarsian kingdom under my control.” Torquatus smiled again as he considered the clever plan he had concocted, a course of action devious enough to please any Goblin.
For the rest of the night and the greater part of the next day, Merula neither slept nor rested, instead pacing his rooms in a state of extreme agitation as he readied himself to risk both his position and his life to satisfy need to possess Anthea. In the evening he sent one of his servants to the palace to request a visit from an acquaintance, a woman named Alypia. She was a distant cousin of Anthea and had become her close companion after losing her husband years ago in a skirmish with the Goblins. Tall and dark haired, her fair face softened, and her clear gray eyes gleamed with pleasure when she was escorted to Merula’s parlor and saw him
“Because I am your friend, but if that reason fails to satisfy you then consider this,” replied Torquatus, maintaining an amiable and eminently reasonable tone to his voice. “It will be advantageous for me to have you for an ally, for you are high in the counsels of Orianus. Speak favorably of me in his presence and I will be well recompensed for helping you.” Merula’s eyes again took on a fevered look as desire warred with caution in his mind.
“Once I have Orianus’s daughter safe, you may step through my portal and visit her whenever you wish,” added Torquatus slyly. “You may then do with her as you will.” Merula’s eyes grew even brighter at the image of Anthea suddenly subject to his commands.
“I am the most worthy of her suitors and the most deserving of her hand,” he reasoned to himself. “What does it matter the methods I use to achieve my purpose? If I must resort to abduction and an alliance with the ancient enemy of my people to gain my ends then the fault is hers alone,” he thought bitterly to himself. “Despite my worthiness, she has spurned me over and over, both publically and privately in favor of the outlander, diminishing me in everyone’s’ eyes. There is risk here in trusting this Goblin, but I must have her or go mad.” His gaze fell then on the furred form of Malevolus crouching obsequiously at Torquatus’s feet.
“Have your familiar hand me the vials,” said Merula at last. He was not so trusting of his dark ally as to place himself in his power by stepping through the portal.
“Bring them to him,” Torquatus coldly commanded Malevolus. Taking the vials into his furred right paw, the Goblin turned spadix carried the bottles to Merula, keeping his furred head lowered to conceal the wicked amusement in his yellow eyes.
“Wise fool,” thought Malevolus to himself. “You avoid one trap by not stepping through the portal but fall into another by accepting these potions from my master.” With a right hand that trembled slightly, influenced by the turmoil in his mind, Merula took the bottles when Malevolus offered them in a stubby fingered paw.
“Call on me as soon as you have Orianus’s daughter in your grasp,” said Torquatus to Merula after Malevolus returned to his side. “I will immediately open a portal and have her carried through it to an apartment which I will have prepared for her.”
“I must go then to make my arrangements,” replied Merula before turning abruptly on his right heel and striding away. Behind him, Torquatus closed his portal before seating himself on his throne, smiling as if in anticipation of some savory feast.
“If he is so foolish as to bring this woman to me, it will be the last he ever sees of her in this world,” thought Torquatus sardonically to himself. “Once I have her in my iron grip, I will never release her again alive, for she has a role in Dymiter’s prophesy. I will keep her demise a secret, however. When the Tarsian returns, I will present him with a counterfeit who, through subtle means, may bring him and the Tarsian kingdom under my control.” Torquatus smiled again as he considered the clever plan he had concocted, a course of action devious enough to please any Goblin.
For the rest of the night and the greater part of the next day, Merula neither slept nor rested, instead pacing his rooms in a state of extreme agitation as he readied himself to risk both his position and his life to satisfy need to possess Anthea. In the evening he sent one of his servants to the palace to request a visit from an acquaintance, a woman named Alypia. She was a distant cousin of Anthea and had become her close companion after losing her husband years ago in a skirmish with the Goblins. Tall and dark haired, her fair face softened, and her clear gray eyes gleamed with pleasure when she was escorted to Merula’s parlor and saw him
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