Read Online The Seer And The Sword by Victoria Hanley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Victoria Hanley
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heritage of beauty.
How tempting it was, the thought of going away!
But then he thought of Torina.
My dearest friend
, she’d said. Landen was overwhelmed with tenderness for her. Would a best friend abandon her? Once he left, returning would be difficult. He might never see her again, and that would be unbearable.
Landen arrived late for the mid-afternoon training session, feeling years older than he’d been in the morning. When Emid barked at him, the words didn’t penetrate his gloom. He expected harsh punishment, but none came. Instead, Emid looked at him compassionately, as if the trainer knew his sorrow. On his bunk that night, Landen lay sleepless. He resolved to stay in Archeld a while longer.
After that day, Landen found it impossible to get near Torina. His time was almost entirely taken up with advanced training, and she didn’t come near the practice fields. Though he haunted her periphery whenever he found a spare moment, not once did he get close enough to speak a private word to her. Surrounded by attendants wherever she went, her life was more and more taken up with royal functions. She was being groomed to be a king’s wife. Landen chafed at the barriers of protocol, wondering how Torina, who adored adventure and prized freedom above all things, could bear her virtual imprisonment.
Sometimes, when he went on solitary rides, he met chagrined soldiers who would ask him if he’d seen theprincess, for she’d escaped her attendants. Then Landen would look for her, hoping to snatch a conversation. But her bouts of freedom were few and short, and he never chanced to share them.
Gradually, elapsing time wedged itself between them. At the beginning of their separation, if she saw him hovering outside her circle, Torina gave Landen a glowing smile. But when six months had come and gone, she stopped meeting his eyes with any special recognition. After the first year, her manner towards him became one of friendly courtesy, the same stance she took with everyone.
She was young. To her, a year must be a long while. But to Landen, it was not. His affection for her lay bright and shining in his heart, untarnished by distance, time, or neglect.
Landen didn’t like large groups or gatherings, but forced himself to endure them in order to get glimpses of Torina. He soon discovered that he was not alone – someone else was trying to get close to the princess.
At first it seemed a wicked coincidence that each time Landen sought out Torina, he saw Vesputo. Soon, however, it was plain to him that Vesputo was trying to snare the king’s daughter. The thought of such a courtship horrified Landen.
Commander Vesputo’s authority had steadily risen, till it was second only to King Kareed’s. Archeld was enjoying a period of peace: the provinces had ceased challenging Kareed’s right to rule. Prosperity governed. Vesputo was a rich, privileged man. When he wasn’t fulfilling administrative duties assigned by his king, histime was his own, and he chose to spend it being very charming, especially to the princess.
Of course. He wants the crown, and she’s the way to get it
.
Sometimes, Vesputo was the one to review Emid’s training exercises. He’d stand watching the boys, relaxed and collected, while Landen shuddered, remembering the cruelty just beneath Vesputo’s surface.
He would have kept me a slave, and taken pleasure in it
.
How dreadful to see Vesputo’s charming smile bent on Torina! To watch him act deferential and considerate, as if he cared. Landen prayed that Torina would be wise enough to see through Vesputo. But what could she know of his vicious, inhuman side? She’d never ridden with him to war; never been his captive. To the soldiers of Archeld, Vesputo was a legend. It was said dust parted for him. He never lost a battle. He was treated with the utmost respect, and people vied for his attention. How was she to know his real character?
Landen redoubled his efforts to get near enough to talk
How tempting it was, the thought of going away!
But then he thought of Torina.
My dearest friend
, she’d said. Landen was overwhelmed with tenderness for her. Would a best friend abandon her? Once he left, returning would be difficult. He might never see her again, and that would be unbearable.
Landen arrived late for the mid-afternoon training session, feeling years older than he’d been in the morning. When Emid barked at him, the words didn’t penetrate his gloom. He expected harsh punishment, but none came. Instead, Emid looked at him compassionately, as if the trainer knew his sorrow. On his bunk that night, Landen lay sleepless. He resolved to stay in Archeld a while longer.
After that day, Landen found it impossible to get near Torina. His time was almost entirely taken up with advanced training, and she didn’t come near the practice fields. Though he haunted her periphery whenever he found a spare moment, not once did he get close enough to speak a private word to her. Surrounded by attendants wherever she went, her life was more and more taken up with royal functions. She was being groomed to be a king’s wife. Landen chafed at the barriers of protocol, wondering how Torina, who adored adventure and prized freedom above all things, could bear her virtual imprisonment.
Sometimes, when he went on solitary rides, he met chagrined soldiers who would ask him if he’d seen theprincess, for she’d escaped her attendants. Then Landen would look for her, hoping to snatch a conversation. But her bouts of freedom were few and short, and he never chanced to share them.
Gradually, elapsing time wedged itself between them. At the beginning of their separation, if she saw him hovering outside her circle, Torina gave Landen a glowing smile. But when six months had come and gone, she stopped meeting his eyes with any special recognition. After the first year, her manner towards him became one of friendly courtesy, the same stance she took with everyone.
She was young. To her, a year must be a long while. But to Landen, it was not. His affection for her lay bright and shining in his heart, untarnished by distance, time, or neglect.
Landen didn’t like large groups or gatherings, but forced himself to endure them in order to get glimpses of Torina. He soon discovered that he was not alone – someone else was trying to get close to the princess.
At first it seemed a wicked coincidence that each time Landen sought out Torina, he saw Vesputo. Soon, however, it was plain to him that Vesputo was trying to snare the king’s daughter. The thought of such a courtship horrified Landen.
Commander Vesputo’s authority had steadily risen, till it was second only to King Kareed’s. Archeld was enjoying a period of peace: the provinces had ceased challenging Kareed’s right to rule. Prosperity governed. Vesputo was a rich, privileged man. When he wasn’t fulfilling administrative duties assigned by his king, histime was his own, and he chose to spend it being very charming, especially to the princess.
Of course. He wants the crown, and she’s the way to get it
.
Sometimes, Vesputo was the one to review Emid’s training exercises. He’d stand watching the boys, relaxed and collected, while Landen shuddered, remembering the cruelty just beneath Vesputo’s surface.
He would have kept me a slave, and taken pleasure in it
.
How dreadful to see Vesputo’s charming smile bent on Torina! To watch him act deferential and considerate, as if he cared. Landen prayed that Torina would be wise enough to see through Vesputo. But what could she know of his vicious, inhuman side? She’d never ridden with him to war; never been his captive. To the soldiers of Archeld, Vesputo was a legend. It was said dust parted for him. He never lost a battle. He was treated with the utmost respect, and people vied for his attention. How was she to know his real character?
Landen redoubled his efforts to get near enough to talk
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