Read Online The Spoils of Allsveil: Dark Heart Heroes #2 by S.N. McKibben - Free Book Online
Authors: S.N. McKibben
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water would pull you under and sit the weight of an ocean over your head until you listened.
“Bring them!” King Goththor waved a hand to his soldiers. A door to one of the side rooms opened and two gaunt male figures were brought in. A kick to the back of their knees brought both to kneel.
I felt the gaze of King Goththor but gave no indication that I knew these two men. Both loyal. Both of their families fiscally taken care of by me for a job that would get them killed even if they succeeded. But the line of communication broke somewhere and instead of Darrin, they’d gone after the king himself!
King Goththor’s security head came forward with a crossbow and handed it to his majesty.
“This is a fine piece of machinery.” King Goththor pulled the string up and over the latch that tightened the tension. “I’d seen these, but we never were able to capture one.”
I’d handled a crossbow before. For most men it took both hands inside thick cow’s-hide gloves to get the weapon firing-worthy. King Goththor loaded the crossbow like he’d done it every day for all his life, and with bare hands. His calluses must be as thick and strong as a bull’s hide used for shields.
Stiagwor handed the king a bolt. After examining the weapon , King Goththor loaded it. “Stiagwor, you and your men need to move aside, please. I’ll not have any firing mishaps.” Running a hand down the long shaft of wood, King Goththor kept his eyes on the crossbow. “Very simple to handle. Ingenious, this weapon. Do you recognize these two men?”
I swallowed a knot in my throat. “I know most everyone in Allsveil.”
The king ran a hand down the thin metal trigger that spanned the length of the wooden shaft, aimed at the man on the left, and said, “Good.”
The crossbow twanged. Edgar, my loyal commissioned mercenary, screamed.
The king’s cold eyes of death looked at me. “My family came across bolts such as these just yesterday. Did you know, Princess Tyilasuir?”
I kept my silence. It seemed Prince Goththor and his father were adept in finding out my secrets.
King Goththor loaded the crossbow as effortlessly the second time, took another bolt, placed it, and aimed at Edgar’s brother. “No womanly pleas of forgiveness?” King Goththor’s words came out like a sneer. “No confessions?”
I s at there. Helpless. Stunned. I watched Edgar slump over, screaming and holding the end of the wooden shaft in his side. Just like when I’d watched my father go down, I did nothing. Could do nothing.
Edgar’s brother, Randall, pleaded with his eyes. But loyal he was and silent he stayed. A second twang, but this time no screaming. Randall couldn’t scream. Wouldn’t scream. The three feathers of the arrow stuck out from his throat.
“Accurate. I’ll be keeping this one.” King Goththor handed the crossbow to Stiagwor.
My head swirled, drowning me in an endless spin. A hand lifted my chin. Loveless angry eyes scalded secrets from my soul.
“You want to kill me, that’s fine. I’m not intimidated by your game. But the next time you involve my family, I will claw into your pretty brown eyes and drag you by your eye sockets to the dirtiest street I can find, where I will use a dull hand ax to cut through your pretty little neck.”
He shoved me back, turned, and walked down the steps and through the hall, followed by all his men.
I ran down the steps to the wounded. “Edgar!”
The mercenary gave me a weak grimace. A bolt stuck three inches out from his liver. Randall choked, holding his neck just below the puncture. Nanna was beside me with her bag of herbs and tools. I looked back to see a grim-faced Paul at attention behind us. He scowled at me but said nothing.
“Nanna?”
She shook her head. “Not much I can do. They’ll die the cruel way—eventually.”
“You have to do something.” I started rummaging through her bag. “They’re here because of— ”
“Hush, child!” Nanna slapped my hands. She
“Bring them!” King Goththor waved a hand to his soldiers. A door to one of the side rooms opened and two gaunt male figures were brought in. A kick to the back of their knees brought both to kneel.
I felt the gaze of King Goththor but gave no indication that I knew these two men. Both loyal. Both of their families fiscally taken care of by me for a job that would get them killed even if they succeeded. But the line of communication broke somewhere and instead of Darrin, they’d gone after the king himself!
King Goththor’s security head came forward with a crossbow and handed it to his majesty.
“This is a fine piece of machinery.” King Goththor pulled the string up and over the latch that tightened the tension. “I’d seen these, but we never were able to capture one.”
I’d handled a crossbow before. For most men it took both hands inside thick cow’s-hide gloves to get the weapon firing-worthy. King Goththor loaded the crossbow like he’d done it every day for all his life, and with bare hands. His calluses must be as thick and strong as a bull’s hide used for shields.
Stiagwor handed the king a bolt. After examining the weapon , King Goththor loaded it. “Stiagwor, you and your men need to move aside, please. I’ll not have any firing mishaps.” Running a hand down the long shaft of wood, King Goththor kept his eyes on the crossbow. “Very simple to handle. Ingenious, this weapon. Do you recognize these two men?”
I swallowed a knot in my throat. “I know most everyone in Allsveil.”
The king ran a hand down the thin metal trigger that spanned the length of the wooden shaft, aimed at the man on the left, and said, “Good.”
The crossbow twanged. Edgar, my loyal commissioned mercenary, screamed.
The king’s cold eyes of death looked at me. “My family came across bolts such as these just yesterday. Did you know, Princess Tyilasuir?”
I kept my silence. It seemed Prince Goththor and his father were adept in finding out my secrets.
King Goththor loaded the crossbow as effortlessly the second time, took another bolt, placed it, and aimed at Edgar’s brother. “No womanly pleas of forgiveness?” King Goththor’s words came out like a sneer. “No confessions?”
I s at there. Helpless. Stunned. I watched Edgar slump over, screaming and holding the end of the wooden shaft in his side. Just like when I’d watched my father go down, I did nothing. Could do nothing.
Edgar’s brother, Randall, pleaded with his eyes. But loyal he was and silent he stayed. A second twang, but this time no screaming. Randall couldn’t scream. Wouldn’t scream. The three feathers of the arrow stuck out from his throat.
“Accurate. I’ll be keeping this one.” King Goththor handed the crossbow to Stiagwor.
My head swirled, drowning me in an endless spin. A hand lifted my chin. Loveless angry eyes scalded secrets from my soul.
“You want to kill me, that’s fine. I’m not intimidated by your game. But the next time you involve my family, I will claw into your pretty brown eyes and drag you by your eye sockets to the dirtiest street I can find, where I will use a dull hand ax to cut through your pretty little neck.”
He shoved me back, turned, and walked down the steps and through the hall, followed by all his men.
I ran down the steps to the wounded. “Edgar!”
The mercenary gave me a weak grimace. A bolt stuck three inches out from his liver. Randall choked, holding his neck just below the puncture. Nanna was beside me with her bag of herbs and tools. I looked back to see a grim-faced Paul at attention behind us. He scowled at me but said nothing.
“Nanna?”
She shook her head. “Not much I can do. They’ll die the cruel way—eventually.”
“You have to do something.” I started rummaging through her bag. “They’re here because of— ”
“Hush, child!” Nanna slapped my hands. She
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