Forsaken Kingdom by Rachel L. Schade EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Author: Rachel L. Schade
- Language: English
- Genre: Epic Fantasy
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
The people of Misroth marched my father’s head through the streets. In
a gleeful parade, men, women, and even children held their fists high
in the air and shouted their victory, their freedom, and their release
from tyranny and death. The patches of ice and snow littering the muddy
cobblestones underfoot did nothing to slow their steps.
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Kneeling beside my mother’s memorial, I watched them stream through
the streets below as anger and disgust stabbed my chest. Beside me, Jennah
reached out and grasped my arm, her hand warm and reassuring.
I stared at her, a breeze off the Alrenian brushing its chill fingers
through my hair. Her eyes were sympathetic, but her brow was furrowed
into firm lines. In the daylight, the fresh scar cutting across her cheek
contrasted starkly with the dark, gold-tinted skin that, along with her eyes,
showed her Alrenian heritage.
“This needs to end,” I said, plucking her hand from my arm and rising.
The rebels standing behind us, acting as my unofficial Royal Guard, stirred
uncomfortably.
Jennah didn’t move, but continued to gaze at the stone altar. Words were
etched into its side, words that left me cold and numb as they blandly
recited facts:
Lady Ryn of Misroth,
Daughter of Lord Dievon and Lady Loella,
Wife of Prince Zarev.
Born Year 159. Perished Year 201.
Prepared years ago for the former queen, with her death date added
mere days ago, its charred surface was a heavy reminder of the night we
burned her body. Contrasting starkly with the blackness were white sythrel
petals scattered over the memorial, offerings to plead for the Life-Giver’s
favor toward the dead.
My fingers curled into fists. There would be no favor for the dead if
there was not favor for the living first. And behaving as my father had was
no way for my kingdom to earn it.
I turned my back to my mother’s memorial and took a step back toward
the city, my boots crunching on gravel and sand.
“Your Highness.” Jennah’s voice was low, smooth.
“Do not call me that.”
Ignoring my comment, Jennah stood and joined me as I glared down at
the streets. She studied me for a moment before quirking an eyebrow. “How
do you plan to stop a mob—by running out into the fray and being trampled
to death?”
I lifted my hands to massage my temples. “We must not be like him. We
cannot stoop to this—this barbarism…”
Again, Jennah reached out her hand to touch my shoulder. Her face
softened with compassion, the gold flecks in her brown eyes glittering with
warmth. “What will you have us tell the people?”
“Tell them to burn the king’s body. Scatter the ashes to the wind, or bury
them to be forgotten forever. I don’t care,” I finished, “as long as the people
return to their lives. It is time to rebuild. To forget.”
I fingered the red armband of mourning adorning my right forearm,
tracing the outline of sythrel petals etched into its smooth leather surface.
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