Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
A label. A title. A belief regarding what was good and what was bad changed everything. And it shouldn’t be that way.
“We’re here to speak with Princess Kayleigh.” I spoke then, drawing the guards’ stares. I had no idea what they thought when they looked upon me, if they believed me to be a god or not. “Is she in residence?”
“S-she is,” a guard said. “She a-always is. Prefers t-the manor over Castle Redrock.”
“Good.” Ash smiled, and I wasn’t sure if that put any of the guards at ease. “Will one of you take us to her?”
Ash displayed a new Primal power I hadn’t known him to be capable of.
Coin didn’t fall from trees as I’d once heard King Ernald tell Tavius, but coin did spring forth from the soil beneath Ash’s boots as we followed a stunned guard into the manor. He left behind enough riches for the guards to feed themselves and their families for several years.
He said nothing as I glanced at him questioningly, but I knew he’d done it to make amends for the fright he’d given them.
Just as he had done for the guard who led us past the banners of green and yellow bearing the emblem of a ship that adorned the hall of Cauldra Manor. The pouch at the guard’s hip had swollen with the quiet jingle of coins the man had remained unaware of. He stopped in front of a small receiving chamber.
Inside the sunlit-drenched space, the Princess sat on a couch, her legs tucked beneath the hem of a lilac day gown. She was reading from a book in her lap as she idly ran her hand down the back of a black and white cat curled up beside her, Kayleigh’s mass of brown hair piled into a knot atop her bowed head.
The cat noticed us first, lifting its furry head to give us a sleepy-eyed glare. The look gave the distinct impression that it was annoyed by our interruption.
The guard cleared his throat, bowing deeply. “Princess Kayleigh, you have visitors.”
Kayleigh gave a little jerk at the sound of his voice, her head snapping up. The vision I had seen of her in the Pools of Divanash had been accurate. She looked healthy. Happy. Nothing like the last time I’d seen her in person.
And she looked right at me. Surprise widened her eyes. “My gods, is that you, Seraphena?” she said, her chest rising sharply as she closed the book in her lap.
I nodded. “It is.”
“How did you…?” She trailed off as she glanced at Ash. Blood drained rapidly from her heart-shaped face. “My gods, you’re a…” She rose so quickly the book fell from her lap to flop against the thick carpet. The cat gave an irritated thump of his tail off the now-vacant cushion. She started to lower herself—
“That’s unnecessary.” Ash stopped her, much to my relief and her and the guard’s surprise. “You do not need to bow.”
Her forest green eyes were bright. “But—”
“It’s all right,” I jumped in. “He’s not the bow-to-me type of Primal.”
“Well, sometimes I am,” he murmured.
I shot him a look as Kayleigh stared in confusion. “We need to speak with you.” I flicked a glance at the guard. “In private.”
She nodded, swallowing. “Thank you for bringing them here, Rolio.”
The guard hesitated, but the Princess gave him a steady smile and a quick nod. Rolio backed out of the chamber, giving us a wide berth. He didn’t wander far, though, instead moving only halfway down the hall. I liked that he was loyal despite his fear.
“Am I in trouble?” Kayleigh asked.
“What?” I focused on her. “No. Why would you think that?”
She didn’t look all that confident as she glanced at Ash. “You’re a…a Primal god. I can tell by your eyes.” She swallowed. “Only the Primals that I’ve seen have silver eyes.”
My brows lifted. “How many Primals have you seen?”
“Enough,” she said, then briefly closed her eyes. I really hoped Ash kept what Primal he was to himself. “I’m sorry. I meant no offense.”
“None taken, Princess,” Ash replied, watching her intently. I knew he was reading her. “There is no reason to fear us. We are not here to harm you.”
She nodded, but distrust settled in her features as unease blossomed in me. I thought about what Ash had warned was already beginning to happen in other kingdoms. “What has happened when Primals have come here?”
Her lips parted on a short breath as she looked at Ash. “I…I know they can take great offense when respect is not given to them.”
“Respect is earned, even for a Primal. And I have not yet done anything to warrant honor or disrespect.” His tone had gentled. “We’ve only come to speak with a man we believe you know. He could possibly be going by the name Delfai.”
Kayleigh stiffened. “The scholar?”