Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
As far as I could tell, his instincts were always right.
And now was no different.
“Thank you, my husband.”
“You are welcome, my wife.”
I sent him a shaky grin.
He replied by touching his lips to mine.
He guided me to bed.
I flipped off my slippers and entered it.
Mars threw a warm rug over me.
I curled up under it.
And it was my king who went to the cord, called a servant, had my mother seen to, and ordered a tray for later.
As for me.
I was exhausted.
Thus, I fell asleep.
145
The Dragons
Melisse
Riverburn Castle, Seat of Lord Felix Edgar, Gairn Plain
AIREN
The twisting stopped and their feet were on the ground.
She instantly felt that the bitter winter winds that swept up from the sea and whistled through Sky Bay were gone, and the cold here was merely chill.
Melisse looked up to Jorie, who was pulling his trident out of the dirt.
He then glanced about at the four other mermales who were doing the same.
When they all had their staffs in hand, and had jerked their chins up to their king, his eyes came to her.
“We will return,” he stated, turned, let fly his javelin, and he disappeared in a whirl about it.
She looked to Lena.
Lena, who another of the mermales had carried from the Bay on two magical throws of their tridents, also looked to her.
In the distance, they heard grunts and a number of thuds, a truncated shout, and in naught but ten minutes, five tridents embedded themselves in the dirt about them, and Jorie and his males had returned.
“The outer guard has been dealt with. I will give watch out here. You have but half an hour,” he warned them. “If you do not meet me right here,” he pointed with the elaborately—and fearsomely—fashioned end of his pronged staff to the ground, “you will learn what else this can do.”
He finished his statement bringing the “this” in front of him—his trident—and circling it twice before he leaned into it, staff end to the earth.
They nodded and quickly stole across the deserted bailey, each witch with a guard of two mermales.
Having made their plan before they left, they knew what they were about.
Thus, after Melisse swung her hand in front of her and they heard the locks open and the bolt slide across on the inside, these to the studded double doors to the castle, they made them, and two of the Mer pushed them open.
They entered.
Without hesitation, Melisse went up the hall.
Lena down it.
She had to magic three guards they encountered to sleep before they arrived at the door of the bedchamber they sought.
It, too, was locked.
She made swift work of opening it, entering, and moving directly to the bed, her guard at her back.
Without hesitation, she swept aside the curtains that held the draughts at bay.
The woman in the bed shot to sitting as if she’d been awake.
For a woman who lived her life, Melisse suspected sleep was rarely easy.
In these times, she doubted the woman enjoyed much of it at all.
“Who are you?” the lady of the manor asked.
Melisse didn’t answer.
She asked her own question.
“You have children, yes?”
“I—”
“You have twenty minutes to get dressed, get them dressed, pack anything of importance to you, and make way to the town square. Your dungeons are of the now being emptied of the hostages your husband’s men took. I will rouse your servants. Anything, and anyone, left in this castle will not exist in an hour.”
“The Regent sends the dragons,” she whispered in horror.
Melisse opened her mouth to answer to this, but she got not a word out.
The bedclothes flew.
And then the woman flew.
Melisse left the room.
She found the servant’s quarters and emptied them by delivering the same message.
She was pleased to note that she did not have to waste precious time convincing anyone.
Some even had bags packed.
By the time she and the two Mer with her had cleared their part of the castle and sauntered out to where Jorie was standing, the exodus had begun.
She noted even the lady of the manor was carrying a rather hefty bag that, in racing after two young boys and dragging a little girl, all clothed warmly, she could not have had time to pack.
Melisse stopped next to Jorie and watched the procession.
Lena was not far behind in joining them.
“Is it empty?” Jorie asked.
She cast her senses through the space.
She then answered, “Nine guards. All unconscious.”
“Do we go and wake them?” Lena queried.
“No,” Jorie answered. “Come,” he grunted.
He then turned and strolled toward the guardhouse.
Melisse and Lena shared a glance before they followed him.
They moved through the guardhouse and across the drawbridge to the other side.
They then walked the short trek into the town.
Hearing the commotion, shutters were open with heads poked out, and doors were ajar with people standing on stoops to watch.
Jorie stopped in the town’s square, Melisse and Lena joined him, and the lady of the manor made haste to their position.