A Castle of Ashes (The Fifth Kingdom Book 2) by Lisa M. James Read Free Book Online Page B

needed to attend to toward the South.”
    Matthew and Jonathan exchanged looks, thinking about the bodies that they passed.  The gates opened, and they walked the path to the castle steps where more white roses littered their way. 
    “Commander!”  A young girl, dressed in pants and a short tunic came running up to them. She wrapped her arms around Uncle Jonathan and he held her in a tight embrace.
    His uncle pulled her back and studied her. “Erica,” He said breathlessly.  “My God, how you have grown?  What are you wearing?”  Erica, Matthew thought.  Lucinda’s youngest sister.  If he remembered correctly she was approaching her thirteenth year.  The girl, had lighter hair and skin than was common in the East, but she had the deep brown eyes, that Lucinda lacked. 
    “I am training with the Eastern Guardsmen!  Uncle Ronaldan is mentoring me.” She grabbed both of Jonathan’s hands with hers. “I am going to be the next Commander.”  She looked at Matthew then and beamed.  She had a familiar smile that he could not place. Matthew couldn’t remember if he had ever formally met Erica.   When he traveled to the East all those years ago he hardly remembered talking to anyone but Commander Ronaldan. Though it seemed that his uncle had spent some time with the girl. In the West and the North it was not common for a woman to join the defenses.  He knew that the Eastern Guard had many women amongst them.  In the South, it was even more common.  The head commander of the Southern Guard was King Adelphi’s sister, Commander Genevieve.   
    “Your father has given you permission?” Uncle Jonathan asked still gripping the girl’s hands. 
    “He suggested it.  I scolded the knights fiercely for their handling of my sister’s disappearance.  My father said if I disapproved so much, I should train to be next commander and lead the guard myself.  He said my mother was in the guard before she became Queen!” The girl said excitedly.  Matthew stared in silence watching the interaction between his uncle and Lucinda’s sister.
    “My lords,” a soft voice spoke.  Matthew looked to where the voice came from and saw the beautiful tanned face of King Hamlyn’s wife, Queen Denalyn.  She was only a few years older than Matthew.  She had large brown eyes and wore her dark hair loosely.  She wore a small gold crown jeweled with amethysts, which represented an Eastern Queen.  They bowed before her.
    She approached them and kissed their cheeks as they rose to their feet. She had the wide, friendly smile befitting of a young child. “My husband is waiting for you. Shall I take you to him?”  She led them to the throne room where King Hamlyn sat.  She went to take her seat next to him, while their young sons sat by their feet.  The King wore a stern expression on his face.  The black of his hair and beard had mostly turned gray.  Matthew and Jonathan knelt before him.
    “Your Majesty,” They began as King Hamlyn motioned for them to stand.  He exhaled deeply.
    “I owe an apology to your kingdom.”  The King began.  Matthew and Jonathan stood surprised but did not dare interrupt him.  “Your Father,” He stared at Matthew, “Was a good man.  We mourned for him. Yet, I was still too overcome by my own grief to offer condolences.” He turned his face away from them for a moment. “Yet, I shamed my kingdom by not properly addressing your father’s death.  Your brother is also a good man.  I know he will bring your kingdom great honor.”
    “No apology is needed, Your Majesty.  We know your grief.  We know the part we played in it.  We understand.”  Matthew stated.   “We do not wish to take too much of your time.  I know you received the report of my sighting of your daughter and I have come to tell you myself.  I saw her.  She saved me from death.  She did not stay long enough for me to ask anything of her, but when she returned me to land I had this around my neck.”