Azurite (Daughter of the Mountain Book 1) by Megan Dent Nagle Read Free Book Online Page B

the words from coming forth.  The man’s smile faded, and his eyes hardened as she harried him.
    “That’s a very derogatory word, Evangeline.  I know plenty of people who wouldn’t take kindly to it.  You’re lucky I’m not one of them.  Keep your prejudices to yourself!”  He leaned back against the inside of the trunk and stroked his fingertips along the leather baldric that crossed his chest.
    “My people back home say that the North is a dying land.  They say your kind have used, abused, and depleted the gifts the Creator has given you, and you’re struggling just to survive.  But I’m not so sure about that.”  He cocked his head and looked deeply at her.  “I think your problem is just ignorance.”
    “What right do you have to speak about the goodness of the Creator?” Evangeline demanded in anger.  “ Your kind is responsible for the destruction of the Genesis.  That’s why you live sequestered from normal civilization in a steaming prison.  The Creator saw what was good and evil and blessed those who followed the light.  You and your kind are nothing but…but…”
    The emissary leaned in till he was so close to Evangeline’s face she could hear him breathing.
    “ Slythos ?” he said, finishing her sentence.  “My father always said legends were based on fact, and I’ve heard the legends told to your children, Evangeline.  But remember, there are two sides to every story.”  He leaned back again.  Evangeline didn’t dare tell him that her father used to tell her something eerily similar.
      “See now, all this bigotry and we haven’t even discussed the offer my Master has planned for you.  But from my observations, you really don’t have a choice other than to accept it.”  His snide comment caught the Queen off guard.
    “What do you mean?  What could some one like you possibly know?”
    “My Brothers and I are in and out of this Realm quite frequently.  Despite your low opinion of us, we are highly educated in the ways of the Commoners and see more than you know.  I can tell you’re hesitant to consider my Master’s offer because you believe the lies that stem from two thousand years of biases.  Well, I say you’re out of time to have that option.”  Evangeline had gone deathly pale when the emissary said this, but she checked her pride and continued to let him speak.
      “The Overlord of Nomanestan is gathering troops as we speak. I’ve seen them myself.  He’s preparing to invade Samaria.  How and when he plans to do it, I know not.  Samarian armor, weaponry, and quality of skilled soldiers may be better, but Olger crushes you in numbers.  Maybe it’s a good time for you to reevaluate your relationship with the Overlord, in order to avoid the senseless slaughter of your people.  All because you cannot pay him back for the simple necessity of food he loaned you.”
    Evangeline was silenced for a couple of minutes.  If what the emissary said was true, the consequences of her mistakes as Queen were finally coming to pass, and the whole Realm would revel in her failures once they found out. 
    “Olger Guttensen has an insatiable appetite for power.  Obviously my contract with him was like giving a starving wolf a taste of meat,” the Queen said sourly.  “He’ll kill to have more of it.  Once I default and he claims the land up to Sugarpine Pass as notated in our agreement, he’ll have better access to invade us in the valley.  He won’t hesitate to march his troops into Alumhy and try to take Mizra.  There will be no way out for my people once he attacks.”  Evangeline looked at the emissary helplessly, her rage completely humbled by the desperation of her circumstances.
    “Maybe I can help?” he said eagerly, as if seizing an opportunity to further his Master’s interest.  “My Master prefers to have two hundred barrels of azurite delivered per week.  Any less is unacceptable in regards to what we are using it for.