Children of the Elementi by Ceri Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

Elemental. While he is alive the Matrix, even buried in the Citadel will know this and you will never gain the full power of the Elementi.”
    “Citadel, what Citadel?”
    “Did you think the fabulous power of the Elementi were from those small crystals they carried around their necks? In part, that is truth, but from my research, these were just conduits to the power of the Citadel.
    “Your great-grandmother did not know this or she would not have been so quick to have killed the Elementi without first obtaining its location.”
    “Do you know the location of the Citadel?” Aras asked.
    “Sadly not.” Ecu shook his head. “I do know that it was built near the location where the first settlers arrived here. Legend has it that explorers found themselves in a crystal cave. Five of their number were somehow... changed. They became the Elementi - half of your ancestors. As you know our race came to Eleria later.”
    Aras leant back against the chair, trying to block out the pain. “This is all very interesting, but all I can think of at the moment is this pain!” Bored with the audience he scanned Ecu’s mind for all the information he had on the Matrix. There wasn’t much but it was enough to think about.
    “My Lord, I am sorry.” Contrite, carefully stepping out of the circle, Ecu moved to give the young Emperor some tablets he took out of his robe. Guards at either side leaped forward to block his access.
    “My Lord, you need only take this medication I have distilled from some herbs and it will abate the pain for a couple of hours. They will help until another remedy can be found.” He offered the tablets.
    The guard on his left reached out to pull on a silken chord suspended from a bronze frame. A bell sounded in the distance. Moments later the attendant who ushered Ecu to the room earlier, quietly stole in. The guard nodded at the tablets. She took them and swallowed one. Everyone froze in a still tableaux waiting for a reaction. Seeing none, Aras nodded at the guards. They stepped back into position. The attendant passed the remaining tablets to Aras.
    “Do you have any more?” Aras asked.
    “I need only a workroom and a few hours to make more, my Lord.”
    A young girl, sitting quietly in the corner stood up. Reaching for a glass on the gold table beside her, she carried it over to Aras. Grimly, he took the glass and swallowed the pill. Everyone in the room from courtier to servant tensed, praying that this time it would work. Five minutes passed before Aras’ face calmed showing the pain receding. As one, everyone in the room visibly relaxed.
    Aras, stood up, “Ecu! You are a good man to have around. Please stay for a while. Marta will show you to one of the guest-rooms with enough space that you can make the tablets and more.”
    “My Lord, you are too generous.” Ecu bowed and followed the attendant out of the room.
    Entering the corridor, Ecu and Marta walked in silence for a moment. When they turned the first corner, Ecu whispered conspiratorially to Marta, “Who was the girl?”
    Marta eyes appraised him for a few moments before replying.
    “That was Shenella. They have been grooming her to become the next Empress. She was against the idea to start with but I hear her family soon beat her out of that notion. I suppose she knows whatever child she has will suffer the same fate as Aras.” She added conspiratorially, “To be honest it is better to be the power behind the throne. Consorts do not last long with that family.”
    Ecu thoughtfully stroked his red beard. “Indeed, with a good adviser and a good woman, who knows what can be achieved?”
    Marta giggled. “I see we are in agreement. I am already one of his favorites. By the by, do you have a potion or spell which could cement this?”
    “You are his favorite, yet he still chose you to test the pill?”
    “He trusts no one. I am as much a favorite as much as anyone can be.”
    “What about the girl?”
    “It would be better to be