Chosen Ones by Alister E. McGrath Read Free Book Online

might, underneath his mask, be giving a venomous smile. “We have long believed that there was some great land beyond the seas, but we did not know its name, nor its location. We wil learn more of your land, and we can discuss how we might be of help to each other in this difficult world. You wil join us tomorrow in the Great Hal , when we can speak more ful y and frankly. In the meantime,” he raised his voice and spread his arms, “you are our guests. Al we have wil be at your disposal throughout your time in Aedyn.” The Wolf looked to the side and nodded almost imperceptibly at someone in the shadows, then returned to his throne. The audience was over.
    Julia murmured her thanks and bowed, relieved beyond measure. She and Peter turned and walked away, feeling almost as if they had escaped. When they reached the back of the great hal , another courtier dressed in red robes greeted them and led them out by a side door. His face, they were almost startled to see, was unmasked. He was not an old man but he was no longer young, and his eyes were not kind.
    “I am Anaximander,” he told them, “the Lord Chamberlain of Aedyn, and I give you greetings. You wil be taken to your chambers by two slaves, where you wil be provided with food and water for bathing and,” he said, looking pointedly at the torn and muddy cloth in which they were dressed, “some decent clothing.”
    Anaximander gestured toward two faceless figures dressed in black robes and hoods. “If you need anything, ask them, and they wil provide it.”
    “Thank you, Anaximander.” Julia smiled and bowed her head politely. “Might I ask the names of these servants?”
    “Slaves
    don’t
    have
    names,”
    he
    said
    dismissively. “Please don’t trouble yourselves about such trivial matters. Rest, and enjoy Aedyn’s hospitality.” Julia saw that he was smiling—a smile she didn’t quite trust.
    “Thank you, Anaximander. We wil look forward to our meeting with the Lords of Aedyn tomorrow.” After a further exchange of bows Julia and Peter were led away by the two slaves, who guided them silently through the corridors of the castle. They ascended a marble staircase and were shown into a set of rooms with a magnificent view of the island’s central plain. Food and drink was already laid out for them there, and after the slaves had departed with low bows, they picked at the meal tentatively. Peter was the first to break the silence.
    “Julia, what on earth is going on? Why did you say we were emissaries? Why didn’t you ask them about getting home?”
    “Because…” Gaius’s warning came into her mind. Peter couldn’t know everything—not yet. He couldn’t know that the lords would most likely have them kil ed if they didn’t make themselves seem important. “Because I think there’s work for us to do here, and we won’t be able to get home until we’ve done it.”
    Peter was more than a little annoyed by this answer, but his frustration was forgotten when the two silent slaves reappeared, each carrying bottles of perfumes and oils. They were ushered into rooms with tubs ful of steaming water and invited to soak as long as they desired, and in such a situation perhaps they can both be forgiven for forgetting about their plight and the meeting the next day.
    And so Peter and Julia rested in their chambers, unaware that their fate was being decided far below.
    The three Lords of Aedyn were, at that very moment, sitting around a table, the remnants of dinner on the plates before them and wine stil in their glasses. The Wolf had his glass in his hand, swirling the contents around and around as he considered. The others were silent—their arguments had been made, and it was left to the Wolf to make the final decision. Final y, he spoke, the echoes of his hissing rasp lingering within the room.
    “We wil meet these fair strangers tomorrow. If we cannot use them, we wil destroy them. Let us hope that they sleep wel ,” he said, smiling