GALLANT (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 3) by Marilyn Campbell Read Free Book Online Page A

of that ability caused her to give him a mission that would keep him far from her side most of the time. It was a mixed blessing at best.
    She questioned him on a few other matters before adding her own piece of information. "According to the chronology of our plan, Bessima should be planting her seeds now as well. It is too bad we could not maintain contact with her, but she is most trustworthy. She will complete her assignment in the time frame she was given then all will be ready for us."
    The Princess clapped her hands and a short, plump woman in her middle years appeared seconds later. An abrupt hand signal from her mistress was all the instruction the servant required before she was off again.
    "Your timing was excellent, Josep," Honorbound said with a smile. "You may have already guessed by our feast that we had a celebration planned for tonight even before your arrival. Five of our children have reached full maturity and are ready to be integrated."
    The plump woman returned then, leading three young men and two young women, all wearing only a piece of white linen wrapped diaper-style, and a white band circling each of their heads. They stood at stiff attention in a straight line as the Princess rose and inspected each one from head to toe.
    "Not a bad-looking group," Honorbound said to the woman, who immediately beamed at the praise. "You must have fed them better than the last candidates. Let's hope it did not lessen their hunger for more important things."
    Josep had not participated in a Maturation Ceremony in a very long time. It was the most important day in the life of an Illusian. Though he had once reveled in the celebration activities, he now simply wondered if he was up to it.
    The Princess must have caught him frowning because she laughed and said, "Don't worry my old friend. Your own maturity permits you to sit and observe the first half of the ceremony."
    Josep nodded in appreciation but he had received the unspoken message that his active participation in the second half was mandatory if he did not wish to be shamed in front of the others. His gaze traveled over the maidens and was met by a particularly bold stare from the more well-formed of the two. She clearly intended to receive the high honor of being chosen by the chief advisor. As his body responded to her look of raw sexual hunger, Josep shed his fear that he would not be able to perform as expected.
    The Princess stepped back from the novitiates and removed the thong and medallion from her neck. With the thong wrapped around her clenched fist, she held the medallion in front of her as she spoke. "This royal medallion has been handed down through my family for nine hundred years. As the current possessor, I have sworn to protect all of Illusia and to regain the power we once held.
    "To that end we have struggled to replenish our army with strong bodies and aggressive minds. You five come before the council this evening on the brink of maturity. Are you prepared to shed childhood and accept the responsibility of mature adults?"
    "Yes, I am," the five answered in unison.
    "And do you welcome this initiation?"
    "Yes, I do," they replied.
    Honorbound nodded her head and they all knelt. She walked up to the first young man in the line and pressed the medallion to his forehead. "To what do you owe your total allegiance?"
    "The honor and glory of Illusia," he responded firmly.
    "To whom do you grant the power over your life and death?"
    "The possessor of the medallion may take my life if I ever dishonor our people."
    "Do you swear to destroy all enemies of Illusia?"
    "I do."
    "And who are your enemies?"
    The young man's face twisted into a savage snarl as he roared his answer. "All Noronians and their allies!"
    She repeated the oath-taking with the other four then turned to her council. "You have witnessed their vows of loyalty. Now witness their bravery and strength. Let the battles begin."
    The young people rose and all but the first moved to the edge