Half-Orcs: Book 06 - The Prison of Angels by David Dalglish Read Free Book Online Page A

Aurelia, who kissed her on the nose.
    “That’s right,” Aurelia said. “And people can be silly sometimes.” She turned her attention back to Harruq. “How many requests did you turn down?”
    Harruq rolled his eyes.
    “Five…maybe six if I count the hand lady.”
    His wife laughed.
    “You’ll have the kingdom bankrupt within a week.”
    “I’m not made for this,” Harruq insisted, not seeing the humor in the situation that his wife did. “Some old woman comes up saying she needs money to feed her grandbabies, but the money lenders won’t help. Now what do I say to that? I’m not a big enough bastard for this job, Aurry. They should have picked Qurrah instead. He’d know a clever way to tell these people to go home and leave him be. Not me, oh no. I just…I just couldn’t sit out there anymore. I couldn’t listen to another word.”
    “Are any still waiting?”
    Harruq felt his neck flush.
    “I may have left a few standing out there,” he muttered.
    Aurelia shook her head.
    “Get over here,” she said.
    He got up with a groan, then sat down beside his wife. As she cuddled against him she lifted her free hand, sending more of the toys dancing. Aubrienna frowned, for they were moving too fast for her to catch.
    “Mommy, slow down,” she said, holding up her toy. “My puppy can’t reach them.”
    The whirlwind of cats, trees, horses and soldiers settled, and one by one Aubrienna began knocking them from the air with her toy.
    “Ruling isn’t easy,” Aurelia said, watching their daughter play. “You need to stay calm, and know when you’re reaching your limits. When it comes to your decisions, remember, everything is a balancing act. Help those who need it, and encourage those who would falter, but not so much that they depend on you when they should instead depend on themselves.”
    “Figures an elf would mention something about balance,” Harruq said.
    “Are you saying I’m wrong?”
    He turned and kissed her.
    “I’m saying I’m tired and can’t think straight. Just ignore me.”
    The door cracked open. Harruq felt a surge of panic. They wouldn’t follow him in there, would they? A paranoid delusion of beggars, petitioners, and politicians trailing around his bed day and night filled him, and if it had been anyone else than Queen Susan who stepped through the doorway he’d have screamed.
    “Am I interrupting?” she asked.
    When he shook his head she opened the door wider, and in rushed little Gregory Copernus, heir to the throne of Mordan. He was six months younger than Aubrienna and a good three inches shorter. His hair was short and blonde, neatly trimmed like the little lord he was. Every time Harruq saw Gregory and Aubby together he kept thinking how tall his little girl would grow up to be. Orcish blood, he thought. At least it had some benefits.
    “I thought the two might play for a time,” Susan said.
    Gregory was immediately at Aubrienna’s side.
    “Here,” she said, handing over the blue dog after an intense period of mental debate. “You can have this. I’ll play with the kitty.”
    She grabbed a purple kitten from the floor, meowing with it. Gregory began barking, and in no time they had chased each other into a corner. Harruq watched with a smile on his face, but the smile couldn’t last. Susan remained standing, and he sensed she’d not come just so their children could play.
    “How are things out there?” he asked, glancing up at her.
    Susan carefully shut the door, then crossed her arms. Her skin wasn’t nearly so pale as during the parade, and with her straight hair falling free about her face she looked far more pleasant than when dolled up with jewels and dresses. Antonil was a lucky man, he thought. Shame he didn’t have the brains to stay home instead of constantly fighting wars against orcs.
    “I listened to a few more, then sent the rest away,” she said. “As you can do at any time. Harruq, if you feel overwhelmed please call for me, or send