Mad Lord Lucian by Shay West Read Free Book Online

always asks for roasted duck when he's in a good mood.”
    Senda nodded, heading back to the buttery. He retrieved the barrel of a nice white burgundy that would go nicely with the roasted duck. He grabbed several trays and filled them with goblets, not entirely sure how many he would be serving. Two chilled pitchers completed his work.
    He followed the kitchen staff to the patio, loaded down with platters of food. Lord Mandor was dining with several other Lords and Ladies. Senda and the others served them their lunch and drink, waiting off to the side while they ate each course, ready for a second serving if anyone indicated they wanted more.
    “Terrible business this morning,” Lord Mandor said as he sipped at the leek and mushroom soup.
    “I always knew Byron was up to something. The man has shifty eyes.” Lady Elise sniffed delicately.
    Senda held his tongue, but he wanted to scream at them. Am I the only one that knows the truth?
    They applauded Anali and his efforts all through lunch. Senda wanted to vomit. These pompous asses were celebrating the deaths of innocent women and children. Every fiber of his being cried out for him to do something. But he kept his mouth shut and served thewine, gritting his teeth when one of them would laugh, recounting how the traitors had danced on the ends of the rope.
    After lunch, Senda joined the other kitchen staff for a quick bite of leftovers. Then they were busy cleaning the dishes and the kitchen.
    “Good work, everyone. You have earned a few hours of free time,” Dreban announced. The staff cheered their good fortune.
    Senda wasn't sure what to do. Without the hustle and bustle, the horrible deeds of Anali came crashing in. Maybe I will go for a walk .
    As he left Mandor's estate, he saw smoke rising in the distance. He gasped, his heart galloping in his chest. But something was wrong. None of the other folks in the streets seemed the least bit concerned about the fire.
    Senda grabbed the nearest bystander. “What is that, and why hasn't anyone sounded the alarm?”
    “That was Lord Byron's estate. Anali ordered it burned soon after the hangings were done. Along with the bodies of the traitors. Said they didn't deserve to be properly buried.” The man gave Senda a strange look before pulling his arm from the servant's grasp.
    Senda nodded absently, unable to take his eyes from the black smoke. He walked toward the fire in a stupor. A few people gathered, watching the man's home burn to the ground. Senda wondered how the fire was being contained to Byron's home. There was a slight breeze, and yet no embers drifted to the neighboring manors and businesses. He spotted Anali and shrank back into the shadows of an alley. The Mystic was obviously using magic to burn the house and was able to control the blaze.
    Senda had seen enough. He walked back to Mandor's and spent the rest of the afternoon in his room, lying on his back on his pallet, trying to think of some way to stop the Mystic from killing everyone on the island.

EIGHT
    SEVERAL DAYS PASSED without any more hangings and burnings. Senda almost believed that the evildoings were over. His life took on a familiar routine and he lost himself and forgot about Lucian and Anali.
    However, many of the servants began to spread strange tales of the walking dead. They claimed to have seen Lord Suasor himself, roaming near his estate, crying out for Jaenet, cursing Lucian and Anali. Senda scoffed, convinced these were merely stories meant to keep the gossip alive.
    The tales grew more and more frequent as the weeks passed. Several people had turned up missing and their deaths blamed on the ghosts of those that had been killed. Senda thought they had gotten scared and perhaps left the island. The idea of ghosts hurting the living was preposterous.
    Soon, no one would go on any errands after nightfall. Mandor tried punishment, but his people refused to leave the safety of the manor after sunset. He tried to threaten them, but to no