Myrren's Gift by Fiona McIntosh Read Free Book Online Page A

charges, but only privately scorned those who did. No matter his own opinion, the law—his law—provided for Myrren’s trial. And Morgravian justice was not renowned for its mercy where a guilty verdict of devil craft was handed down. Worse, he knew what lewd enjoyment some would derive from seeing her tortured and debased—not least of all Lord Rokan—and there was nothing he could do to stop it now.
    Rokan’s evidence was persuasive and the law was. sadly, on his side. When Lord Rokan had called for a private audience with the King and had seemed utterly determined to have this woman brought to trial.
    Magnus had felt his hands were tied. Odd-colored eyes were the single most damning characteristic a person living in Morgravia could possess. The girl was doomed by the peculiarity of her features. He felt sorry for her but the time to save her had passed. At the point when Magnus could have intervened, he
    ?
    had instead been distracted by anger toward his son. Celimus’s irresponsible behavior was drawing far too much attention and the boy was still only sixteen. Shar help them when he was of an age where his father’s height and wrath could no longer cow him. But mostly Magnus had been feeling an uncontrollable rage at the dark news from his physic that his days were numbered. Magnus was fearful it would not be sufficient time to mold Celimus into a responsible heir to the throne, to create a true King from the ruin of his marriage.
    His anger was fully stoked by the time Lord Rokan kept his appointment and strode in to formally demand the young woman’s death. Celimus had not excused himself either, which would have been the polite choice under the circumstances. Instead he had hung on Rokan’s every word, his sly smile creeping wider across his face. He even had the audacity to join the conversation and this was the taper that lit the dry straw on his father’s smoldering mood.
    “Go ahead, Father,” he had jeered. “A witch trial would deflect attention from the Crown’s wayward heir and give them something to really talk about.” The mocking smile challenged the King.
    Magnus knew his son was a young man without love and all his parents had given him, it seemed, was the capacity to be cruel and self-centered. With his impending death, the King of Morgravia realized if he had been a better father, a more affectionate and loving one—even just a father who had been more accessible and keen to exert his influence during the child’s early years—it might have made a difference.
    Instead what stood before him was a clever, avaricious individual who was. to all intents, heartless. A frightening combination for the person who would sit on Morgravia’s throne. Today’s indiscretion had been the latest in a long line of acts that made his father despair of him, hate him even.
    Rokan had continued to bluster through his troubled thoughts and Celimus had egged him on. In a fit of pique. Magnus agreed, if only to get both detestable men out of his chamber. Had he any inkling that he would reign, without succumbing to his illness, for another six years, he might never have let Myrren of Baelup suffer.

Chapter 3
    Celimus was frustrated. He paced the courtyard angrily awaiting a page he had sent off to find Wyl Thirsk. The Prince enjoyed belittling Wyl but the orange-haired troll was not giving him the sort of smug satisfaction he wanted. He would be King one day and he wanted to see this one in particular cringing early to him. Wyl was Fergys Thirsk’s son after all and Celimus had despised Fergys since he was old enough to measure the bond between his father and his General. Perhaps without the famous soldier in the King’s life, his father might have paid more attention to his sole heir.
    Now all Celimus had to offer his King was contempt.
    The major rift had come when his mother died twelve years previous. Whispers around the court had hinted that perhaps her death was not quite the accident it had seemed