Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten (Order of Fire Book 1) by Kameron A. Williams Read Free Book Online Page A

was good at taking lives, taking land, and taking women, and she had accepted that the day he had taken her as a wife. It had made Tharid angry to hear her say that; being just a boy, he’d wondered why his mother wasn’t good enough for his father. Though he had grown out of the naivety of those childish feelings, even still, he would be untruthful if he said it didn’t bother him just a little that his father so indiscreetly paraded about with other women— many women. At least he could have been quiet about it, for his mother was elegant and deserving of far more respect and honor than she received from her husband. It was true that she could no longer bare children, but that mattered not. Tiomot didn’t care for heirs, he had no heirs. He was a selfish ruler that once proclaimed he would rather knock the walls of Snowstone Castle to the ground before allowing it to be governed by any other than himself. Tiomot didn’t care for heirs, he had many heirs. He was known for taking maidens from all corners of the land into his bedchamber, then sending them away when he grew tired of them, and, especially, when they were with child. Not even Daan or Padiir knew how many illegitimate sons and daughters roamed Krii with the blood of the Bear King in their veins. Tharid wagered he had dozens of half brothers and sisters that would have no chance to grow into sovereigns, no claim to a throne, no place in the royal castle, not a silver cup to drink from. Tharid was still the only royal child—the first and last son of his mother.
    “Is it Tharid?” the queen answered from within.
    “Aye, mother,” the prince replied. “It’s me.”
    Thae bid her son to enter. “So, was the king concerned with the letter?” said Thae, resting her hands on her hips; her tone made it clear that she knew the answer.
    “Not in the least,” Tharid replied. “He barely stopped what he was doing. Mother, was it necessary to tell him now? When he’s with his whores we can hardly expect a sound decision from him.”
    “It matters not when you tell him,” said Thae, taking a comb from her table by her bed. “And you of all men should know there will be no sound decisions from your father concerning diplomacy. What did he say?”
    “Well, he wasn’t bothered by it,” said Tharid, taking a seat on his mother’s bed. “I had to convince him that war with Cyana would not be good for the kingdom.”
    “He shouldn’t have to be told that!” Thae said firmly. “He seems to think he can wipe out Dandil like the tribes in the north.”
    “Padiir have mercy!” The queen sighed, pulling her comb through a section of her boundless brown mane. The thick locks swarmed around her pale face before leaping all the way down to the ground past the hem of her garment, hanging there long and free like the leaves of a willow.
    Tharid chuckled. “The man fears nothing,” he said. “At least that can be said.”
    because he is foolish?” said the queen.
    “That is a question I’ll let you answer, Mother.”
    The queen rolled her eyes. “You know my answer.”
    Tharid chuckled. “Here, let me comb the back for you.” He stood and took the comb from her.
    “I don’t know why we even bother telling him of these matters.”
    “Nor do I,” said Tharid. “He did finally agree to send his letter of assurance, but for a moment I thought we’d be going to war. I couldn’t let your hard work go to waste because father thinks himself invincible.”
    Thae squinted a bit with a questioning grin.
    “You’ve preserved us,” Tharid explained, “when Father’s scandals would have ruined this place.”
    “Have I now?”
    “Aye. When the people of Snowstone suspected it was father who was abducting the city’s women, before he had entrusted the job to the Condor, and there was nearly an uprising—do you remember?”
    “I do.”
    “It was you who addressed the people and, speaking like the graceful queen you are, convinced them most eloquently