The Awakened Book Two by Jason Tesar Read Free Book Online

mouthed, “Oh Mama…” But no words came, no sound escaped his lips. His roughened fingers traced lightly over the bruises and disfigurement as he lowered his lips to kiss her forehead. With great reverence he slowly laid her back on the straw. He crossed Zula’s arms upon her chest and, in a futile attempt at dignity, covered her with the remains of her garment.
    It was unclear to Ajani how much time had elapsed as he found himself standing outside of the stables, staring at the blue expanse of the sky. The tears had stopped flowing and now he felt a deep hollow in his soul, a void left by the only person that mattered to him. He was alone in the world now, the last of his family.
    The silence was finally intruded upon by the unmistakable form of Lemus stumbling through the northern gate into the courtyard. He was limping badly and his tunic was cut open at the back and soaked with blood. He didn’t seem to notice Ajani as he lurched awkwardly toward the entrance to the garden.
    Ajani watched with a mild curiosity, as though an ant were crawling by. How easy it would be to stretch out a foot and crush it! Then Ajani found himself moving, following the man only a few paces away. They were in the garden now and Ajani’s pace was quickening, the gap between them closing.
    Lemus heard the footsteps and turned. “Oh it’s you,” he grunted. “Help me. I must get to my study.”
    But Ajani ignored him, rushing forward and shoving the Governor to the ground.
    Lemus winced as he fell on his back, gritting his teeth. “What do you think you’re doing? I’ll have the guards hang you by your neck. You’re nothing but a treacherous bastard, all of you. Even my own wife betrayed me.”
    Ajani kicked him in the stomach as hard as he could and the words immediately stopped.
    As Lemus struggled to breathe, silence once again returned to the garden. In the distance, Ajani could hear that several people had entered the courtyard. He assumed that they were the guards Lemus had spoken of, but it didn’t really matter who it was. He had already made up his mind about how this conversation would end.
    He leaned down toward Lemus and whispered into his ear. “The best part of the betrayal…” he paused for effect. “…is that Aelia isn’t even your daughter. Maeryn was pregnant by Adair before she met you.”
    The presence in the courtyard was growing louder; the footsteps were getting closer. But Ajani ignored them. Instead, he widened his stance, bent over Lemus’ struggling form and clenched his fists. He could see the panic in his master’s eyes, eyes that used to show only cruelty. Ajani hoped that Lemus understood what was about to happen. He hoped that the scars on his own face would communicate what he couldn’t say because he didn’t feel much like talking anymore.
     
     

Chapter 5
    After leaving Dacien, Kael made his way uphill, carefully to the north. His path was erratic, taking him from building to building, staying out of sight to keep from being caught up in any more confrontation. Not that confrontation bothered him. Indeed, it had become a way of life for him. But now that he knew where to start searching for his mother, and surprisingly, his sister, confrontation would only slow his progress.
    After the better part of an hour, Kael crested the rise upon which the mansion stood. He stepped cautiously through the gate; the courtyard spread before him. It was eerily silent, but the sound wasn’t the strongest assault on his senses. The sight of the mansion and its surrounding buildings, situated within the graveled expanse of the courtyard, was almost too much to bear. Kael felt emotions that had no names. It wasn’t sadness. Neither was it joy. It was an odd mixture of too many feelings and Kael shut them down immediately. He didn’t have time to waste.
    Dacien said that Maeryn received a visitor, so the first place to inspect was the house. The embedded gravel crunched on the dirt as Kael strode across