The Blind King by Lana Axe Read Free Book Online Page B

take control of the Kingdom
of Ra’jhou, adding its wealth and resources to their own. Efren wondered if it
was possible to contact these elves for guidance. There must be some
information they’ve withheld from their human students, and it might be of
benefit to Ra’jhou.
    “Your brother has
trained in fighting his whole life. His councilors are seasoned veterans of
past wars. For now, at least, let’s trust in their abilities.” Ryshel squeezed
her husband’s arm and kissed his cheek.
    “I’ll try,” Efren
said. After a pause, he added, “Would you draft a letter for me? I’m not sure I
can trust the councilors who are remaining behind. I get the sense they aren’t
all that confident in my leadership skills.”
    “Certainly, my
dear,” she replied. “To whom do you wish to write?”
    “A sorcerer,” he
replied.

Chapter 11
     
    D espite hopes
for a swift resolution, ten years of bitter fighting gripped the two kingdoms.
Letters from Aubriana to Ryshel were still being delivered, but they came less
frequently with each passing year. The princess was treated as a prisoner, and
she was suspected of passing military secrets to her family in Ra’jhou. The
accusation simply wasn’t true. She was kept in the dark of all matters
concerning the war. Her only visitors were her servants and her young son,
Rayne.
    Na’zora’s forces outmatched Ra’jhou’s at every
battle, leaving Ryshel with no way to send the princess any letters in return.
Still, she wrote about her own three children and how they had grown these past
ten years. She spoke of the good health of both Efren and Gannon, the beautiful
weather of the mountain kingdom, and the king’s lack of interest in marriage or
the production of an heir. She avoided talk of the war. Every letter she had
written sat undelivered inside her desk drawer. Ryshel looked upon them with
sadness, wishing she could have the letters delivered. With the Na’zorans
gaining ground within the realm, she knew it would be folly to try. The letters
would surely be intercepted, and they could cause harm to Aubriana, who had
already fallen under suspicion.
    Efren had done well ruling in Gannon’s stead, but
he differed greatly from his brother in his opinion of war. Efren hoped to
negotiate peace, but the council would not agree on terms. They were prepared
to give Na’zora nothing, even if it cost more lives. Gannon was content to
continue the fight. His idea of peace was slaughtering the Na’zoran king.
    Instead of arguing with his brother or the
council, Efren busied himself coordinating the movement of supplies that would
aid the Ra’jhouan army. This included food, weapons, and medical supplies,
which the soldiers desperately needed. The councilors were more involved in defending
the outlying villages, leaving the supply lines unmonitored. Efren knew that if
those items fell into Na’zoran hands, the war would be lost. Ra’jhou could not
hope to win any battles with starving and sick soldiers.
    King Gannon once again returned from battle to see
to matters at court. He did so as frequently as possible, considering the
ongoing crisis in his kingdom. Once the counselors had assembled, he stood
before them still dressed in his battle armor. “The Na’zorans have been pushed
back, but we still haven’t regained our most southern villages. They are using
them as bases for their army, and we must come down on them with force.”
    “We need more troops,” Willem replied.
    “There are none,” Gannon admitted. “We have boys
as young as fourteen signing up, but they are too inexperienced to be much use.
We need trained soldiers, but there are no more to be found.”
    “We’ll have to send conscription notices to the
farming villages,” Faril said.
    “Farmers will be just as unskilled as the boys,”
Efren pointed out. “And that will leave our armies and our people without food.
Who will produce grain and tend livestock when all the farmers lay dead on