The Coastal Kingdoms of Olvion: Book Two of The Chronicles of Olvion by Larry Robbins Read Free Book Online Page A

celebrating the new king and paying tribute to the fallen King Zander.  They had walked the halls of the castle singing the songs of Olvion and greeting others as they passed.  She had toweled herself off and returned to the bedroom portion of their small apartment within the castle.  The light shirt and trousers that he’d been wearing were on the floor and a cup of shaving soap was lying on its side in the sink.  His razor was on the floor.  She had opened the door to search the hallway outside even though, in her heart, she knew he was gone.  It took three days before hope finally left her like the last flicker in a dying fire.
    So it was that she had accepted the fact that he was gone, most likely back to that exotic world from which he had originally come.  She was still tortured everyday by the thought that he might someday be returned.  If she was going to be miserable, however, she now resolved to be miserable in familiar surroundings.  She had many friends in Olvion and she was still close to the mother of the slain King Zander.  She looked forward to seeing her and offering her services as healer. 
    Dwan relaxed a bit.  Now that she had made her decision everything seemed a little less difficult.  She glanced around her living quarters seeing the high ceilings and bright draperies and bed linens.  There was no sense in delaying.  She stood, intending to begin her packing.
    Outside of her window the alarm bells rang.
    ***
    Mattus explained his planning to Summ.  She had listened quietly as he laid out his reasoning before saying no.  The retired warrior took in a deep breath to calm himself.  Always it had been like this.  Both of them knew that she would eventually be convinced, but there was a process that must be followed in order for her to receive and digest the information.  This would be an especially difficult plan to sell because it affected one of the children, Toria to be precise. 
    “Listen to me, My Love,” he urged.  “She is seventeen summers now.  That is old enough to be mated.  She is totally isolated out here with no chance to meet a young man her age.  We have a plow head waiting for us in Olvion and my nephew, Lyyl, is there now.  We would need to get both him and the plow head out here anyway.  Seeja and I can’t take the time away now.  When will we ever have an opportunity like this again?”
    Summ stared at his eyes for a moment longer then dropped her gaze.  Mattus knew he’d won then, but there was still a bit of convincing to be done.
    “There is no certainty that Lyyl has arrived at the city yet,” she argued.  “He might have had problems getting released from service.  And, I know this may sound trite, but, just how well do we know this… Tag-Gar?  Can he be trusted with our daughter’s safety?”
    She was grasping at straws now.  “Really, Summ?” he asked gently.  “The Legend?  Is there anyone in this entire world that we could trust more?  What dangers might she encounter that he cannot protect her from?  She will pass the farms of other settlers along the way where she can meet young men her age.  In the city she will have several days to make friends with possible suitors.  Then she can show Lyyl the way back here.  Again I say, this is an opportunity that we simply cannot let pass us by.”
    There it was, the merest trace of a smile.  It meant that Summ had taken his point, and that she was pleased that her man had made such a wise decision.  She was also happy that he had included her in the development of it.
    For her part, Toria was so excited that she could barely keep herself in one spot.  She hadn’t been off of the farm since she had arrived with her family two seasons ago.  The daily chores had been mind-numbing to her even though she had performed them without complaint.  The thought of the upcoming journey was almost too wonderful for her to imagine.  She would see their neighbors, greet her cousin Lyyl and be