The Death Seer (Skeleton Key) by Skeleton Key, Tanis Kaige Read Free Book Online

wouldn’t go mad? “Our pretend adventures,” I clarified. “Of course I remember.”
    “Pretend? How could all that have been simply pretend. Surely you remember more than that.”
    His smile had slipped only a hint. “We sat at your windowsill and pretended. Night after night. I never saw you leave that room. You were a prisoner, there.”
    His fingertips dropped from my chin. The water lapped against the mud wall next to us. “Of course,” he muttered softly. “It was only imaginary. Hundreds of years of lives lived in our imaginations. All those books you brought me.”
    “A child’s memories don’t necessarily reflect reality.”
    He barked a laugh. “Reality. You can use that word after the day you’ve had?”
    “Stand and face me, foul beast!” a voice echoed from above us. It was immediately followed by the thunder of hooves pounding across the drawbridge, a terrifying sound when you’re directly beneath them.  
    Kord sighed. “At last, the hero arrives. He does like to relive his triumphs. Come on, I think we can slip into the castle, now.”
    “Who is that?” I asked.
    But Kord was already using the mud wall to leverage himself to the edge of the drawbridge. He got both hands on the wood planking and lifted himself effortlessly out of the water. A moment later, his hand extended down. “Hurry,” he whispered.
    I took his hand, and he lifted me out of the water. On my hands and knees on the planking of the bridge, I turned to see a man in full armor brandishing a sword at a fire-breathing dragon. I’d seen the fire, but even so, I don’t think I truly believed there would actually be a dragon behind it.
    “Let’s go. Unless you want turned into toast.”
    The fire burst form the dragon’s mouth, engulfing the hero. The flames were far enough away, but the heat hit me and I scrambled to my feet. Kord took my hand and we ran across the bridge and into the castle courtyard. A crowd gathered near the entryway. Each and every one of the people was lavishly dressed, although like the people in the tavern, they each looked like they came from a variety of places and eras. The kings and queens of yore.
    All their eyes were focused on the dragon fight until we entered their midst. At first there were startled looks, and then a near unanimous cry of, “Kord!”
    We were swarmed, the crowds of royalty reaching out to touch Kord like he was their savior. I was wedged out, getting further and further from him, squeezed out like toothpaste.
    “Whoa, whoa!” Kord’s voice rose above the throng. “I’m happy to see all of you, too. Please don’t trample my friend.”
    The crowd parted, leaving a clear path from me to Kord, who held his hand out to me. As I hurried toward him, I glanced side-to-side at the monarchs lined up for Kord’s attention.
    He gripped my hand firmly. “Can we take lodging tonight?”
    The crowd cheered.
    “You know I can’t tend to each of you.”
    “We’ll battle for you!” shouted an elderly king.
    “Choose me, Kord,” said a particularly lustful queen with breasts bound tight in a corset and peeking over the bodice. She slinked towards him and trailed her fingertips down his his chest and abdomen. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
    “Harlot!” someone shouted from the edge of the crowd.
    “Now, now, what’s this?” came a booming voice from outside the circle. Once again the crowd parted. A powerfully built king with short cropped brown hair and a strong chin came toward us, a bright smile on his face. He wore segmented iron armor, a skirt of some sort made of leather strips, sandals that laced up his shin, and an ornate red cloak over it all. “Well, look who’s here. Haven’t seen you in a while, boy!” The king brought Kord into a bear hug.
    “Gus, good to see you,” Kord squeaked, most of the breath having been squeezed from his lungs. As soon as he was released, Kord brought me to his side. “This is my friend, Brenna.”
    Gus grabbed me and