The Geomancer by Clay Griffith Read Free Book Online Page A

known Gareth for a long time, Your Majesty. And we both know he is mad. It is because of his insanity that the human armies could be outside Paris this spring. Therefore, I have brought the last of Cesare’s weapons to save you. We must hold the line here.” She looked at Honore. “And we will.”
    Caterina wanted to respond sarcastically. The queen knew that Hallow had, in fact, been Gareth’s lover more than a century ago before turning her allegiance to his brother, Cesare. Now Hallow was shifting her allegiance to yet another prince.
    Honore brushed Hallow’s pale cheek with his strong fingers. When he turned to his mother, he didn’t see Hallow scowl in distaste at his touch. The Dauphin said, “The Equatorians are coming. There’s no doubt. Do you think King Lothaire could do anything about it?”
    Caterina snapped, “Don’t disrespect your king.”
    â€œWhere is he? We arranged this demonstration, and he isn’t here.”
    â€œI came,” Caterina retorted in defiance, “in his stead.”
    The Dauphin sneered. “With the children, no doubt. He spends more time in the nursery than I ever did.”
    â€œHe is still your father.”
    â€œSo you say. He’s soft and weak. His failure to our people makes me sick. Cesare always said father was worthless, just like Gareth, and he could cost our people the war. But once I destroy the Equatorians, I will be the face of the Paris clan. I will take our power around the world to put the humans back in their place. I am Cesare’s heir, not Lothaire’s.”
    Caterina fought to control herself. “You do realize that your hero, Cesare, lost everything. His clan is dead.” She pointed at Hallow. “Except for a few refugees who were lucky enough to be outside Britain when the fire came, and who now come looking to rule another clan with an army of homeless mercenaries to displace our own packs.” Caterina looked at the vampires who floated over the helpless humans outside. She knew these were all gathered from the clans of southern France and the Balkans that had been smashed by the Equatorian armies. They owed allegiance to Lady Hallow alone. “But no matter what refuse Hallow brings us, the Equatorians have the Death Bringer. What do we have against that?”
    Honore’s visage went red with anger. “We have me , mother. I am the war chief now. Father’s old relics from the Great Killing have been set aside and I am in charge. Lady Hallow is my right arm, and she has brought the Witchfinder.”
    The Witchfinder himself paid no attention to the bickering vampires as he knelt to place a crystal on the floor. He stared through his brass sextant before nodding to himself in satisfaction.
    Honore reached inside his shirt and pulled out a blue crystal on a chain. “He can stop the Death Bringer. We have sent forces back into Britain wearing these.”
    Caterina stared at the object. “Is that true? We have set foot in Britain?”
    Lady Hallow pressed Honore’s hand down, slipping the talisman back into his shirt. “We certainly saw them reach the island, where none of our people have gone since that night the Death Bringer killed everyone.”
    â€œEven so,” the queen retorted, “is your human going to make those stones for every living vampire?”
    â€œNo, I’m not,” came the voice of the bearded man as he finally turned to the trio of vampires. He came forward, stepping carefully through the complex pattern of crystals he had arranged on the floor. “Those talismans are merely tests of my theory on how the empress exploits the power of the Earth, what we scientists call geomancy. I had made one of those baubles for Prince Cesare because he was afraid of the empress, rightfully so it appears.” The Witchfinder chuckled. “In any case, those talismans are minor applications of my grand theory. What you will