The Spoils of Allsveil: Dark Heart Heroes #2 by S.N. McKibben Read Free Book Online Page A

glass.
    Damn him. Drink already. “What are your plans for Allsveil?”
    “Father’s terms were clear. Trade, commerce, and travel.”
    “Your plan is to follow his orders?” I challenged.
    “Yes.” Darrin brought the glass to his lips. He watched me as he sipped.
    I kept my face smooth as a calm lake, but inside I was the victor, cheering my enemy’s defeat. The poison of Allsveil worked quickly; I’d get to see him writhe in pain and then die. “You always do what your father says?”
    He stepped up to the chess set and picked up the bishop. “Do you play?”
    I gave a huff. “That would be the reason I have a set in my room.”
    He examined the piece, turning it around in his hand. Any moment now the poison would take effect.
    “We’ll have to have a match.” He shook the bishop next to his ear and set the piece down. Then he drained his entire wineglass. Good, no doubt, he’d be dead. We’d already had our match and he’d lost. The shine in his eyes and that smirk infuriated me, but I kept cool knowing I’d see that face contorting in pain.
    “What do you like?” he said. “Besides swinging swords and mouthing off at kings.”
    “Mouthing off?” I gripped my chalice, ready to throw it.
    Darrin smiled and then his eyes turned cold. “You would have let Paul die.”
    I stood waiting. He hadn’t exactly asked a question and my silence was enough of an answer. Yes, I would have watched Paul die after blowing the horn and being exposed to Allsveil’s poison; which should have affected Darrin by now.
    “Just as you’d hoped to see me die.” He set the glass down on the chess set.
    I froze. He knew. Worse, the poison wasn’t working. He should be lying on the ground by now.
    “I was hoping we could settle our differences, or that I could mend your heart, or…” Darrin sighed and turned around. Wait, wait…
    When he got to the door he placed a hand on the clasp and stopped. “Lady Alexia,” Darrin’s mood and manner changed to that of a prince addressing a lesser. A lesser that couldn’t even be addressed face-to-face. “You disappoint me. I’d thought you to be intelligent, but if you do have a mind left, it’s buried in the haze of revenge.”
    Nothing he said was untrue, but it burned all the more. I n an act of vengeance for his words and disrespect, I threw my glass at the back of his head. In one smooth move Darrin turned, drew his dirk, and struck the glass. He seemed the only thing in the room immune to the shards spraying everywhere.
    “Think, Lady Alexia. In case you weren’t paying attention, your mother and mine are the best of friends. The best of friends keep no secrets from each other. Not even a poison that can be overcome if given sparingly over long periods of time.”
    My heart sunk. If what he was saying was true, he was immune like I was to the poison of Allsveil.
    “Next time, don’t ruin a good bottle of Bordeaux. Allsveil poison isn’t that tasteless.”
    He sheathed his dirk, opened the door , and closed it ever so gentleman-like. If I had more than chess pieces to throw behind him, I would have. When I heard the lock turn in the door, I went to the chess set and picked up the white knight. I removed the bottom, dug out the small parchment, and unrolled it. “It shall be done,” it read. Good. I wasn’t as stupid as he thought. In a few days, my vengeance would be wrought.
     

6 - Goththor
    Yeger, my warhorse of choice this past decade, gleamed as much as a black stallion can. My heart warmed when astride him once again. But no war or battle occupied my mind.
    Prancing within the circle of twenty-nine surrounding guards, Yeger seemed to think it was high time to be in the front. Either that or he was trying to impress the beautiful mare by his side. I couldn’t blame him. Calibre sparkled in the sunlight. Her coat shimmered hues of silver and blue. For my wife’s birthday fifteen years ago, Brie accepted, named, and rode beside me on Calibre. Now, both