Whispers of a Legend, Part One-Shadows of the Past by Carrie James Haynes Read Free Book Online

me to walk to his
side, dismissing all except for one. The Sordarin must have
importance for he carried himself thus. Tall, dark, and muscular,
his manner gave way to a semblance of intelligence surrounding him.
I imagined he must hold council with my grandfather. He gave me a
slight smile, but when I turned back to my grandfather if I
expected a semblance of emotion from him in seeing his once seemly
dead grandchild, I was to be disappointed.
    “So you’re Kela, a Euchoun?” he looked upon
me. “I understand you almost wiped out my entire Royal Wings. I
send them to retrieve you and you almost destroyed them.”
    Instinctually, I took a step back. Had I
heard his words correctly? Reprimanded for my actions! I stared
wide-eyed at my grandfather. Sudden emotions overwhelmed me. My
eyes flamed. How dare he question me! We had no knowledge he was
coming for us! I had only done what was within me- protect!
    King Edulf rubbed his eyes and ran his hand
through his hair. He seemed greatly agitated for having to deal
with me. “Your upbringing has been sadly lacking! I know not if it
can be saved at your age. What are you child? Twelve? Thirteen? If
you were male, I would know what to do. There are consequences to
such actions.”
    “My Lord?” the other asked. He looked
strangely at his king. “Of what are you saying? I thought we had
talked about a course of action.”
    “Lothar!” King Edulf declared suddenly and
loudly. “I have not decided a course of action, but think not I
will be questioned in front of a subject. I have to decide an
acceptable solution.”
    I stood speechless. I might not have
expected a warm reaction, although I had long thought it would have
been. My eyes grew large. His man, king, couldn’t abide being in
the same room with me, his own grandchild that much I was certain.
I stood now as if I was an inanimate object.
    “She needs to be taught quickly about the
ways of the Sordarins. If she is indeed what has been proclaimed to
be, she has much to learn. A Euchoun protects, not does harm upon
us. It should well have been within her instincts. It may be she
hasn’t gotten the instincts within her. She will have to be
developed. The East tower will serve as her quarters. We’ll start
with a month of bread and water and a strenuous schedule of
lessons.”
    “My Lord,” I spoke. At first in a low voice,
but while my courage grew so did my voice. “Who are you to question
my actions? Why would I assume that your guards descending down
upon my home were friendly? They tore through the roof. No one
knocked upon the door, but instead tried to ram it. Turstan for
years talked of nothing but the grandeur of Sordarins. My father
was one, but do you not comprehend that he was betrayed by such. My
father is dead because of trust of his own. My mother betrayed by
your minister. So tell me once more about my actions.”
    Silence ensued within the room. King Edulf
stared at me intensely unhappy with my outburst. He stood
straighter and seemed suddenly to have grown taller. With a flick
of his hand, he called for a guard who responded immediately. The
guard reached for me.
    Thoughts ran rapid within me. He was
dismissing me, rebuking me. Was he sending me to the Tower? Anger
built inside of me. I would not be treated so. My hand raised and
repelled the guard’s touch. Tears welled in my eyes. Where was
Turstan? I wasn’t going to stay thus. I would leave with
Sareta…Falco.
    From behind me a voice emerged. “My Lord. I
beg your forgiveness,”
    Relief flooded me for it was Turstan. He
spoke loudly. “I’m afraid proper etiquette I taught not, but the
girl can fight. I can assure you, my Lord.”
    Turstan walked toward me, a well-groomed
Turstan. He had cut his beard down, washed and dressed proudly with
the Royal Guard uniform. Without thinking, I ran toward him and he
took me in his arms.
    “I want to go home, Turstan,” I whispered.
“I don’t like it here. Sareta is better, stronger. We