The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,128
gaze to his and declared, “It is unbecoming of a king to seek compliments.”
Aramus started chuckling and dipped his head as if to take my mouth, but I pushed further into the pillows behind me and he stopped.
“You are sure that all is in order to thwart what they intend to do?” I whispered.
“I am sure.”
“If it is not?” I asked.
The question had excellent timing, for above us could be heard a great flapping.
My king’s eyes had gone vague in the listening to it, but they again focused on me.
“Cass is rather proud of the architecture of Sky Bay and as such is rather intent on keeping it just the way it is,” he stated.
It was then, my eyes went vague.
“My queen,” he murmured.
I pushed up to sitting in the bed, and as he had been leaning over me, held up by a hand in the bed to one side of me, he came up as well.
But I grasped his head behind either ear to keep him close.
“I do not have a good feeling about today,” I admitted.
“It will be well.”
“Something is very wrong,” I told him.
“If you are right, then we will see it through.”
“Darling—”
“Ha-Lah, I want to be home. I want to spend long lengths of time in my castle with my wife. And then I want a great number of other things, but as those are most important, I wish to start with that and do it without a great delay. I am not alone in wishing to be amongst my own, in peace, with the woman I love, guiding my realm to prosperity. Thus, we will see it through.”
I nodded.
He kissed me, pulled away and said, “I shall join you for a late breakfast.”
At his optimism that what was about to happen would not take very long, I shook my head, but did it smiling.
Yes, my king was arrogant.
And truly, though I would never tell him this, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
He grinned at me, lifted to kiss my forehead then pushed from the bed.
He had his hand on the door when I called, “I love you, my king.”
Aramus looked back. “And I you, with the depth and breadth of the sea.”
And with that, he was gone.
Marian
Argyll Forest
AIREN
I saw them, but not before he.
I could feel his elation.
And I could sense the power coming from there.
It was a hum so strong, it was a vibration.
And not from the veil that the priest spoke about.
From that place in the trees.
Five stones standing around what appeared to be a slab.
Those stones were not of nature, but they were so large, I could not imagine how they had gotten there.
Except, perhaps, very mighty magic.
“Finally,” he whispered jubilantly.
And then he kicked his heels into our steed.
Princess Serena
Lowgate, Sky Bay
AIREN
Their four horses galloped through the gate, and the guards there did not delay in rushing it closed behind them.
They took the sea path only shortly, before they cut onto the track that would guide them to the top of the cliffs.
It was a grueling climb for their steeds, but they made it and galloped over the top and down into the forested mountains on the other side.
Brix broke off first when his Fell, Baldrick and their mounted squad of gnomes came into view.
Brix joined his people and they immediately rode to their positions.
Gal broke off next when Fern and her women came into view.
Gal joined them and they rode to their positions.
They made a turn and passed Silvanus.
Serena lifted her staff, and the Zees, on foot, turned and stole through the trees.
She felt it before they joined the final battalion, and when she did, her gaze jerked up to the tips of the trees.
“Ride on,” Chu clipped, and she realized she’d lost speed.
She loosened her grip on the reins and again drew abreast of him.
“You feel it?” she asked.
“Ride on,” he grunted.
“Chu, do you feel it?” she pushed.
He turned to her and slightly lifted his chin.
He felt it.
Then he faced forward and they both rode on.
When they met them, they headed straight to the front.
Darma, Genia and Heloise were there.
Serena and Chu rounded them and turned their mounts to come to a halt facing them.
“All are in position?” Serena asked.
“Yes,” Heloise answered, and Serena noted her lieutenant did not look at Chu.
“One squadron will have to take orders from a Trusted, is this going to be an issue?” she demanded.