Crimson Queen by E.A. Winters EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Author: E.A. Winters
- Language: English
- Genre: Teen & Young Adult Wizards & Witches Fantasy
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
THE DUNGEON
Windowless dungeons are dark, cold, and accompanied only by the
saddest of rats—the ones that haven’t found their way into warmer
accommodations. Certainly the place provided little in terms of
food to pillage, but the quick padding of footfalls and the rattle of tin
echoing down the hall reminded him that the rats had occasional
opportunities for foraging.
A hooded figure came into view, lit only by the meager flickering light
of a candle so stubby it barely deserved the name. The figure slid the tin
plate under the lowest bar of the dungeon cell, an inch-and-a-half slot the
candle and rations fit under with no difficulty. Mystery Figure placed a
small tin cup through the bars for good measure, and then disappeared.
The man in the cell crept forward, less like a disheveled cur snatching
fallen crumbs and more like a panther on the prowl. His movements were
lithe and graceful, smooth and deliberate. His callous fingertips ran across
the smooth surface of the plate, then explored the porous bread, pulling
apart the pieces and deconstructing it piece by piece. The first slice of
bread, the slice of old cheese, a slender steel key, a barely detectable sliver
of meat, and a thin slip of paper.
A ripple of what might have been excitement ran up his spine. He
unfolded the paper and lifted the stub of candle to examine it. The warm
light caught a plate of opal-like stone embedded on his temple, casting a
rainbow of color across the strip of parchment:
Her Majesty the Queen formally invites you to dine with her at 9:30 p.m.
Hot wax ran down his thumb, but he hardly noticed, only rubbing it
between his thumb and forefinger thoughtfully before snuffing out the
flame and relishing the soft hsss that emanated from the wick. He dropped
the parchment into his cup, swirled it twice, and downed the beverage in a
single gulp.
2
I’d be happier if it were a barred cage, but Madensig Fortress isn’t
much better. Let her rot.”
Semra sucked in a breath. Count Darbune often gave tactless
comments, but suggesting that their young king let his sister rot just two
months after his father’s assassination seemed a little much.
The members of the high court filled eight chairs around a large oak
table—seven men, and then Semra. The lower throne room was much
smaller and far less ornate than the one upstairs, exchanging marble floors
and gold inlaid pillars for dark woods and onyx-accented pieces. Zephan sat
on a carved throne with mahogany dragon wings folded behind him and an
array of mahogany spears fanned out above them. His eyes fixed on the
map in front of him.
Darbune rapped his knuckles on the table. “Queen Avaya, as I am loathe
to call her, has the loyalty of a toad and the heart of her Belvidorian
predecessors. We saw how they slaughtered each other for the throne. I’d
sooner marry a pig than send a delegation to her in Belvidore.”
General Soldan set his goblet on the table. “That’s quite enough, count.
Anger at her betrayal does not solve the problem—and she is still a
Shamaran.”
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