Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Commander Brutus invaded the city peacefully and immediately set up barracks for his men and horses. While the city had an army, it was reserved for King Rutherford to call upon for aid. Other than that, it served no other purpose. It was an agricultural site that produced most of the produce for the Kingdoms.
I landed Pyre and Storm outside the city, and Commander Brutus and his finest soldiers surrounded me as they escorted me into the castle in the rear. We entered the stone keep then found the duke in the entryway, the crown he’d been wearing earlier already gone.
The second Commander Brutus saw him, he pulled his sword out of his scabbard.
“Whoa, steady.” I grabbed his wrist and halted it.
“King Rolfe gave his instructions.”
“I’m Queen Rolfe, and I’m telling you to back down.” I stepped toward the duke. “Eagleton is now under the rule of King Rolfe, King of Kingdoms. You have one hour to vacate the castle. You may remain in the city if you wish or leave it altogether.”
He was a middle-aged man, a thick beard along his jawline, kindness in his eyes. “And who are you, m’lady?”
“Queen Rolfe.”
“I’ve never seen a queen lay siege to a city.”
“Well, I’m not like other queens. King Rolfe is taking Supertine as we speak.”
“Divide and conquer.” He gave a nod. “I received a letter from King Rutherford—”
“Rutherford. My husband is king now.”
“Of course. He warned you would come with two dragons. I appreciated the warning, but he must have known there was nothing we could do. Our Kingdom is not built for military response.”
“Then I’m glad you surrendered. His Highness bears no ill will toward the individual Kingdoms and their people. His only issue is with Rutherford at the Capital, which we will take now that all the Kingdoms are unified.”
“King Rolfe…I remember that name.” He gave a slight nod. “He was killed more than twenty years ago. I assumed the princes had been killed as well. Guess I was wrong.”
“My husband can’t be killed.” He was too stubborn to be killed.
“So, this is about revenge?”
“More than revenge. This is about removing a dictator from power and defeating Necrosis.”
Now his face paled.
“Rutherford and Faron were working with Necrosis. They live among us as we speak—because they allowed it. This is our land, and we will dispel the evil once and for all.”
The duke didn’t voice an argument, but it might have been because he was too shocked. “I wish you all the best, Your Highness.”
Commander Brutus unsheathed his blade and moved in to strike.
I smacked his arm down. “What are you doing?”
“Following orders.”
“His surrender is peaceful.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
The duke stepped back. “I’ll vacate the castle now. Just let me collect my wife and children.”
Commander Brutus lunged at him.
I pulled out my own blade and struck down the commander with a force I didn’t even know I had. “Stand down, Commander. Or I’ll lock you up until King Rolfe arrives.”
He stepped back, unable to retaliate because I was the queen. “He’ll be furious—”
“He’s always furious. I’m the one in charge here, so delegate your men to escort the duke and his family from the castle. Those are my orders, and you’d better follow them. Is that understood?”
He stood there with his blade in hand, conflict written all over his face.
“You will receive no punishment. My husband will know I was the one responsible.” I was the one who would be punished with a salty speech and then a violent fuck, both of which I could handle. “Escort the duke.”
Once the duke and his family left, the power exchange was easy. I remained in my armor and cape just to distinguish my status. Men followed my orders, and Commander Brutus and his best men stayed with me wherever I went. If I was in my quarters, they remained stationed outside.
The dragons were in the field outside the Kingdom, eating all the sheep they wanted to reward them for the long day and night. It was chaos in the city because there were so many new soldiers and so little space. Camps were erected outside to house everyone.
And we still had more that were about to join us.
Despite the exhaustion, I couldn’t sleep. My nerves were wired, and I was worried about my husband in the north. He didn’t have dragons for his siege, but I believed Supertine would still surrender.
But he didn’t return the following day. Or the day after that.
The worry that had been simmering underneath the surface rose into a boil.
What if he’d been captured? What if he was hurt? What if he was… I couldn’t even think it.
When the worry suffocated my every waking moment, I put my armor back on and prepared to depart. I need you and Storm to come with me to Supertine. Huntley hasn’t returned.
We will burn it to the ground until we find him.