Read Chains of Revenge for Free Online Page A
Authors: Keziah Hill
of man are you to chain another human like that? She’s not a dog to be led around at your will. She’s our princess and deserves your respect.’
‘I respect her a great deal. So much so I need to know where she is at all times.’ Devadas waved both of them away. ‘This is not your business. Go back to your work. I don’t intend to destroy Horvald. The Princess Lissa is showing me Horvald, which I must say is very different to the cesspit it once was.’ He looked around the square and saw the people of Horvald had taken care in the building of their town. The square was broad and tidy with flowerbeds and shady trees. He could see it as a place where the townsfolk came to relax and rest after hard days in the fields. It was a pleasant vision, restful and easy. He turned back to the man.
‘In a few days I’ll gather the town’s people together to tell you all about your new king. Until then, go back to work.’
A look of recognition flashed on the man’s face. ‘I know you. You’re that slave, the one Princess Lissa pulled out of the Training Arena.’ He looked him up and down. ‘Come up in the world have you? But not so much that you don’t draw the line at torturing women. From what I heard, your time with the princess saved your hide. So what’s this about?’
Shame and rage flared hot and bright in Devadas’s chest. ‘Nothing that concerns you. I told you to get back to work, and I meant it.’ He turned to Luc at his right. ‘Get these people out of here.’
‘As you command, My Lord .’
Devadas shot him a sharp look, hearing the laughter in his voice. ‘Don’t start,’ he muttered.
‘No, I’ll leave that to you,’ Luc muttered back to him, indicating Lissa. ‘Good luck with the whole king bit. I gather this means we’ll be here for a while.’
Devadas glared at him as Luc sauntered down to the crowd. ‘Now, now, you heard the Lord Death. Back to work. He’s not a bad man, just a little over-emotional at the moment. Coming back to Horvald, where he once had such strong ties, has overset him somewhat.’
‘Luc…’ Devadas growled in warning.
Luc turned back to him with a grin. ‘You do your bit and I’ll do mine.’ He turned back to the group. ‘Come on. Me and my men need food and rest. Show me where we can get both.’
The crowd, realising their Princess was in no immediate danger, started to move out of the square, some regarding Luc with interest. Devadas hoped they’d realise there was money to be made from his troops.
The former guard and Ris remained.
‘Val, Ris, please. I’m fine,’ Lissa said. ‘The Lord Death hasn’t hurt me.’
‘Death.’ Ris spat on the ground. ‘You’re a man like everyone else and like most men you think with your cock. Out for a bit of payback are you?’
‘Horvald is not the place it once was.’ Val stared at Lissa. ‘Neither is the princess. Don’t treat her like this.’
Before Devadas could reply, hoof beats clattered into the square as a lone horseman came racing up. It was a young boy, full of excitement. He pulled up his horse without dismounting, letting the horse dance around, ready to depart.
‘What’s got you so full of urgency, young Tig? What’s happening?’
‘My Lord! A retinue from Catiscal is camped outside the town walls. They want to meet with you. Sounds like they want an alliance.’
‘Alliance? What treachery is this?’ Val growled. ‘We sent for them begging aid, just as they did when the last warlord swept through this land. We helped them then, but they didn’t return the favour.’ He turned to Devadas with defiance in the set of his bones. ‘We could have stopped you if Catiscal had honoured our alliance.’
‘Alliance? How long has this so-called alliance been in operation?’ Devadas frowned. ‘Horvald and Catiscal were avowed enemies.’
Lissa shook her head. ‘Not any more. Until now that is.’ She sighed with defeat. ‘The hurricane destroyed most of Catiscal as well. We
‘I respect her a great deal. So much so I need to know where she is at all times.’ Devadas waved both of them away. ‘This is not your business. Go back to your work. I don’t intend to destroy Horvald. The Princess Lissa is showing me Horvald, which I must say is very different to the cesspit it once was.’ He looked around the square and saw the people of Horvald had taken care in the building of their town. The square was broad and tidy with flowerbeds and shady trees. He could see it as a place where the townsfolk came to relax and rest after hard days in the fields. It was a pleasant vision, restful and easy. He turned back to the man.
‘In a few days I’ll gather the town’s people together to tell you all about your new king. Until then, go back to work.’
A look of recognition flashed on the man’s face. ‘I know you. You’re that slave, the one Princess Lissa pulled out of the Training Arena.’ He looked him up and down. ‘Come up in the world have you? But not so much that you don’t draw the line at torturing women. From what I heard, your time with the princess saved your hide. So what’s this about?’
Shame and rage flared hot and bright in Devadas’s chest. ‘Nothing that concerns you. I told you to get back to work, and I meant it.’ He turned to Luc at his right. ‘Get these people out of here.’
‘As you command, My Lord .’
Devadas shot him a sharp look, hearing the laughter in his voice. ‘Don’t start,’ he muttered.
‘No, I’ll leave that to you,’ Luc muttered back to him, indicating Lissa. ‘Good luck with the whole king bit. I gather this means we’ll be here for a while.’
Devadas glared at him as Luc sauntered down to the crowd. ‘Now, now, you heard the Lord Death. Back to work. He’s not a bad man, just a little over-emotional at the moment. Coming back to Horvald, where he once had such strong ties, has overset him somewhat.’
‘Luc…’ Devadas growled in warning.
Luc turned back to him with a grin. ‘You do your bit and I’ll do mine.’ He turned back to the group. ‘Come on. Me and my men need food and rest. Show me where we can get both.’
The crowd, realising their Princess was in no immediate danger, started to move out of the square, some regarding Luc with interest. Devadas hoped they’d realise there was money to be made from his troops.
The former guard and Ris remained.
‘Val, Ris, please. I’m fine,’ Lissa said. ‘The Lord Death hasn’t hurt me.’
‘Death.’ Ris spat on the ground. ‘You’re a man like everyone else and like most men you think with your cock. Out for a bit of payback are you?’
‘Horvald is not the place it once was.’ Val stared at Lissa. ‘Neither is the princess. Don’t treat her like this.’
Before Devadas could reply, hoof beats clattered into the square as a lone horseman came racing up. It was a young boy, full of excitement. He pulled up his horse without dismounting, letting the horse dance around, ready to depart.
‘What’s got you so full of urgency, young Tig? What’s happening?’
‘My Lord! A retinue from Catiscal is camped outside the town walls. They want to meet with you. Sounds like they want an alliance.’
‘Alliance? What treachery is this?’ Val growled. ‘We sent for them begging aid, just as they did when the last warlord swept through this land. We helped them then, but they didn’t return the favour.’ He turned to Devadas with defiance in the set of his bones. ‘We could have stopped you if Catiscal had honoured our alliance.’
‘Alliance? How long has this so-called alliance been in operation?’ Devadas frowned. ‘Horvald and Catiscal were avowed enemies.’
Lissa shook her head. ‘Not any more. Until now that is.’ She sighed with defeat. ‘The hurricane destroyed most of Catiscal as well. We