Truthmarked (The Fatemarked Epic Book 2)

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Truthmarked (The Fatemarked Epic Book 2) Page 49

by David Estes

“If you’d let me see them,” Arch said, and Annise was glad the quickness was returning to his mind. He’d always been one of the few in the castle who could rival the speed of her tongue.

  “It’s for your own good. We don’t want you to overexert yourself.”

  Archer narrowed his eyes and chewed his lip, not looking convinced. His tone turned serious. “What I really want to know is: How did I get knocked out in Raider’s Pass and wake up in Castle Hill?”

  Annise cringed. It was the question she was hoping he wouldn’t ask for a good long while. She’d received a three-day respite, as he’d been too weak to do more than slurp soup, sip water, and sleep, but now there was no dodging it. She decided to face it head on.

  “Well, there was a horse attached to a cart. And you were in the cart. The horse pulled the cart, and here we are.”

  “I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor, sister.”

  “It’s a permanent attachment to my body, lest I fall into despair.”

  “Annise.”

  “Archer.”

  “I’m the king, I need to know what I missed. I’m ready to lead again. To rule.”

  “About that…”

  She was saved by a knock on the door. “You may enter,” Arch said, sounding kinglier than he had since reawakening.

  Sir Metz entered, bowing at the waist. As usual, his silver armor was so well-polished Annise could see her wobbly reflection in it.

  “Good evening, Sir Metz,” Annise said. “Allow me to formally introduce you to my brother, Archer. Archer, this knight was responsible for your protection many times while you slept. May I present Sir Christoff Metz.”

  “Well met, Sir,” Archer said. “Thank you for your service. Now what can we do for you?”

  “Do for me?” Metz asked. “Nothing. I serve the kingdom.”

  Arch cocked his head to the side and glanced at Annise. She shook her head. She could explain the knight’s eccentricities later. “What my brother meant was: Why have you disturbed us so late?”

  “That’s a rude way of putting it,” Arch muttered.

  Metz looked right at Annise when he said, “Apologies Your Highness, may I have a word?”

  Frozen hell, Annise thought. Could he be any less subtle? The answer, of course, was no. Sir Metz was about as subtle as a stampeding mamoothen trying to cross a frozen lake.

  “Of course,” Arch said, sitting up straighter. Annise saw a flash of pain cross his face, but then it was gone, hidden behind her brother’s calm, confident expression. “Whatever you need to say, you can say in front of my sister.”

  Metz looked at Arch, then back at Annise. “Yes,” Annise said, hoping to salvage the situation. “Speak freely in front of both of us.”

  The knight raised an eyebrow, but then said, “A stream has been received from Darrin. There is a storm gathering strength in the east. It looks to hit Castle Hill directly.”

  “We have weathered many of storms before,” Arch said. “Why are you telling us this?”

  “Because we have delayed depart—”

  “Thank you, Sir,” Annise said. “That will be all.”

  The knight, seeming almost relieved, bowed again and departed the way he’d come, leaving them alone once more. Annise avoided Archer’s stare as it bore into her from the side.

  “Why did he stop answering my question upon your command?” he asked.

  Annise said, “There is much I need to tell you.”

  “Then tell me.”

  Just like ripping off a bandage…

  “I had a name day, Archer. I’m eighteen now.”

  “And?” He still didn’t get it, still hadn’t thought things through enough to understand. I guess that’s what happens when you’re brought up assuming you will be king someday.

  “And you’ve been unconscious for more than a fortnight.”

  “A fortnight? That long? I suspected, but I couldn’t be certain. I think I understand what you are saying.”

  “You do?” Annise was surprised at the lightness in his tone.

  “Of course, sister, my injury didn’t dim my wits. You’ve been leading my soldiers, haven’t you? Knights like Sir Metz have been obeying your commands while I slept. They’re in the habit now, and we haven’t formally returned the torch to its rightful place.”

  “Archer—”

  “Tell me everything. The sooner the details are filled in, the sooner I can return to the throne and decide the next course of action.”

  “It has already been decided. I will be going north, into the Hinterlands, along with Sir Metz, Sir Dietrich, Sir Jonius, and maybe some others. We are going to find the Sleeping Knights.”

  Arch frowned. “Enough japes. I’m no longer in the mood.”

  “It was no jest.”

  His frown deepened. “The first thing I will do is revisit this decision. On whose authority was it reached?”

  “On mine,” Annise said, rising to her full height and jutting out her jaw. “Under northern law, you have not yet reached the age of rule. I have. I am the queen now.”

  SOULMARKED by David Estes, available NOW!

  Table of Contents

  Map of the Four Kingdoms- Circa 532

  The story so far…

  PART I

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  PART II

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  PART III

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-Nine

  Thirty

  Thirty-One

  Thirty-Two

  Thirty-Three

  PART IV

  Thirty-Four

  Thirty-Five

  Thirty-Six

  Thirty-Seven

  Thirty-Eight

  Thirty-Nine

  Forty

  Forty-One

  Forty-Two

  PART V

  Forty-Three

  Forty-Four

  Forty-Five

  Forty-Six

  Forty-Seven

  Forty-Eight

  Forty-Nine

  Fifty

  The Fatemarked

  Royal Genealogy of the Four Kingdoms (three generations)

  Acknowledgments

  A sample of SOULMARKED, Book 3 in the Fatemarked Epic by David Estes

 

 

 


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