A Charge of Valor (Book #6 in the Sorcerer's Ring)
Page 22
“I told her,” the Queen said. “But she would not believe it.”
Thor shook his head.
“My love for her is as strong as it ever was. Even stronger.”
“But you were not here to tell her that with your own words, were you?” the Queen asked. “So she has gone. To enter the Tower.”
“Then I will go and find her!” Thor said, preparing to leave.
“She will not listen,” the Queen said. “Those who enter the Tower never leave. I fear Gwendolyn is lost to you.”
“Nothing is ever lost,” Thor said. “You are a defeated woman. A widow. A pessimist. I am young and strong. My love for her will bring her back.”
The Queen smiled wryly.
“And you are an optimist,” she countered. “And naïve. You don’t understand a woman’s perspective.”
“I don’t need to,” Thor separate “I know Gwendolyn. And I know who I am. And I know what we have. We can transcend all of this. This doesn’t mean a thing.”
Thor did not want to hear any more of this embittered woman’s rants; he turned and prepared to leave the room—when suddenly something occurred to him, and he turned back to face the Queen.
“Why don’t you want me to be with Gwendolyn?” he pressed.
At first she stared back at him blankly, but then she looked away.
Thor stepped forward, needing to know. He knew there was something she was hiding from him.
“The Sword,” he pressed, feeling it throbbing in his palm. “Legend holds that only a MacGil can wield it.”
She refused to look at him, and he sensed he was getting closer to the truth.
“Is that it? Is that why you don’t want me near her? Am I a MacGil? Was MacGil my father? Is Gwendolyn my sister?”
The Queen looked directly at him, then finally, turned away.
Thor stepped forward, at the end of his rope.
“ANSWER ME!” he yelled, swirling with so many mixed emotions.
The queen slowly looked up, silent.
“Is King MacGil my father?” Thor repeated slowly, desperate to know.
She stared at him, her eyes hollow and cold.
“No,” she finally said, flatly.
Thor froze, caught off guard. He had not expected that response. He was deeply relieved to hear that he was not related to Gwendolyn, which he had feared ever since he had been able to wield the Sword. He sensed that, finally, he was learning the truth.
“Then who is?” he pressed.
She looked away.
“He is my father, whoever he is. I have a right to know. Please. Tell me,” he pleaded softly, exhausted.
She stared at him long and hard, and finally, she uttered one word that made Thor’s knees weak, and would change his life forever:
“Andronicus.”
COMING SOON….
Book #7 in the Sorcerer’s Ring
Books by Morgan Rice
THE SORCERER’S RING
A QUEST OF HEROES (Book #1)
A MARCH OF KINGS (Book #2)
A FEAST OF DRAGONS (Book #3)
A CLASH OF HONOR (Book #4)
A VOW OF GLORY (Book #5)
A CHARGE OF VALOR (Book #6)
THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY
ARENA ONE: SLAVERSUNNERS (Book #1)
ARENA TWO (Book #2)
THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS
TURNED (Book #1)
LOVED (Book #2)
BETRAYED (Book #3)
DESTINED (Book #4)
DESIRED (Book #5)
BETROTHED (Book #6)
VOWED (Book #7)
FOUND (Book #8)
THE VAMPIRE LEGACY
RESURRECTED (Book #1)
CRAVED (Book #2)
Please visit Morgan’s site, where you can join the mailing list, hear the latest news, see additional images, and find links to stay in touch with Morgan on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and elsewhere:
www.morganricebooks.com