Wrath of the Forgotten: Descendants of the Fall Book II, Hodges, Aaron [top 10 non fiction books of all time txt] 📗

on display. “After so many years of service, I had thought you knew me better. I ordered you to seize the Archivist for one simple reason: she has betrayed us to a foreign king.”

Romaine’s heart lurched at Amina’s words and for a moment he thought she spoke of his own king, the man Erika had claimed as her father. But no, if she had passed into the Illmoor Fortress, Erika was heading east. The queen was speaking of Nguyen, king of the Gemaho.

“I suspected something was amiss when she claimed to have survived an attack by one of Nguyen’s spies,” the queen went on, once more facing Curtis. “That man is many things, but careless is not one of them. It seemed unlikely one of his agents could fail to best a simple Archivist. But I deemed it an acceptable risk, sending her south to retrieve artefacts of the Gods, knowing you would be here to detain her when she returned.” There was a stringent pause as the queen eyed Curtis. “It seems in that regard, I was wrong.”

The general bowed his head. “I have failed you, my queen.”

“Yes.” The queen’s eyes shifted, focusing on Romaine. “It would seem this Calafe has more sense than my own general.”

Romaine inclined his head as a show of respect, though he did not bow. She was not his queen.

Amusement danced in the woman’s eyes at the gesture.

“Regardless, it seems the time has finally come to confront our eastern neighbours.”

Hope flared in Romaine’s stomach at the queen’s words, while behind the desk, the general started.

“What?” he blurted out, then seeming to remember his manners, added: “Your Majesty, the frontier cannot afford the troops for a second campaign…”

“Of course not, General,” the queen replied, “though I trust you will continue defending our lands against the scourge of the Tangata while I am otherwise occupied.”

The general hesitated. “Your Majesty?”

The queen gave a throaty chuckle. “Thankfully, the Gods have blessed me with great foresight,” she replied. Turning, she gestured in the direction of the town. “I did not leave Mildeth alone. The Queen’s Guard marched with me, five thousand of our finest soldiers. By their might, I will finally claim retribution against the Gemaho for turning their back on our alliance.”

A long silence followed the queen’s proclamation. Romaine could see the indecision in the eyes of the general, the doubt. It was clear Curtis did not think it prudent to start a war against Gemaho while the Tangata still threatened the frontier. Despite Cara’s abduction, Romaine was inclined to agree. Yet if this was the only way of getting her back…

“Your Majesty,” Curtis said, clearing his throat, “I must advise against—”

“Your concern is noted, General,” Queen Amina replied, her voice cold, “but you would do well to trust more in your queen. Just as I trust that you will defend these shores to the last man.”

The general hesitated for another long moment, but finally he nodded. “I will, Your Majesty. You have my oath.”

“Very good, General,” the queen said. She turned her eyes on Romaine. “And what of you, Calafe?” she murmured. “What path will you take?”

“Your Majesty?” he asked, eyebrows drawing into a frown. He clenched his one good hand, though it only served to remind him of the missing one. Surely she couldn’t be asking…

“The Gemaho have assaulted the personage of our Gods,” Queen Amina mused. “It is my understanding you are familiar with her Divinity. I would have your aid on this journey, Calafe, if you wish it.”

Romaine swallowed. “I would march through the fires of hell itself for Cara, Your Majesty.”

The queen nodded. “As would I, Calafe,” she replied. Then she smiled, and Romaine saw in her emerald eyes an anger, a rage that could only come from betrayal. “Besides,” she added, “the good Archivist has something of mine I would like back.”

6

The Soldier

New Nihelm.

Standing on a hilltop, Lukys looked across the valley to where two great rivers came together on their long journey from mountains to ocean. At the point where they converged, an island had formed amidst the swirling waters. It was there the Calafe had built their only city.

Lukys had never seen anything like it. New Nihelm’s rustic beauty equalled even that of Ashura, the ancient capital of his own kingdom. Yet unlike its rival capitals, this city had no walls, no spiralling guard towers or fortifications. New Nihelm had only been founded a hundred years before, long after the warring tribes of humanity had settled into kingdoms. Its creation had been constrained only by its architect’s imagination.

Instead of walls, walkways led around much of the island’s circumference, set atop the breakwaters that protected the inner reaches of the city from the river’s wrath. Beyond, great domes of platinum and silver dotted the city, rising above the slate rooftops of the common buildings. And higher even than the domes, spires sliced the skyline, their gold and marble materials shining in the morning sun, forming a jagged pattern that seemed to mirror the mountains rising to the east.

The daylight slowly illuminated the shadowy streets, revealing a broad, tree-lined avenue that ran from one side of the city to the other, connecting with the northern and southern bridges that were the island’s only physical connection to the mainland.

Lukys could only shake his head. He had not expected to find such a wonder amidst the vast wilderness of Calafe. They had been a nomadic people even before the Tangata came, only settling in stone cottages during the worst of the winter months. All except the inhabitants of New Nihelm, it seemed.

Movement on the hillside drew Lukys’s attention back to the present. Dale came alongside him and they shared a glance. A week had passed as they marched south, always in darkness, so long that Lukys had begun to feel he were a creature of the night himself. At least the journey had allowed time for their bruises to heal, and some life to return to his friend’s face.

“You think this is where