Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Mars nodded again. “But he has patience as he believes this priest will eventually do the right thing and I have patience for I believe Lorenz knows what he’s doing.” Mars turned to Cassius. “I’m sending for Chu. As you know, in an effort to control her, he is dallying with Serena in Fire City. He will bring her and they both will journey to Notting Thicket to aid in keeping an eye on your father, but more, to look into the Go’Doan priests who travel with the procession.”
“Control Serena?” True asked.
Both Mars and Cass looked to him. Mars then looked to Cassius to share it was up to him if he would do the same.
“Chu, one of Mars’s Trusted, has made Serena his sex slave.”
True stared blankly at Cass.
Then he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
Cass had never seen the man laugh at all, much less so uninhibitedly, and he couldn’t stop his lips from twitching for it was not only infectious, what they were discussing was, indeed, hilarious.
“And I assume you made this happen so she would cease being such a relentless bitch to Elena,” True deduced, his voice still quaking with humor.
“Yes,” Cassius affirmed.
“Bloody spectacular,” True muttered, still chuckling.
“Every time I am around you, I like you more and more,” Mars decreed.
“Brilliant. I can sleep like a babe tonight, knowing that,” True joked good-naturedly.
Mars smiled broadly at True.
True grinned back.
And it was then Cassius realized he agreed with Mars.
Every time he was around the Dellish prince, he liked him all the more.
However, they did not have time to carry on with this mutual admiration.
“Any word from Guard?” Cass inquired.
Mars shook his head. “Zosime has not delivered him their child. She is close. But I will not call on him even after their family has begun. She will need him, and his son or daughter will need time to know their father.”
That had Cassius nodding, but he said, “This leaves you with few Trusted, Mars.”
“Lorenz guards the throne in my absence, and Chu is an adept spy. He’ll be useful in the Thicket.”
“And you have but two guard, Mars,” Cassius pushed.
“Two Trusted and two hundred warriors, Cass. I’ll have much more guard than you.”
“It is not the same.”
“I have only one enemy where I’m going,” Mars informed him.
He did.
Silence’s father was slippery and spiteful and made no attempt to hide he disliked his son-in-law and desired to drive a wedge between husband and wife, for what aim, it was unknown.
This was also obvious to everyone, save, from appearances, Silence.
“Mind him,” True put in, and both men looked his way.
“You have advice?” Mars asked.
“I have a bad feeling,” True told him.
“I fear my queen is being taken in by his machinations, but the only result of that will be, when he exposes his true intentions, it will hurt her heart.”
“I have a father I do not understand, and I do not respect,” True returned. “Even so, it does not negate the hole that has been empty all of my life in not having that important person to fill it. Silence has never shared with me, but she has long been starved of love and affection, and now she’s getting it. She is astute but matters such as these defy the logical mind when you’re thinking with your heart. I do not know if she desired Johan’s attention before. She never had it, so she seemed immune to its absence. I can only say if my father seemed to awaken from the trance he appears to have been in all my life and became a father to me, I might so welcome it, I’d be blind to the reasons behind it.”
Mars studied True with such intensity, you could almost feel the heat coming from his gaze.
He then jerked up his chin.
True left it at that and changed the subject. “I’ve had words with your mother.”
Mars did not like that and the line of his body shared it.
“I’ve asked her to work with my own to inject some modicum of Firenze into the wedding ceremony,” True explained, making Mars relax. “She was eager to be of help. She rides with you now, but I’m asking you to allow her to go to Notting Thicket to do that for Farah. I’ve also informed my mother this will happen, and she should accord Queen Elpis every courtesy when she is at Birchlire. She has agreed.”
“This is kind of you, True, and it will mean much to Farah,” Mars said quietly.
“That’s the goal,” True murmured.
“It will also mean much to Mama for she wishes to make amends to her daughter not of the blood.”
True had no response to that except to stiffly lift his chin.
Mars carried on to note, “You also travel with little guard after Farah was a target in Fire City.”