Flamecaster Read Online Free PDF Page B

whispered that he was an actual Patriot—one of those who fought back against the king and his blackbird guards. His family had died when Arden took the city, so he didn’t have a lot to lose. He was old—near to forty, some said—so he’d be dead before long anyway.
    â€œThat must be him,” Jenna murmured, pointing.
    A small group of people had emerged from the pavilion amid a crowd of soldiers. Jenna recognized Delphi’s greasy mayor, Willett Peters, along with Ned Shively, the Big Boss at the mine. Swiving Shively, the miners called him.
    With them was a finely dressed pair. It was hard to get a good look from that distance.
    â€œLet’s move up closer,” Jenna said, thinking it might be her one chance to see a king or a queen in person.
    â€œI don’t think that’s a good idea,” Riley began, but she was already sliding through the crowd to the front so she could get a better view. Still murmuring protests, Riley followed after, pulling his new red cloak closer around himself.
    Now at the front, Jenna got a good look at the king. He was a narrow man of medium height with nearly colorless blue eyes and a thin, cruel mouth. He wore a slate-gray velvet jacket with a fine blue cape over top, already spotted from the sleet. The wind that blew down out of the mountains ruffled his mouse-brown hair.
    The woman with him was taller than the king, but she hunched down a little, maybe so people wouldn’t notice. She looked to be a foreigner, with her tawny skin and brown eyes and a mouth as full as the king’s was stingy. She wore a pale yellow dress with a white fur wrap, yellow silk slippers, and white gloves.
    â€œWho’s that lady?” Maggi asked Fletcher, pointing. She’d wormed her way up front, too.
    â€œThat’s Queen Marina, poor thing,” Fletcher said. “She was a princess in Tamron, daughter of the king. Gerard murdered her whole family, took over the kingdom, and married her.”
    â€œShe’s beautiful,” Maggi whispered.
    Fletcher snorted. “Did you ever see anything like it? Little fancy shoes and white gloves—in Delphi? They won’t be white for long.”
    The king of Arden moved to the front of the pavilion, his queen a foot behind him, and looked down at the collected miners.
    â€œMiners of Delphi!” he said in a carrying voice. “Queen Marina and I have come north to thank you for your hardwork this past year. I know it hasn’t always been easy, but I’m pleased to announce that coal and steel production is at an all-time high.”
    Mayor Peters and Boss Shively clapped like mad, but the miners just stood in stony silence.
    â€œNow is not the time to pull back, however,” the king said. “Indeed, we must redouble our efforts to put weapons into the hands of our soldiers. I have advised Mayor Peters and Master Shively that production goals for next year will be increased by ten percent.”
    This was met by a rumble of protest. The queen looked from the miners to the king, frowning and biting her lower lip, as if this was bad news to her, too. Then her face went back to blank.
    â€œI know this is an ambitious goal. But with Saint Malthus’s help, we will defeat the witch queen in the north and bring peace and prosperity to the Empire.”
    Nobody in Delphi looked for much help from Saint Malthus. Although Arden had sent Malthusian missionaries into Delphi, they hadn’t made much headway in converting people to the state church.
    â€œHow about you send old Saint Malthus down into the mine?” somebody shouted. “We could use the help.”
    The soldiers moved forward, scanning the crowd, trying to identify whoever had spoken up. Meanwhile, the queen knelt at the edge of the stage to speak to Maggi. Jenna was right there, so she heard everything that was said.
    â€œI have a little girl at home,” the queen said softly, in Common, “only she’s