Lament (Scars of the Sundering Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

prepare now.”
    A banquet? I wonder if Pancras
will delay our departure for a party. “Tomorrow. That’s the plan,
anyway. I suppose it could change by the time Pancras returns.”
    “This seems sudden.” A frown
crept across Lady Milena’s face as she listened to Delilah.
    “We have until Spring’s Dawning
to get to Muncifer. We have no mounts, so unless you can magically whisk us
away or are going to give us horses or something, we need to get on the road.
Plus, it’ll be safer the sooner we are out of your hair.” As soon as Delilah
said it, she realized the implications of her insult. She shook her head and
walked toward her bedroom.
    “As you wish. I will inform the
princess.” If Lady Milena took offense from Delilah’s words, she gave no
indication of it. “I’ll see what we can do about arranging mounts for you,
though I must caution you not to have high hopes. Almeria’s liveries are tight
fisted.”
    Delilah paused, expecting Lady
Milena would follow her. The knight left their chambers instead, pulling the
doors shut in her wake. Delilah peeked into the parlor to ensure she was really
gone. “Well, Deli-girl. Pancras would’ve dealt with that differently, probably,
but he’s not here, right?”
     

 
    Chapter 3
     
    Now that the day of departure was
upon them and the chilly breeze served as a grim reminder that winter may yet
have a few more statements to make, Pancras wasn’t so sure he wanted to return
to the road. Guards watched over their possessions at the palace gates while
the minotaur, draks, and dwarf said their farewells to the princess.
    Princess Valene sat on the throne
formerly occupied by her husband. Resplendent in a shimmering, green gown, she
observed as Pancras led the draks and Edric across the throne room. A tight
braid of her ebony hair fell across her shoulder, dangling between her arm and
her body. Lady Milena stood in a relaxed stance to one side, two steps down
from the top of the throne’s dais. Guards, garbed in the tabards of the new
regime, were posted on either side of the platform and flanked each door
leading into the throne room.
    Flexing his withered hand,
Pancras became aware of how loudly his new leather gauntlet creaked in contrast
to the relative silence of the throne room. He disliked gloves and other
apparel that covered his forearms and hands, but he preferred the gauntlet over
having a constant visual reminder that whatever returned him to life exacted a
horrible price on his body, a toll he was not entirely certain was paid.
    The princess tilted her head
toward the group approaching her throne. Pancras stopped and bowed before her,
gesturing with his good hand for the draks and Edric to follow suit. “It is
time for us to depart and continue our journey, Your Highness. We are eternally
grateful for your hospitality and grace.” The words felt awkward on the
minotaur’s tongue. Although Sarvesh disliked such platitudes, despite being the
ruler of Drak-Anor, Pancras understood humans tended to appreciate such
niceties.
    “So Lady Milena tells me.” The
princess nodded at the knight standing by her side. “Pity we had no time to
prepare a farewell feast for you.”
    Pancras’s stomach grumbled at the
mention of food. “My apologies, but I fear if we do not depart immediately,
I’ll lose my nerve and delay our departure until reaching Muncifer on time is
impossible.”
    “I understand.” The princess
gestured, and Lady Milena stepped forward to present Pancras with a piece of
rolled-up parchment. “I have arranged a team of horses and wagon for you.
Present this at the livery outside the city gates. If you stick to the roads,
it should speed your journey.”
    Pancras bowed again. “You have
our thanks.” He turned, but he stopped and addressed the princess one final
time. “May Anetha grant you the wisdom to enjoy a long, prosperous rule.”
    “You will be welcome guests any
time you come to Almeria. May Dolios watch over your