Shard Knight (Echoes Across Time Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

eyes. “Did I ever tell you that you’re the spitting image of your father?” Her words came out hushed, and her voice trembled.
    “I think you just did,” Ronan said.
    Brunte knelt behind the queen and using a soft soothing voice said, “I’ll wait here with you until help arrives. I’ll not leave you alone.”
    In the next heartbeat, the still air behind Brunte shimmered, and the shielded form of Merric Pride appeared like an apparition. He held a dark blue orb of spirit energy in his outstretched palm that doubled the size of Kristen’s. In his other hand, he leaned against the solid silver cane the old cleric always carried with him.
    Ronan’s vision flashed red, and a wave of dizziness swept across him. He opened his mouth to scream a warning as Pride unleashed the magic into Brunte’s back.
    The battle knight’s chest disappeared in a mist of red vapor as Pride’s attack tore the man in half. As his body fell to the side, the yellow light shimmering on his shard ax’s blade died with him.
    Ronan pushed his mother aside before the dark orb exiting Brunte’s chest could strike her too. Pride’s magical attack burst through the carpet sending splinters of wood flying in bits and pieces across the room.
    Arianne rolled to her side and pushed herself to her feet as if awakened from a deep slumber. She spun on the archbishop. “You murdering bastard!”
    Pride ignored the insult. “You should have trusted your instincts Ronan. They were sound. It’s a lesson I wish you could learn from, but I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” Pride said.
    “Why would you do this?” Arianne said.
    “Why? You ask me why? I can’t trust you with the affairs of state. You have savages running the streets, attending our churches, and even owning businesses. Your father wouldn’t stand for it.” Pride shook his head giving her a contemptuous look. “I promised him, I’d keep you contained. I wish it hadn’t come to this, but I’m not surprised.”
    “You’ll hang in the street. I’ll see to it myself,” Ronan said.
    Pride laughed. “Is that what you think?” With a twist of his wrist, the cane in his left hand fell away and split into separate parts revealing a needle sharp blade built into the handle. Pride’s expression twisted into an ugly distortion of the face he showed his congregation every Saturday morning. With surprising speed, he lunged forward sinking the blade into a spot just above the queen’s heart. He rammed the blade through her body until the cane’s handle touched the red stain spreading across her dress.
    Ronan lunged forward and grabbed his mother before she hit the ground. Holding her in his arms, he eased her back and looked into her eyes as her life drained away. Arianne moved her lips to speak, but the words came so soft he couldn’t hear. Ronan placed his ear over her mouth. “I love you. I love you both so much.”
    Hot tears streaked Ronan’s face. “I love you too mother.” His voice faltered as cold numbness spread across his body.
    With those final words, her eyes glazed over, and Queen Arianne died.
    Ronan eased his mother’s head to the ground and closed her eyes.
    Pride shook his head. “Such a senseless death,” he said without a hint of remorse.
    Ronan ground his teeth, clenched his fists, and spun on Merric Pride. “I’ll see you dead for this. Do you hear me?”
    Pride smiled with contempt. “Such bravado. But, I can’t have you control the throne and continue to hand my country over to the Ayralens.” He raised his hand as another orb of energy gathered in his outstretched palm. “No. This is the end of the line for you I’m afraid. Your bit part in this drama is at an end. As he released the spirit magic from his palm, a streak of movement came from the closet door.
    Ronan jerked backward off his feet as Pride’s attack sailed past him and blasted a chunk of plaster from the bedroom wall ten feet away.
    Holding onto Ronan’s suit collar, Patron