The Godling Chronicles 02 - Of Gods And Elves Read Online Free PDF Page B

mother and me. Several of our trade caravans were attacked, and
our interests in the copper mine were suddenly audited. I went to the
magistrate to complain, but I fear he had already been bought. The
chief finance minister manufactured reasons for our mining assets to
be stripped away. Of course they were sold to an unknown party, and
by unknown I mean Angrääl.”
    “ Was anyone else attacked like this?” asked
Millet.
    “ Oh, yes, I was not the only Lord of Hazrah with
the courage to stand up to these interlopers. But our resistance was
short lived. With the King and the temples against us, we were
reduced to simple acts of defiance and petty acts of vandalism.
Unfortunately, in my case they found my weakness.”
    “ And what might that have been?” asked
Malstisos.
    “ My mother. As I became more brazen in my
resistance, they threatened to kill her if I didn’t fall in
line. My first reaction was to send her away. We have friends in
Baltria, and I thought she’d be safe there, but they got to her
before I could make the arrangements. I was told that she had
volunteered to attend court in Angrääl as the personal
representative of the King, but the truth is they are using her as
leverage against me. It was a week after she left when the first
Angrääl troops arrived. The King announced that there was a
growing threat from the southern kingdoms, and they were only there
to assist in our defense, but it was soon clear that it was an
occupation.”
    “ It’s difficult to imagine all this,”
said Millet. “The people of Hazrah would have risen up and
fought in my day.”
    “ Some tried,” he said. “But any who
took up arms were slaughtered and called a traitor to the throne.
Most were arrested before they could organize and be send north.”
    “ Is that how you ended up in prison?” asked
Maybell.
    Jacob nodded slowly. “At first they said I was
being held for questioning about a raid on a grain shipment. There
was, of course, no such raid. It was clear I was framed to get me out
of the way. They made it seem as if I was cooperating in order to
coerce me into furthering their goals, but I refused. I think the
only reason I’ve kept my head is that my mother has agreed to
work with them.”
    “ I can’t believe Lady Nal’Thain would
side with the Dark Knight over her own people,” said Millet.
“She would rather die.”
    “ You’re right,” said Jacob. “But
it was my life and not hers she was protecting. That’s what
they do. They use the people you care for against you.”
    “ How long have you been in prison?” asked
Maybell.
    “ Six months,” he replied. “I was
released once but immediately rearrested. When I was jailed the first
time, troops were just arriving. Now they are at least two-thousand
strong.”
    “ What do you intend to do?” asked Millet.
“If you go back you’ll be imprisoned…or worse.”
    “ Like I said earlier,” said Jacob. “I’m
heading to Baltria. I have friends there who can help me. Then I’m
going to get my mother out of Angrääl.”
    Millet thought for a moment. “I’ll go with
you.” He turned to Malstisos. “You and Maybell go back
and tell Lord Starfinder what has happened.”
    “ I don’t need you slowing me down,”
said Jacob.
    Millet laughed. “If you are who you say you are
then you will need my help. I traveled with your father for many
years and am far more capable than you might think.”
    Malstisos smiled. “You should listen to your
elders, young one. Millet is far more traveled than you. Besides, I
doubt they left you with any coin. How do you intend to eat and
lodge?”
    “ I can hunt,” said Jacob stubbornly. “I’ve
learned to survive on my own.”
    “ That may be,” said Millet. “But I
serve the house Nal’Thain and have an obligation to see to your
well-being.”
    Jacob met Millet’s eyes. “You serve my
father, not the house Nal’Thain. He gave up his right to use
that name when he abandoned us.”
    “ You