The White Forest (Mages and Kingdoms Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

added quickly in response Seth's glare. "You are the tracker and the fighter and the people love you. But I am the politician. I have spent years navigating diplomacies and it isn't fair that your first test of such things be on foreign land in a pit of throne-hungry snakes."
    Seth grimaced. "She did say the situation was unraveling."
    Kernan nodded. "Even if...certain components of the treaty are no more..." Kernan tiptoed around the words trying to get his point across without sending another blow to Seth. "Draeden is still going try to assist Candor. We won't abandon her to let the monarchy fall."
    "I promised as much to her last night," Seth agreed. "We talked of expediting the wedding."
    Kernan nodded. "A solid idea. The royal cabinet will have to face two monarchies in their fight for the throne. Some may relent."
    "I will speak to her about this. I'm positive she'll be more than willing to proceed. She still wants me by her side, even though I've been a lousy fiancé."
    "No, you've been behaving as a broken man and justifiably so." Kernan placed a rough hand on Seth's shoulder. "Those words come from me as your brother. Now, as the first Prince of Draeden, I have to say that it is time to put the grieving aside and look to the next steps to secure this alliance. You have a fiancé to attend to."
    Seth threw Kernan a puzzled look. "What of your own fiancé? She was due at the palace a month ago if I remember correctly. You left her there?"
    Kernan smiled broadly. "I didn't have time to write about it with everything that happened. We are no more."
    "What?" Talon surged forward quickly. Seth shared the same shock. "What happened?"
    "Quite simply, I asked her if she wanted to marry me. Man to woman. Not prince to noble. And truthfully, she didn't. She loves her seaport land and had no wish to move. She was surprised I offered the choice." Kernan's smile turned sad. "Amelie didn't leave Draeden without speaking her mind on our customs. I was wise to heed some of her opinions."
    Seth sat dumbfounded. "Well," he said.
    Kernan nodded. "Yes. Well. There are no grievances on either side. Except perhaps from Father who would like a grandson sometime in the next decade.” He looked around the room, inspecting his surroundings. “Well, now it seems I have ample time to see where my brother will be living."
    "Claudia is better at the tour than I," Seth answered.
    "And I will take it. But business first. The princess is preparing for a cabinet meeting. Sir Duncan and I are to help her in her address. Tell no one I’m here yet. I was received quietly so not to cause a stir. Two princes may put the cabinet on the defensive. For now, I will observe and advise, no more."

Chapter 5
     
     
    Amelie
     
    Accompanying Henna into the villages was one of Amelie’s favorite activities. Donning a simple brown cloak, she blended in easily with the other mages, many who wore cloaks of their own. It felt good to leave the cottage realm. Though Simon had provided a thick sample of forest, complete with a small waterfall and pond, after a couple of months Amelie felt like pushing on the edges. Everything grew smaller.
    He tried to vary the surroundings from time to time but even with moonstone, there was only so much he could do, not to mention keeping up with his part to maintain the White Forest which was populated by tens of thousands of mages. But Amelie was used to a wide berth of travel and the confinement of Simon’s small realm, no matter how pleasant, was felt.
    Sensing her unease, Henna invited her into the nearest mage village one morning.
    "We need supplies," she'd said, fastening a green cloak around her neck. She handed Amelie the brown one. "Come. It'll do you some good to see more of this land."
    Amelie had no argument. She rode with Henna on the main road for a while until she felt the telltale sign of leaving Simon’s realm, the brush of magic on the back of her neck. She glanced over at Henna.
    "What will happen if I'm