Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign (Worlds of the Crystal Moon, Book 1) (74 page)

Shalee passed her right hand across the blades of Keldwin’s frozen soldiers as she continued to speak. “Your men keep their weapons sharp. You must be proud of your army. I would ask that you open your mind and realize your ways aren’t our ways. We’re not from your world. We won’t be bullied, nor will we spend our moments on senseless traditions.”

The sorceress continued up the stairs leading to the throne and walked behind Keldwin. She rubbed her hand across the nape of his neck and could feel him tremble. “Where we’re from, we treat folks the way we want to be treated. You should give us the respect we deserve, My King, and we’ll get along just fine.”

Shalee floated back down the stairs and removed the weapons from the guards’ hands. “We have no intention of bowing again until you speak with us as equals. You’ll treat us with respect ... as friends. Once you’ve done this, you’ll have our loyalty, and we’ll adopt your customs. We’ll conform to your silly illusion of respect. People don’t respect you because they bow to you, Keldwin. I would imagine your people bow because they fear your crown.”

The sorceress placed the swords at the king’s feet and then backed up as she continued to grandstand. “I watched as you hid behind your throne. This is a sign of weakness, and I don’t respect a weak man. I would only respect a king who has the nerve to get something accomplished. I respect a man like Sam. You need a man like Sam helping you, Keldwin. I won’t stand here and allow you to make a mockery of him. You haven’t earned the right to command us to do anything ... yet. If you want us to bow, I suggest you stop this foolishness before I become angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”

Shalee moved back up the stairs and removed the king’s sword from his hand. She turned it around and tapped the blade against his chest. “You don’t wish to see me angry, do you, Keldwin?”

The king shook his head.

The sorceress continued. “We have been brought here by the gods, and we have no intention of leaving until we find a way to save the worlds. I think we should work together.”

Sam could not wipe the smile off his face as he commanded his sword to go cold and sheathed Kael. He loved this side of Shalee.

The sorceress stood on her toes and placed her chin on the king’s shoulder. “I want you to find a spot for Sam in your army … and it better be an important position. Consider this a non-negotiable request. I’m sure you understand what ‘non-negotiable’ means. My position won’t change on this matter.”

The sorceress walked out from behind Keldwin and lowered the king’s sword to the floor with the others. Before descending the steps to rejoin Sam, she brushed her hand across Keldwin’s face. “Do we have an understanding, Keldwin? If we don’t, speak now. I can always use much stronger magic than you’ve witnessed.”

Keldwin felt disheartened as he lowered onto his throne. He took the moments necessary to think. After a short while, he responded. “Is anyone hungry … or is it just me?”

Sam laughed and then ascended the steps to grab Keldwin’s hand. Pulling the king to his feet, he put his arm around the monarch’s shoulders. “Now, that’s the best thing I’ve heard all Peak. Do you have pancakes?”

Sam and the king were about to leave the room when Shalee commented. “My King, no one will remember the events of this Peak, and we will now adopt your customs. Thank you for listening, Sire.”

The king forced a slight smile. “It appears I was being hasty. We have much to talk about over breakfast.”

Sam and the king turned to walk through the doors.

After they were gone, Shalee moved across the room and released her magic.

As the guards reanimated, they were confused by the absence of Sam and the king. They exchanged glances between their empty hands and the pile of swords in front of the king’s throne.

Shalee giggled as Helga winked. The younger sorceress lifted her arm and pretended to give her friend a high-five before turning to leave the room.

Helga looked at BJ and grinned with a hint of mischief. “I may not be able to teach her how to command her power any longer, but I can still teach her how to be a vixen with it. I guess all went as planned.”

BJ’s brow furrowed as a hundred questions filled his eyes. “What are you talking about? What’s a vixen? Did Shalee teach you that word?”

Helga licked her lips. “She did. Just wait until I teach you the phrase, ‘Who’s your daddy?’”

Taking him by the hand, Helga led BJ and the confused prince out of the throne room to find the king.

SAM,
Shalee, BJ, Helga, and the prince spent the rest of the day with Keldwin. All parties enjoyed getting to know one another. They shared information that needed to be exchanged. And now, with Late Bailem approaching, the king is about to give an address, announcing the details of his upcoming tournament.

DOUBLE D
is still traveling to the city of Brandor. He is now only 3 Peaks of Bailem from the city gates.

GEORGE
, Maldwin, and Amar are due to arrive in Lethwitch tomorrow and have decided to stop for a night’s rest. They will sleep at an inn located inside the gates of the city of Champions, not far from the landing platform.

KEPLER
is on his way to Gessler Village. His trip has been uneventful. When he reached the northern part of the Dark Forest, he asked Hestin, an asordian sparrow, to deliver a message to his brothers. He wants the cats to be at Gessler landing platform when he arrives.

THE GENERAL ABSOLUTE
, Justin Graywind, is with the army’s high-ranking officers. He is being briefed on the field reports so that he can create new orders. As expected, the wagons are being built in an orderly fashion. Each populated area will have more than 70 new harvest wagons within the next 17 Peaks. The carpenters and engineers are working with the king’s army through the nights.

The general knows they only have another 20 Peaks of Bailem before the harvest. He orders his officers to disperse throughout Southern Grayham to ensure that all men, no matter what their occupation, are helping in the process. He also follows up on the progress of the construction of harvest barns, and he has given his officers enough coin to hire 400 men to build these barns. After a few more orders are given, he closes the meeting and makes haste to join the king at his dining table.

CELESTRIA
is still living with the elven witch family. She has now taken up walking to avoid them as much as possible.

LASIDIOUS
has been on the world of Luvelles. Five nights ago, he felt Shalee’s power from afar. He excused himself from another long conversation with the Source and went to see what was happening.

Lasidious had put a warning spell on Shalee the day he brought her to the Temple of the Gods. He had also secretly listened in on a conversation between Bassorine and the Book of Immortality inside the Hall of Judgment. The late God of War told the Book that Shalee was unique, and that she would eventually grow to command great power. This news prompted Lasidious to put the warning on Shalee.

Lasidious would never have dreamed that Shalee could become so powerful so quickly. Something more had to be behind her accelerated growth. Whatever the reason, he needed to find out why, or George would run into opposition that would affect their plans.