Free The Lord of Death (The Age of Dawn Book 2) by Everet Martins

spinning in a circle as she walked. “This is incredible! Dawn Lotus? What a beauty!” She stopped and dropped low and rubbed the back of her hand along the white petals of the cup shaped flower.
    “Come along,” Carver called to her from the head of the group.
    A soldier crept towards one of the Sand Buckeyes, brandishing a spear with a bleeding pig impaled upon its tip. A drop of blood fell from the pig and landed on the bulbous mouth of the plant. The plant’s mouth creaked open and strings of sticky ichor spread as it parted. The pig screeched and its legs flailed.
    “Oh my, Phoenix it’s still alive,” Nyset said and placed one hand over her mouth, the other pointing at the pig.
    “It has to be or they won’t eat it,” Carver said, keeping a steady pace.
    With a jerk of the spear, the pig fell from the spear tip into the plant’s giant maw. The pig squealed and cried when it landed in its mouth. Walter’s jaw dropped and Nyset clapped her hands over her mouth. Grimbald worked his way beside Carver, speaking to him in a hushed voice.
    The unfortunate pig’s death cries faded as they left the gardens. They passed through an archway carved in swirling tails of the Phoenix, appearing to be in motion with a cursory glance. Such craftsmanship.
    They passed by the King’s throne room, power diamond marks were being used as lanterns and the walls were lined with jewels the size of Walter’s fists. The bastard has all of this, yet he can’t send a crew to fix a few bridges to the south. I now see why Dad didn’t like him.
    “It looks just like the paintings!” Nyset said, bumping Walter’s shoulder.
    “Yeah,” he said flatly, mouth a twisted frown.
    “Only much better in person. You should see it during the day, light passes through the jewels on the walls, giving a marvelous appearance,” Baylan said.
    They followed Carver down hallways with beautiful paintings of scenery beyond the Wall. They made at least eight turns and Walter was starting to lose his bearings. I think that is the point, a wise soldier. Finally Carver halted the group before a nondescript door, much like the others in the same hallway.
    “The King,” Malek said softly. “Wait here.” Malek entered the room and the door slammed behind him before Walter could get a good look.
    “I can’t believe we’re in the castle. What will my parents think?” Nyset said, laughing.
    “Shh,” Walter said, grinning from her infectious laugh.
    “My Pa was right to send me with you,” Grimbald said, smiling. “I never seen anything like this before.”
    Baylan snickered softly. He waved his hand towards the hinges of the door and they briefly glowed with a blue light. He deftly inched the door open and the rusty hinges failed to give him away. Now, that is useful. The muffled conversation could now be heard.
    “Let me see your wound,” Malek’s voice said behind the door.
    “We put the monster in the dungeons,” said a weak voice. “You said there was no need to worry, and then this happens. We need to do something. There is a darkness in the lands, I can feel it in my bones,” King Ezra said.
    “Please turn your arm, my lord. It looks okay, it should heal without a scratch,” Malek said, jovially. He sighed. “Let’s not make any rash decisions regarding the Falcon.”
    “This damn bed is too small and it feels like I’m sleeping on a bed of nails. There’s not enough light in here.”
    “Yes, my lord, I shall have the servants replace the mattress and bring more candles,” said a harried voice.
    “And bring me a different wine, this tastes like dog urine.”
    Walter edged his eye into the sliver of light that came from the cracked door. A haggard looking man in a long gown sat on a bed of red and gold. Malek stood beside the king and a faint blue light shone in a waving line on his arm.
    A man in jet black armor stood with arms crossed beside the bed, watching Malek with keen eyes. On his hips were a pair of short swords,