Free Lor Mandela - Destruction from Twins by L Carroll Page A

it.”
    “And what alarming news
have your friends brought you?” Cristoph
asked.
    “Sire, when Ultara and I were still
together, we—I am ashamed to admit it now—but we were plotting to
overthrow the government and rule Lor Mandela together. The plan
was to wait until she became vritesse. With her ruling the Trystas
and my position in Brashnell, we would be able to gain control over
Mandela City easily.”
    “Why are you telling me this now, Darian?”
Cristoph barked. Clearly, his level of irritation was rising.
    Jonathan was beyond irritated and glared
viciously at Darian.
    “Atoc,” Darian continued, “this was at least
fifteen years ago. Please believe me. It is all in the past.” He
lowered his voice slightly and added, “At least it is for me.”
    “What do you mean?” Jonathan insisted.
    Darian smiled condescendingly at Jonathan.
“Well, Aton, my friend Omer, who is of course a Trysta, came to me
just a few hours ago and said that he overheard Ultara talking to
her advisor. She said that the waiting was over, and that the time
had finally come for her to gain control of Lor Mandela. He informs
me that she is planning some sort of attack, and very soon.”
    “Why should we believe you? Ultara has
always been our friend!” Jonathan snipped.
    “My dear, Aton,” Darian’s respect was
clearly feigned. “I know that many people do not trust me. Indeed,
you have no reason to trust or, in fact, to even like me, but as I
see it, whether we care for each other or not, we are in this one
together.
    “Ultara is cunning and she loves power. If
she sees a way to get it . . . well, let's just say that it doesn't
matter who's in her way.”
    He turned his attention to Cristoph and
continued. “Omer didn't know who the attack was going to be on,
Atoc—just that it was either your family or mine.” The flames in
his eyes flickered wildly. “If we are ready—and help each other by
keeping a watchful eye—it will surely benefit us both.”
    He shot Jonathan another contrived smile,
then added, “Perhaps I have been misinformed, but if not, it
behooves us all to be on our guard.”
    Cristoph nodded
thoughtfully. “Of course. Thank you, Darian. Let us hope you were misinformed.”
    Darian bowed humbly and then strutted out of
the room.
    Jonathan barely waited for him to get out
the door. “Well? What do you make of that?”
    “I don't know,” Cristoph answered. “Ultara
has always been kind to us.”
    “And Darian is known for being . . . what's
the word . . . um . . . deceitful?” Jonathan added. His tone was
heavily bitter.
    “Jonathan, this is not the first time I’ve
been warned about Ultara.”
    Jonathan’s surprise was apparent.
    “Lantalia told me that
Ultara should be watched carefully. It shocked me when I heard it.
It shocked me tonight when Gracielle said that Lantalia had
called her as the
new vritesse.” Cristoph looked his son squarely in the eye.
“Darian's right, though. We need to be alert. Anything unusual is
to be reported, understand?”
    “Yes, sir,” Jonathan replied. “I
understand.”
     
     

CHAPTER VII
THE GRASPING CURSE
     
    W hen Jonathan finally returned to his room, he found Gracielle
fast asleep in the big green chair. She looked so peaceful and
beautiful lying there in her soft peach pajamas with her silky hair
sweeping over one of her cheeks. He watched her sleeping and
thought about the first time he saw her— truly saw her.
    Actually, he had known
Gracielle most of his life. They had played together as children.
But it wasn't until two summers ago that he had really noticed her. At the time, she
was seventeen and he was nineteen—and it was the first year she was
old enough to attend the Celebration of Light. Gracielle was very
excited about being able to go. She and her girl friends talked of
nothing else when they were together. One time Jonathan happened to
overhear her going on and on about it, and seized the
opportunity—as he often did—to tease