Free The Kinshield Legacy by K.C. May Page A

replied, swirling the wine in his glass.
    “What? I thought you said we need their help.”
    “We do. But, Warrick, you forget that I always get what I want. One way or another.”
    Warrick grinned and leaned back in his chair. “I didn’t forget. I’m just eager to see how you accomplish it.”
    The dining room door opened and the two women entered with Aminda leading. Brodas and Warrick stood. Aminda went directly to the corner where they had left their swords and picked them up, handing one to Lilalian. “We’ve decided that an alliance with you is not in line with the goals and philosophies of our guild.” Aminda held her head high and made direct eye contact with Brodas while Lilalian busied herself by strapping her sword to her waist. “We thank you for the meal.”
    “I am disappointed,” Brodas said. He clasped his hands together in front of him. Warrick came around the table to flank the two women.
    Aminda unhooked the necklace and handed it to Brodas. “I wouldn’t feel right accepting your gift under the circumstances.”
    He inclined his head. “I understand.”
    Aminda looked at Lilalian and raised her brows. The blonde captain touched her hand to the amulet before she reached slowly to unfasten the clasp.
    Brodas stopped her with a gentle hand on her forearm. “Why don’t you keep it, Lilalian? It was a gift, given in the spirit of friendship without expectations.”
    “No,” Aminda said, as though cautioning a child. She cleared her throat. “It wouldn’t be right.”
    “First, may I ask why both of you decided to reject our proposal?” Brodas needed to buy time. He sensed that Lilalian did not agree with Aminda on the matter.
    Aminda cleared her throat again. “The throne belongs to the man or woman who earns it by solving the runes. It is he, or she, we will supp-- support.” Her voice broke apart toward the end of her sentence, and she put her fist to her mouth and coughed.
    Brodas handed her a glass of water, which she accepted and drank.
    “We did not agree to reject your proposal,” Lilalian said. “Aminda’s the guild mistress and it’s her right to make or reject policies and agreements. She does not need my consent, but she has my loyalty.”
    Aminda began to speak, but before she could utter a word, fell into a fit of coughing.
    “My dear, are you all right?” Brodas wrinkled his brow in a display of concern.
    Aminda’s face turned red as she struggled to breathe between coughs. She hunched over, coughing violently.
    “You’re a cleric,” Lilalian said, placing a hand on Aminda’s back and patting gently. “Can’t you do something?” She pulled Aminda’s hair back, holding it out of her face as the guild mistress gasped and choked.
    “Yes, I can. But doing so wouldn’t be in line with my beliefs and philosophies. You see, I don’t help my enemies.”
    Lilalian shot him a startled look.
    Aminda dropped to her knees, clutching her stomach. Blood sprayed from her mouth with a hard cough, spattering droplets onto the white marble floor. With every breath her lungs rattled. With every cough came more blood. She fell onto her side and drew her knees up, tucking into a ball, and began to vomit blood and bile.
    “Do something,” Lilalian shouted. “Please.” She went to her knees beside Aminda and continued to brush the hair away from her wet face and rub her arm and back.
    Brodas felt somewhat sorry for the captain, so distraught over her inability to help her lady. The way she fretted and patted the dying woman was rather touching.
    At long last, Aminda’s coughing weakened and stopped, as did her struggle to breathe, and she lay still and quiet. Lilalian shook her head, whispering, “No, this can’t be. How could this happen?”
    “You see, that’s why I wanted you to keep the amulet. As long as you wear it, you’ll be safe. Take it off and...” Brodas gestured to the woman lying in a pool of her own blood.
    Drenched in Aminda’s blood, Lilalian shot to