Free Redemption (The Alexa Montgomery Saga) by H.D. Gordon Page B

said.

 
     
    According to plan
    “I have the list for you, your
Majesty,” said Andre.
    King William looked up from the
paper on which he was writing, and gave his most trusted Warrior a droll stare.
“Well, I would say that it’s about time,” he said.
    Andre handed him the list. King
William took it between his jeweled fingers and read through the names. Anger
flashed inside of him as he saw that the Accursed girl had taken a larger party
with her in her escape than he had known. There were even two villagers listed
here, their names unfamiliar to him, but the composer of the list had labeled
them so.
    “Her power proves greater and
greater with each move she makes, Andre,” he said through gritted teeth.
    Andre gave his King his usual
level stare. “Yes, I would say so, my King.”
    King William waved an impatient
hand. “And the Sorcerers? What moves have they made?”
    “The girl, Surah, is at the
Outlands now. The last time that our scout checked in was only five minutes
ago. He said that the Sun Warrior and the Sorceress were fighting, would have
killed each other if not for…”
    The King’s gray eyes glittered
more brilliantly with hatred than all the diamonds he wore. “If not for
Nelliana, correct?”
    Andre gave a curt nod. “Correct,
your Majesty.”
    King William rose from his chair
behind the desk, his knuckles pressed down into the oak. “Good. Very good,” he
said, handing Andre the paper on which he had been writing. “Then everything is
going according to plan. Take that message and see that it is distributed
throughout the cities. When will we be ready to leave?”
    “We are ready now, your Majesty.”
    The King nodded, straightening
the jacket of his pristine suit. “Good. Let us go, then.”
    “Is there anything else, your
Majesty?”
    King William paused in the
doorway. “Yes, actually. Print the names of those who left with our little
Nelliana on that message I gave you. Label them for the traitors that they are,
and make it clear that anyone associated with them will be considered traitor
as well.”
    Andre nodded.
    “Is that Thomas Caslon’s son on
that list there?”
    “Yes, your Majesty. It is.”
    “Funny, he did not mention that
his boy was with the traitors. Find Thomas, Andre, and bring him to me. I have
a few questions for him.”
    Andre nodded.
    “Good. And make sure you tell me
immediately when we receive word from our scout again. I do hope that the
Sorceress and our girls are getting along nicely.”

 
     
    Alexa
    You have to know that we can’t
trust her, Nell. She came here to kill us, for shit’s sake.
    Nelly’s voice sounded softly in
my head. I know that she came here because the King told her we were
responsible for her brother’s death. We just need to convince her that it isn’t
true. If her brother has gone missing, we both know who was more than likely
responsible for it. And…she’s powerful, Lex. Very powerful. She could be an
important ally.
    Yeah, or she could be a spy.
    She’s not.
    And you’re so sure? You said
yourself that she’s very powerful.
    Nelly took three slow steps back,
and didn’t take her eyes from Surah until she was safely inside the barrier of
the Outlands. Just trust me, Lex.
    Nelly held her hands out to her
side, regarding Surah with gentle eyes. “It’s your choice, Surah,” Nelly said.
“King William is a liar and a murderer, and if your brother went to see him and
has not returned, my money is on the King for his absence. You know you can’t
enter here with vengeance on your mind, and you may try whatever magic is
available to you, but I will not allow you to harm my sister. We are not
responsible for your pain. If you will allow me the chance, I would like to
help you put the puzzle pieces together. I think we will find that we have a
similar goal.”
    Surah inclined her lavender head.
“I have no interest in the wars of Wolves and Vampires,” she said, and slowly,
she tucked her hands under her cloak and