Free Avalyne Series 01: The Queen of Carleon by Linda Thackeray Page B

Sandrine’s inhabitants were still lost in the slumber following the previous days’ celebration. Every street and square seemed to bear the signs of the revelry by the remains of food, crushed streamers and flags that mingled with the littler on the ground. To say nothing of the unconscious people passed out on benches, beneath porticos or inside doorways.
    It surprised Arianne just how much she had come to love this city in the last year. The city and its people, even in their presently undignified condition, were now as dear to her as her former home of Eden Taryn. Dare did not lie when he described the beauty of the place to her so many years ago. Even before his return to the city as king, he and his friend Braedan, also of Sandrine, were frequent visitors to the city of his birth, moving through it anonymously and getting to know its people on a more intimate level.
    In truth, she had been dubious about his description because the elves considered the architecture of men to be a crude and clumsy affair, lacking the elegance and grace of their own cities. Still, Sandrine was not constructed from mud and brick. It was paved with marble, adorned with sculptures and frescos of ancient kings, green with manicured gardens and filled with paved courtyards that allowed its people  to enjoy the sun shining past the tall spires and domed ceilings. Its beauty had survived despite the ugliness of Balfure’s occupation as if maintaining it was a connection to the kingdom of the past.
    As Sandrine was left behind her, Arianne hoped the quest would ensure that Sandrine, like the rest of Carleon, did not know the shadow of another oppressor.
    Even one who might be her son.
    *****
    Celene nudged her grey steed alongside of Keira's smaller chestnut pony after they’d passed through the gates. Once next to the woman of the Green, Celene leaned over to her saddle bags and gripped the handle of a sword she had tucked away and presented it to Keira.
    This is for you, ’ Celene announced as she waited for Keira to take it.
    ‘ For me?’ Keira stared at the woman in dumbfounded as she took the weapon, a short sword sheathed in a leather scabbard mounted with brass at the point and mouth. The blade was surprisingly light and possessed a hilt of solid brass, with a ribbed grip that sat comfortably in her hand with the intricate design of a small bird on each finial of its cross guard.
    ‘ Yes,’ Celene said proudly, oblivious to the discomfort that Arianne could see on Keira’s face a mile away. ‘Its my first blade actually. It was gift from my father for my fifteenth summer. It’s not terribly heavy but it is still sharp. I thought it would be a good weapon for you since you're joining us on this quest.’
    ‘ But I have no idea how to use such a thing!’ Keira protested even though she was pleased to be armed if they were going to be facing dangers along the way, ‘I’ll probably cut myself!’
    ‘ No you won’t,’ Celene grumbled impatiently trying not to feel peevish that her gift was rejected so. ‘I’ll show you how to use it because if we fall into peril I will not have you completely defenceless.’
    Arianne could appreciate Keira’s hesitation even if Celene could not. Celene had come from a people who could not conceive of any existence where they did not have a sword in their hand while Keira had come from one that could not conceive of any reason why they would need one in the first place.
    ‘ You will be fine,’ Arianne assured her, ‘and it is just for the sake of safety. If we have to fight, Celene and I are capable but we will not leave you unarmed either.’
    Keira nodded, accepting the reasoning behind it. ‘If Tully could see me now,’ she sighed.
    ‘ If our husbands could see any of us,’ Arianne remarked with a smile, ‘they would lock us away and never let us out.’
    ‘ That will be the day,’ Celene snorted derisively. ‘I would like to see Dare try.’
    ‘ It would be amusing to see,’