Call of the Colossus: An epic fantasy novel (The Mindstream Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free

yellow robe—the very robe he’d been wearing when Jora dragged him through the ‘twixt and into the allies’ realm of perception.
    “Bow to the elders and adepts,” Jora said.
    The man-worm bowed, smiling Elder Sonnis’s charming smile.
    “Who are you?” Elder Devarla asked it.
    “Sonnis,” the man-worm replied. It looked and sounded like Elder Sonnis. It was him, and yet it wasn’t.
    A few in the audience murmured. Jora imagined how difficult it must have been for them to watch a worm become a man they’d known for two decades.
    “Send it away,” Gastone said, turning his face aside. “I can’t bear to look at it a moment longer.”
    “You’re dismissed,” Jora said. And the man-worm vanished.
    A hush settled over the room. After the demonstration of her ally—her power—no one dared to speak.
    “Do you have more questions?” Jora asked softly.
    “I think we’ve seen and heard enough,” Tornal said. “Adepts, you may begin your deliberations.”
     

     
    “On the charges of murder, vigilantism, and insubordination, have you reached a verdict?” Elder Tornal asked.
    “We have, Elder,” Adept Gerios said. Adepts Fer and Uster stood with their hands clasped before them, their gaze fixed upon the elders seated at the tall bench to their left. None of them looked at Jora.
    She studied her hands, saw them tremble where they lay atop her quivering knees. Her heart drubbed against her rib cage as if it would break free and flee in fear.
    This was it, the beginning of the end. She was moments away from being found guilty of murder and vigilantism and sentenced to die. The only question left in her mind was whether to let them kill her or fight back. With little left to live for, the choice was an easy one to make.
    “Given the evidence we’ve seen,” Adept Gerios said, “and the Accused’s own account of the events, we have no choice but to find Jora Lanseri guilty of murder and vigilantism.”
    Jora’s heart sputtered. She’d expected this, but to hear it said aloud took her aback. She was now officially a murderer. She lowered her gaze to the floor, ashamed. Was she any better than those who’d slain the people she’d defended?
    “And on the matter of insubordination?”
    “Guilty as well, Elder,” Gerios said.
    The doors in the back of the courtroom burst open. Several people gasped in surprise.
    A woman in her early twenties strode forward. Her long, golden hair was braided and looped into an elaborate display. Her yellow dress, made of silk and chiffon, flowed behind her with her long strides. Several swordsmen in dark-blue uniforms trimmed with golden embroidery followed her in, their postures stiff and attentive, one hand on their swords.
    At once everyone in the room shot to their feet and bowed or curtsied, though Justice Captain Milad didn’t take his eyes off Jora.
    Jora started to stand, unsure who the woman was but certain it would be taken as an affront if she didn’t bow. The two enforcers behind her clapped their hands on her shoulders to keep her in her seat.
    “Princess Rivva,” Tornal said, bowing once more. “Please accept our apologies. We were unaware you wished to be invited to this proceeding.”
    Jora felt clammy all over, and her hands began to tremble. What could the princess possibly want with her?
    “I didn’t. I’m here to deliver a summons from my father, King Yaphet of Serocia. The king requests the presence of Jora Lanseri in his receiving room at once.”
    The king. Oh, challenge the god!
    “But Your Highness, we were about to issue her sentence. Surely His Majesty is aware of the heinous crimes of which she has been accused and found guilty.”
    “Of course he is,” the princess snapped. Her gaze softened when she met Jora’s eyes. “Will you come?”
    “Yes,” Jora started to say, though the word caught in a nervous wad of phlegm. She cleared her throat. “Yes, Your Highness.” She stood. This time, the enforcers didn’t try to stop