Children of Enchantment Read Online Free Page B

arms emerged and twitched involuntarily, the tiny appendages smaller than a human infant’s.
    “You’re hungry.” Roderic stared at the hand that clutched the bread. The fingers were bony claws, the skin dry and flaking
     across the swollen joints. He raised his hand without thinking, and instantly the child stuffed the bread in its mouth.
    “It’s got into the food!” cried Reginald. “Kill it.”
    “No!” Roderic turned furious eyes on his brother. “Can’t you see it’s starving? Let it—him—whatever it is—go.” He turned away,
     feeling sick and sad. “Let it go.”
    “But, Lord Roderic—” began the sergeant.
    “I said, let it go. I don’t make war on children. Starving children, at that. Increase the guards around the food stores.
     But take this one to the gates of the garrison, and if any harm comes to it, the man responsible will answer to me.” Roderic
     met the shocked expressions of the soldiers evenly. If he were ever to assume his father’s position, he’d better start playing
     the role. He knew Abelard wouldn’t have cared whether the child lived or died, but he was certain his father never let anyone
     forget who was King. Brand watched from the doorway. He pushed past the soldiers, who snapped to attention, and Brand gave
     a little nod of approval. “Come in here, Reginald. We need to talk to you.”
    “About what?” Reginald clumped into the room behind Brand, who shut the door as the child was led away.
    Brand resumed his place at the table. “If you’d been here, Reginald, instead of in pursuit of a woman, you’d have seen the
     King’s messenger come in—“
    “From Ahga?” Reginald’s raised brows were pale against his reddened skin.
    “From Phineas.”
    “And what’s he want? Updated body counts?”
    “Be quiet, Reginald.” Roderic leaned across the table.
    “Ho! The kitten shows his claws. Old man’s not pleased with the way things are going?”
    “Dad’s missing.” Brand’s glare expressed more clearly than words what he thought of Reginald.
    Reginald’s little eyes darted from Roderic to Brand and back again. “What do you mean, missing?”
    “Lost,” said Roderic. “Disappeared without a trace. Here—” He shoved the parchment across the tabletop. “Read it yourself.”
     If you can, he added silently.
    Reginald took the scroll and scanned it. When he finally looked up, his expression was serious. “So what should we do?” He
     spoke to Brand, but it was Roderic who answered.
    “Get this situation under control, so I can return to Ahga as soon as possible.”
    Reginald snorted. “You’re going to ‘get the situation under control’? How?”
    Brand cleared his throat. “We’ll call for reinforcements.”
    “From where?” Reginald drained the dregs of the wine into a clay goblet. “Everyone’s got their hands full—just who—“
    “Amanander,” answered Roderic, looking at the map.
    Even Brand looked surprised. Roderic tapped the map. “You’re right, Reginald. Everyone north and west is tied up in this rebellion.
     But Amanander has a full garrison at Dlas-for’-Torth and a clear march through Missiluse.”
    “And you think he’ll come?” Reginald leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in the goblet.
    Roderic raised his head. His father had always relied upon his brothers; he would have to rely upon them as well. “What choice
     will he have? The kingdom is in jeopardy. He swore the same Pledge of Allegiance the rest of us have.” A memory flashed through
     his mind, of his father’s steady blue gaze and strong grip on his shoulder on the day that he, too, had knelt and sworn to
     uphold the kingdom and the King unto death. The words ran through his mind: I pledge allegiance to the King of the United
     Estates of Meriga and to the kingdom for which he stands, one nation, indivisible … Indivisible. With blood and sweat and
     sheer determination, the Ridenau Kings had forged Meriga into one nation after