Dark Lord Read Online Free Page B
Author: Corinne Balfour
despair.
***
Devereux attended his first Swordbrother meeting in the falinn , their special meeting area in the mansion . They were supposed to be preparing their bodies and minds for the Countess’s pleasure, but they were not about to conduct themselves like pampered whores. Since he was new, he intended to observe rather than take an active role. He had not even been initiated into their order.
“Grand Master, we need to have this meeting, but Payne cannot leave his guard post,” Vane said .
Prince Caspar, the Grand Master of the Flourdan Brothers of the Sword, nodded and gestured for Vane to take a seat. “We need Payne to be present when we initiate Devereux. For now, we’ll operate as if Dev is already a member and we’ll have the proper ceremony for it later. We need to discuss how we can obtain proof of Nefertiti’s alliance with the Romans . W e also need to know who else is involved in this conspiracy. The Q ueen would like to know as well , as she ha d ordered that no additional tribute be paid to Rome.”
“We know that she tried to send a tribute of peasant girls along with some gold,” Vane said. “We rescued the villagers, but we were unable to discover any more, as the eunuchs escorting them escaped.”
“Could the eunuchs identify any of you?”
“No. Our features were concealed by hoods,” Vane said. “It is strange how the C ountess has not mentioned the eunuch attack, though. Any ideas on how to get into the treasury or the war room?”
Caspar lowered his head in deep contemplation. “She may even keep such information in her private chamber. We need to gain entry to all those areas and somehow remain undetected. Dev , have you developed any hybrid abilities, such as invisibility or instant teleporting? That would be helpful.”
Dev considered whether he had anything remotely similar to it, but he did not believe he did. “I don’t think so. I haven’t tried to do those things and I’m not sure how to go about trying. What if I teleport into a wall or the bottom of the sea?”
“Try making yourself invisible,” Vane said. “I’ve heard that some Asstrumnians can do that.”
Dev concentrated on becoming invisible and he watched as his right hand disappeared. He concentrated some more, but the rest of his body remained visible. “Not good enough to help.”
“It’s promising,” Caspar said. “Keep practicing. What else can you do?”
Dev remembered how he had influenced Nefertiti with his suggestions. “I may be able to persuade or even compel people to do things.”
“You must practice that skill and develop it ,” Caspar said . “ If you could get people to reveal information to you , that would be useful as well. Let us adjourn this meeting. We cannot linger here much longer, as the lords will surely be missed if they are unable to participate in Nefertiti’s quarterly circus. ”
Devereux thought about the hybrid in Sebastian’s dungeon. She could be the key to learning how to use his hybrid abilities, providing the female cooperated. Sebastian would ensure Helsina’s cooperation, as his friend was determined and ruthless when it came to achieving his goals. That ruthless streak ran through Amalie as well, although she kept it hidden most of the time under her sugary demeanor. Dev wasn’t ruthless and he wasn’t by nature a killer. Sometimes he wished he could be as ruthless as the others and not care who he hurt to get what he wanted. He was hardening in some ways. In the past, he would not have considered using a female like Helsina just so he could gain knowledge. Now, he couldn’t contemplate not doing it. Hybrids used their bodies and minds as weapons. He could do the same once he learned how to do it. He had to find some way to turn his weaknesses into strengths because that was the only way he would survive. He would not be left defenseless should anyone decide to hunt him.
As he
***
Devereux attended his first Swordbrother meeting in the falinn , their special meeting area in the mansion . They were supposed to be preparing their bodies and minds for the Countess’s pleasure, but they were not about to conduct themselves like pampered whores. Since he was new, he intended to observe rather than take an active role. He had not even been initiated into their order.
“Grand Master, we need to have this meeting, but Payne cannot leave his guard post,” Vane said .
Prince Caspar, the Grand Master of the Flourdan Brothers of the Sword, nodded and gestured for Vane to take a seat. “We need Payne to be present when we initiate Devereux. For now, we’ll operate as if Dev is already a member and we’ll have the proper ceremony for it later. We need to discuss how we can obtain proof of Nefertiti’s alliance with the Romans . W e also need to know who else is involved in this conspiracy. The Q ueen would like to know as well , as she ha d ordered that no additional tribute be paid to Rome.”
“We know that she tried to send a tribute of peasant girls along with some gold,” Vane said. “We rescued the villagers, but we were unable to discover any more, as the eunuchs escorting them escaped.”
“Could the eunuchs identify any of you?”
“No. Our features were concealed by hoods,” Vane said. “It is strange how the C ountess has not mentioned the eunuch attack, though. Any ideas on how to get into the treasury or the war room?”
Caspar lowered his head in deep contemplation. “She may even keep such information in her private chamber. We need to gain entry to all those areas and somehow remain undetected. Dev , have you developed any hybrid abilities, such as invisibility or instant teleporting? That would be helpful.”
Dev considered whether he had anything remotely similar to it, but he did not believe he did. “I don’t think so. I haven’t tried to do those things and I’m not sure how to go about trying. What if I teleport into a wall or the bottom of the sea?”
“Try making yourself invisible,” Vane said. “I’ve heard that some Asstrumnians can do that.”
Dev concentrated on becoming invisible and he watched as his right hand disappeared. He concentrated some more, but the rest of his body remained visible. “Not good enough to help.”
“It’s promising,” Caspar said. “Keep practicing. What else can you do?”
Dev remembered how he had influenced Nefertiti with his suggestions. “I may be able to persuade or even compel people to do things.”
“You must practice that skill and develop it ,” Caspar said . “ If you could get people to reveal information to you , that would be useful as well. Let us adjourn this meeting. We cannot linger here much longer, as the lords will surely be missed if they are unable to participate in Nefertiti’s quarterly circus. ”
Devereux thought about the hybrid in Sebastian’s dungeon. She could be the key to learning how to use his hybrid abilities, providing the female cooperated. Sebastian would ensure Helsina’s cooperation, as his friend was determined and ruthless when it came to achieving his goals. That ruthless streak ran through Amalie as well, although she kept it hidden most of the time under her sugary demeanor. Dev wasn’t ruthless and he wasn’t by nature a killer. Sometimes he wished he could be as ruthless as the others and not care who he hurt to get what he wanted. He was hardening in some ways. In the past, he would not have considered using a female like Helsina just so he could gain knowledge. Now, he couldn’t contemplate not doing it. Hybrids used their bodies and minds as weapons. He could do the same once he learned how to do it. He had to find some way to turn his weaknesses into strengths because that was the only way he would survive. He would not be left defenseless should anyone decide to hunt him.
As he
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