Darkness Falling: Soldiers and Slaves Read Online Free

to him before he took her?”
    A hushed murmur rustled through the assembled counsel. Treve ran the situation through his memory. Brosen shouting at him to get the EOV, saying she was alive. He did not remember the girl being conscious at any point.
    “Not to my knowledge, my lord.”
    Murmurs rustled through the council as well as through the audience. Treve kept his eyes forward, hoping that this would soon end. He was worried for Brosen. Perhaps his partner truly had been part of the escape as they were accusing.
    “Do you know anything of import that We can use for this case, Enforcer?” The Emperor asked.
    “No, Majesty. I’m sorry, but I have no further knowledge than my report.” Treve bowed his head to show his remorse.
    “Very well. To show your loyalty to Us and the whole of the Empire, you will be placed under the service of Xander Kei'Oren in his search for Brosen En-Harn and Impyra Sava-Harn until further notice. Dismissed.” The Emperor said.
    Treve fell to one knee, then stood and made his way back through the chamber, his mind racing. What had Brosen gotten himself into? More importantly, why?
    * * *
    Gleyth leaned on the heavy wooden doors that lead to the Chamber of Justice, her ear pressed firmly against the crack between the two. She focused on slowing her breathing to make it easier to hear, but it did not have the desired effect.
    If her father would allow her to sit inside as an observer she would not go to such lengths to overhear the proceedings. She knew that it would never happen. The only women who were allowed within the chamber were those who were on trial. Ky Gleyth Kei'Oren, High Princess of the Empire, was unwelcome. Even her mother the Queen had never stepped foot beyond the threshold.
    It was a ridiculous law.
    Her status as a woman was not enough to quell her curiosity. Gleyth had a right to know what was happening in her world. The slave girl was not unknown to her. When Xander sat Impyra idle, Gleyth often took it upon herself to employ her as a maid. That had given her access to information on her brother's behavior.
    Xander had never been kind to his concubine, although she was his most prized asset. Part of it was rebellion and part was a desire for control. Ka Harn never approved of the coupling. The girl had exhibited powers in her childhood that were forbidden under Imperial Law. She had been experimented on, although Gleyth never understood why. When the Imperial Scientist Dreger Lei'Orthra released her as a subject he reported that her powers had waned, rendering her harmless. Despite that, she should have been destroyed.
    Gleyth did not know when her brother had taken notice of the girl, but being the crown prince came with special privileges. It was he who saved her from death and instead granted her a lifetime of abuse and servitude.
    Gleyth wasn't surprised when she heard the girl escaped.
    The Enforcer was another story. His sudden act of treason was a mystery; a spontaneous impulse or a hidden desire prompted by seeing another act. There was no way to know, unless his partner had something to tell. Gleyth bit her lip wishing she had been born a boy.
    The sound of heavy footfalls in the chamber beyond told her that the session was over. She scurried back to the bench where she had been told to wait. Playing with the ends of her raven hair she made her best attempt to look innocent.
    The door swung opened to revel Ka Harn, weary with frustration. Quickly, yet gracefully, Gleyth stood and curtsied until she was nearly kneeling on the cold floor before pulling herself upright in one effortless motion. Ka Harn walked over to her, put one hand on each shoulder, then tilted her forward to plant a kiss on the top of her head.
    “You are a good girl, Gleyth,” he sighed, a weak smile stretched his lips but did not reach his eyes.
    “Thank you, father,” she smiled, lifting her doe brown eyes to his. “Was the meeting interesting?”
    “Not really, my dear, but now why