Deadly Intentions (Blood Feud - Volume 2) Read Online Free Page B

little my Lord.” She purred, wrapping
her arm around Tristan’s and leaning her head against his
shoulder.
    Alison had given birth just weeks after they
had returned to Kenting. Due to the current state of things in the
western half of the continent, Tristan had decided to set up his
command post inside Kenting town. Between the brothers, they had
made headway over the last twelve months. The two of them
controlled a third of Terum province along a stable front that ran
from the south of The Great Expanse, and extended south along the
Vallius, and Sutten borders. With their Cousin Williams’ aid they
used Sutten forces to swell their numbers to a hundred thousand
men.
    Even with the added men and the small
victories, Tristan felt as though they were dangerously
over-extended. He longed to have Captain Robertson at his side.
Sergeant-Major Frose was a more than acceptable substitute though.
The grizzled old man had arrived at the head of what remained of
the 7 th Infantry mere days after Tristan’s arrival in
Kenting. The grouchy old war dog spared no words, simply grasping
Tristan’s’ forearm in greeting and offering his services, which was
quickly followed by poorly concealed irritation at being
promoted.
    The Prince enjoyed having the old man around,
he put Tristan’s mind back to Robertson whom he missed more than he
could have thought possible. He could hear his ghost yelling orders
over his shoulder, giving Tristan ideas to bring victory out of the
grasp of defeat.
     
    Tristan scowled slightly as Kevin looked over
at the Prince and Maggie and raised his eyebrows dramatically. His
brother smiled at Tristan’s dark look, causing his wife to look
over with one of her characteristic knowing smiles that she knew
irritated Tristan to no end. The Master of Ceremonies tapped his
metal clad staff on the floor three times, announcing the end of
morning court.
    Alison and Kevin rose from their seats as the
citizens, patricians and other minor nobles were escorted out of
the main chamber. Alison relieved Tristan of Nathan as the five of
them retired to the dining hall. They passed a set of windows on
their way and Tristan chanced a glance outside, checking the
weather. For the last few weeks the temperature had lowered to the
point where now frost gathered on the lawns surrounding the keep
every morning. A dense fog hovered over the area blocking
everything that wasn’t within the keep walls from view.
    They entered the dining hall as Timon came in
the servants’ door with a several members of his staff, each
carrying a tray of food for breakfast. Tristan pulled out a seat
for Maggie to Alison’s left and then made his way around the table
and sat down at his brother’s right, pointedly ignoring his
brothers’ smile and loaded up his plate with a wry grin.
     
    “So little brother,” Kevin began. “How much
of Terum do you plan to conquer today?” He asked with a
chuckle.
    Tristan looked at his brother out of the
corner of his eye as he tore his sweet roll in two. “Oh, I was
tossing around the idea of breaking their forward lines and cutting
the country in half.” He chuckled.
    Maggie’s face drained of color as she looked
up from the plate she was feeding Nathan from. “What?” She asked
breathlessly.
    “They’re playing with you Maggie.” Alison
said, looking daggers at her husband and brother-in-law. “You two
behave yourselves.” She ordered them with a smirk.
    Breakfast passed pleasantly afterwards, the
family sharing a laugh as Nathan trounced his sweet roll with his
wooden play sword in front of the fireplace.
    “Seriously though.” Kevin said, pushing
himself away from the table. “What are your plans?” He asked his
brother.
    “Well, with Winter Solstice behind us for
another year.” Tristan began. “And the heavy snows just weeks away,
I was actually thinking of leaving the bandit King alone to brood
over the cold winter months.”
    Usually, around this time of year, the snows
began in