Legacy of the Mind Read Online Free

tables, and ledges here and there to place drinks on.  One of these ledges jutted out awkwardly, partially obstructing a shady looking passage to the back door, wooden decking and benches overlooking the river beyond.  To the left of the door were a set of three squeaky wooden steps that groaned agedly every time a pair of feet touched them.  They led to a raised seating area with a series of booths and rough wooden tables affording varying degrees of privacy, the walls adorned with weird and wonderful trinkets from those who had ventured into the Wild Lands to trade.
    The place was packed.  Clearly the news that the Descendants were in town had spread like wildfire and everyone wanted to know why.  Luckily, Cleo had grabbed a booth when her shift had ended and Bas and Anita pushed their way through the crowd to join her.  ‘Before we get into the gossip, let me get you a drink,’ said an overzealous Cleo by way of a greeting.  She flagged down one of the other bar tenders and ordered a bottle of Ginger Champagne.
    ‘What are we celebrating?’ asked Bas surprised.  Ginger Champagne was pretty rare and usually only saved for special occasions.  Luckily, being friends with the owner’s favourite bar tender and only daughter meant they never had to pay for such luxuries, but still, this was an extravagant move.
    ‘We are celebrating my brilliance at extracting the gossip that I am about to tell you from one of the Councillors,’ Cleo replied eagerly, carefully annunciating each word to make sure they could all hear and therefore marvel at her achievement.  Three glasses were placed on the table and filled with champagne.
    ‘The gossip mill comes up trumps again,’ Anita commented attentively, wishing that Cleo would just get on with it, but knowing there wasn’t the remotest chance of that.  She noted that the promise of gossip seemed to lift her mood a little however.
    ‘Indeed it does,’ Cleo took a moment to build some suspense, savouring the attention that was now being paid to her before beginning her story.  ‘So, we know so far that the ruling Spirit Descendant passed away a couple of weeks ago, meaning that Alexander, Philip’s grandson will succeed to the throne soon.  We also know that Christiana, the ruling Body Descendant, is getting on a bit.’  Cleo paused, the silence pregnant.  ‘What we didn’t know until tonight, is that Christiana is more than getting on a bit,’ she took a deep breath, ‘she’s dying.’
    ‘What?’  Bas and Anita blurted out together.
    ‘That is very likely to have a significant effect on the energy,’ said Bas, livid.  ‘They have got to prepare people for news like that.’
    ‘But why would the Descendants all come here if Christiana is dying?’ asked Anita.
    Cleo looked smug.  ‘Why indeed?’
    ‘Cleopatra, we know you’re brilliant and for that we are eternally grateful, but we’re dying over here.  The suspense is literally killing us.’
    ‘Alright, alright.  They’ve brought Christiana here to die.  There is something here she wants to make peace with before she goes, but nobody knows what it is.  All they know is that she is currently on her death bed below the Temple of the Body and that Austin is fuming about the whole thing.’  Austin, Marcus’ father, the ruling Mind Descendant, had a reputation for being venomous.  He, as with most Minds, thought himself superior to everyone, including the other Descendants, so it wasn’t surprising that he was cross at having to be in Empire at the whim of another.
    ‘They’re going to hold the Chase, the Crowning and the ball here instead of in Kingdom.  They’re going to hold off for a couple of weeks, as the likelihood is it’ll be a double Crowning with Peter succeeding Christiana.’
    ‘They’re going to let him rule?’ asked Bas.  ‘Surely it would make more sense to pass straight to Gwyneth?’
    ‘Nobody knows if either of them is eligible to rule, given that Christiana