Realm Of Blood And Fire (Book 3) Read Online Free

eyes and saw Sarah, who sat next to Karin. Dressed in a fitted, sapphire-colored gown, her fair hair pulled back in a loose bun, she looked radiant, her smile warming those around her, including Pernus, Edmund’s Captain, who seemed to be the cause of her cheerful demeanor. He sat next to Sarah, and they chatted, ignoring everyone around them.
    Verity hoped that one day a man would look at her in the same way, and that she would be able to forget enough of her past to smile as Sarah was. Gazing around the room, she saw high-ranked soldiers from three countries dining, some barely old enough to grow a beard.  It might be a long time before the taste of war and death was out of her mouth, and she silently mourned Boy and all the other young men who would die before the gormons were defeated . . . if they were defeated.
    The serving girl ladled rice and stew into Verity’s plate, but it was too late; her hunger had gone.
     
    ***
    Young Arie, dressed in black and wearing a balaclava, drew Second-Realm power and created a barrier of silence around himself, ensuring Perculus wouldn’t hear his footsteps. King Edmund had asked him to keep an eye on the advisor after he had said he was too sick to eat dinner. And lucky he did, thought the twelve-year-old as he followed Perculus and a wiry, nimble accomplice through the tunnels under Bayerlon castle.
    Sandstone block walls, barely discernable in the light cast by Perculus’s lamp, curved over their heads to blend into an arched ceiling. Damp tinged the still air, hinting at the watercourse that ran underneath the ancient structure.
    Perculus and his accomplice turned left at a T-junction. Arie stopped when he reached the corner, carefully poking his head around. The men had halted at an arched door. Arie waited while Perculus took a key from his pocket and placed it in the keyhole. He opened the door, and he and his companion entered, Perculus turning to ensure they were not being followed. Arie quickly ducked his head behind the wall, his heart pounding. Even though he knew Perculus couldn’t hear him, he held his breath. Unfortunately, the silence shield worked both ways, and Arie couldn’t hear if the door had been closed.
    He drew energy from the ground, creating the dragon scales he had learnt at Vellonia. He covered his fac e with the scales then pasted an image of the dullgra y of the stone floor onto them. Not sure if it had worked, he knew he couldn’t wait any longer so extended his head past the safety of the wall. The door was shut. Stopping the drawing of energy, he listened, but no sound reached him. While deciding whether to approach the door, the rattle of a handle alerted him. Quickly reinstating his bubble of silence, he ran back the way he had come and didn’t stop until he’d reached the king.
     
    ***
     
    With a sense of déjà vu, Arie donned his yamuk-skin coat and climbed onto the saddle on Zim’s broad back, Astra mounting behind him. The moon, a few days after full, brightened the field in which they gathered and lit King Edmund’s face so that Arie could see the lines of worry on his brow. The king and Agmunsten were saying good-bye, while Arcese and Warrimonious rubbed noses, the moonlight glittering on their scales and causing phosphorescent speckles to ripple over their bodies. Arie watched the display and smiled, joy filling him.
    The prophecy stated that all of Talia must be united to defeat the gormons, so the realmists were leaving for Zamahl—a country that had kept to itself for as long as anyone could remember.
    King Edmund and Arcese stepped away from the dragons. Edmund spoke. “Stay safe and keep me informed.”
    Agmunsten climbed on Warrimonious’s back and gripped his scales. “Will do. By the gods’ graces, we’ll see you soon. Arie and Astra, make sure you’re holding on. Is everyone ready?”
    A chorus of agreement, and the dragons drew Second-Realm power to assist takeoff. Arie held Zim’s scales , and Astra embraced