Reign of Madness (Revised Edition) Read Online Free Page A

Rezkin was around, Tam
always felt like everything was under control, even when they were in the midst
of chaos. The Lord Rezkin simply did not fill him with the same sense of
assurance, even though he knew it lay just below the surface. Rezkin’s almost
passionate behavior somehow disturbed him.
    Reaylin was just as aloof as Tam. She seemed particularly
uncomfortable around the other women. Frisha had gained points with Reaylin
when she snubbed Shiela, but now Frisha was spending more time with the nobles,
as was Rezkin. Reaylin was astonished by Rezkin’s behavior. Never had she
imaged he was capable of pulling off such a flamboyant persona. It made her
wonder about Rezkin’s other capabilities and why he was such a skilled
fraudster. Just who was Rezkin really , and could he be useful?
    Reaylin still was not happy that Rezkin proposed to Frisha,
but she was encouraged by the fact that the deal had failed. She did feel bad
for him, but he was a strong man, and he would get over it. Frisha was too weak
for a man like Rezkin. Reaylin could tell that he was put off by women like
Shiela and thought that she, as a warrior, had a much better chance with such a
man. If only she could get him away from Frisha long enough for him to see her .
    Rezkin disappeared for a while as he secretly scrambled
about the ship. He snuck about the captain’s quarters, since the captain was
busy on deck. He had already been there before, but he wanted to make sure
there was nothing new of which he should be aware. There was not, so he
continued with his search. He snuck into each of the guest’s rooms and rifled
through their trunks and then went through the mound of useless necessities in the cargo hold. Nothing of immediate import stood out, but he did find a few
tidbits that he would file away for later use.
    Two of the Jebai House Guards had gambling debts they were
to pay off by performing some unspecified service while in Skutton. The future
duke, Tieran, was to attend a clandestine meeting on behalf of his father with
a man whose name Rezkin did not recognize. Tieran’s manservant, Colton, had a
secret lover who Rezkin was nearly certain was a man. Shiela was not as
innocent as she would have her family believe. She had in her possession half a
dozen parting letters from potential suitors moaning about how much they would
miss her, and two actually pleaded for her to meet them for a private
rendezvous while at the tournament.
    When Rezkin rejoined the nobles, everyone wanted to know
what he had been up to and how he managed to disappear for so long on a ship.
Rezkin laughed and said, “Ah, well, you see I do enjoy a good voyage as much as
the rest of you, but we did have to rise hours before dawn this morning.”
Frisha arched a brow. She knew full well that Rezkin always rose long before
dawn. The man was incessantly restless when he was not moving in some fashion.
    Malcius snickered, “You snuck off to take a nap.”
    Rezkin heaved an overly dramatic sigh and uttered, “You may
have seen the truth, and I concede – I feel no shame for my absence.”
    Shiela, not deterred by Rezkin’s intentions toward Frisha,
said, “Oh, I wish you had said so earlier. I might have felt inclined to take a
nap as well.” She fluttered her lashes and eyed him suggestively.
    Malcius scowled, “Shiela, know you no shame?”
    Brandt chuckled, “Whatever vessel held her shame grew
so full it shattered. She is no longer capable of carrying any.”
    “What would you know of shame, Brandt?” Shiela scoffed. “You
are a cad.”
    “Better a cad than a…ow!” Brandt shouted as Malcius stomped
his foot under the table.
    “Yes, well,” Rezkin cleared his throat, “it is probably best
I found myself in seclusion. Tam tells me I snore quite loudly.”
    Malcius groaned, “And I am to bunk with you?”
    Rezkin shrugged and grinned, “Every man must have at least
one fault, no?”
    “If that is your only fault, then you are a better man than
the