Suriax Read Online Free Page B

temple.
    “Yes, Your Majesty. Your Majesty, there is
one more thing.”
    “Go on,” she prompted when Svanteese fell
silent.
    “A half gnome, half elf by the name of
Cornerbluff was killed by a member of the Flame Guard.”
    Maerishka laughed. “That’s hardly news.
Someone probably hired the guard because the gnome cheated him at
cards or something.”
    “The reason for the killing was listed as
personal, and a locket was retrieved from the body.”
    “Okay, so he probably stole it. Why are you
bringing this to me?” She tapped her foot impatiently.
    “Cornerbluff requested an audience with you
this morning.
    That got her attention. “Go on.”
    “I did some research and found he was the son
of a servant in your father’s palace from his time in Aleria.”
    “Did he say what he wanted?”
    “He said it had to do with another heir to
the throne.” Svanteese cringed and took a reflexive step back.
    Outwardly she remained calm and composed, her
eyes the only thing that changed. “Find out which guard killed him
and bring that man to me. I’ll be in the temple.” It looked like
she would be visiting the clerics a little earlier than she
planned.
     
    * * *
     
    Kern looked in on his sleeping uncle before
heading off to the temple headquarters for the Guard. Maybe he was
worrying for nothing. He walked around the entire city and still
didn’t know what he should do. Chances were no one else even knew.
So what if he had family he didn’t know? He’d done fine without
them all these years. But was that fair to Frex? His uncle gave up
his entire life to protect him. Kern never really appreciated how
much of a sacrifice that was until now. If not for him, Frex would
be living in the palace in Aleria, surrounded by family who could
care for him a lot better than a single nephew. He needed to be
around people, not alone in some run down apartment.
    Footsteps rang down the hall. A woman rushed
by, bumping into him without apology. His response died on his lips
when he saw it was Queen Maerishka. He stopped dead in his tracks.
She turned down the hall, and he heard the door to the altar room
open and close. She was here to pray. That wasn’t uncommon. She was
a regular at the temple. Before today, he wouldn’t have thought
anything of seeing her here. Now . . . now her presence meant so
much more. She was his half sister, and she could very well become
his executioner if she ever learned of that fact. It wouldn’t be
the first time she killed a family member. If anything happened to
him, his uncle would be alone, and who was say she would stop with
him? If she killed their father, she would have no qualms over
killing his uncle. After all, they had a different mother, so Frex
was not blood to her. As much as he wished he could forget
everything he learned and go back to the way things were, he
couldn’t hide from who he was. It was time to leave Suriax.
     
    * * *
     
    Kern poked his head in the back door of the
tavern. This time of night, most of the regular patrons were home.
Things were winding down, and the staff was beginning to clean up
and get ready for the next day. It didn’t take him long to find who
he was looking for. “Hey, Marce, can we talk a minute?”
    Marcy smiled instantly and put down her
towel. “Sure.” Joining him outside, she leaned casually against the
building, looking at him expectantly. No doubt she thought he would
finally ask her out. She hinted at it often enough. If only that
were his reason for seeking her out tonight.
    “I need you to look after my uncle for
awhile. I have some things I need to take care of, and I don’t know
how long I’ll be. I don’t want to leave him alone.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “That’s not important. Can you watch after
him for me?”
    “Of course, but . . .”
    “Thanks, Marce.” Kern kissed her quickly on
the cheek and dashed off before she could ask any other questions.
He didn’t have any answers to give her. He didn’t even