The Devastation: Unexpected Circumstances Book 7 Read Online Free Page B

Silverhelm.  I did not recall why there was an uprising, only that their numbers required more than just a handful of soldiers to quell it.  Camden had sat on his horse and moved back and forth in front of his men, speaking words of encouragement to them before they rode into battle.
    I had not done that in our last war against Hadebrand.  It had not even occurred to me, like many things did not occur to me until long after it was too late for me to do anything about them.  I would likely have not known what to say, regardless.  There were so many mistakes I had made—from the insignificant to the grave—in my lust for revenge against Edgar.  I found at this point, I would give up the fight entirely if it would deliver Alexandra back to me safely.
    I knew it was far too late for that.
    There was only one way this could end now: in blood and destruction.  We would either be victorious, and Hadebrand would be no more, or Silverhelm would fall to Edgar, and we would all perish.
    My cavalry was mounted on the horses of Sawyer, and my foot soldiers stood at the ready.  The serfs, farmers, and peasants of my kingdom gathered around the horses haphazardly, but there was no time to train them.  Even Amarra had joined us, and she paced around the horses as she readied for the hunt.  It was as if she knew Alexandra would not be safe as long as she was in the hands of my enemy.  The very thought nearly drove me to madness.
    I picked up the reins from where they lay across Romero’s neck and moved in front of my men.
    “Hadebrand has your queen,” I called out to them.
    There were immediate cries of protest though each one of them was already privy to this information.  I took a deep breath and tried to push thoughts of Alexandra from my mind so I could speak.
    “This affront to Silverhelm cannot go unpunished.  For years Edgar has sat on the court of Silverhelm and executed his will over us through threat of force, and we have been too weak to stop him.  He has placed traitors within our walls and poison in our kitchens.  Many of you are refugees from Edgar’s lands, and you know of his cruelty to his own people.”
    I guided Romero back and forth in front of the army, swallowing hard before I could speak of my missing wife.
    “Now he has Alexandra…your queen…my wife”—I had to stop and take a deep breath before continuing—“and the child in her belly is threatened.”
    The cries lowered to angry grumblings and snarls from the men in front of me.  Again I turned Romero and paced in front of them, my voice heightening in pitch and volume.
    “We move against Hadebrand now, this very day.  This is the hour of Silverhelm’s revenge.  Hadebrand will fall to us because of Edgar’s actions against your queen, and no one— no one —who fights for Hadebrand will survive.  We will not stop until every wall, every tower, every single structure in all of Hadebrand has been razed.”
    I turned quickly and stared into the eyes of the men.
    “Are you with me?” I screamed, and affirmative cries rose from the group.  I looked over their faces and cried out again.  “I said, ‘ Are you with me ?’”
    Again their voices cried out but much louder this time.
    “Then ride with me!”  I pulled at the reins and turned myself swiftly around.  I brought Romero to a quick trot as I hit the road.  The din of boots and hoofbeats behind me blocked out all other sound, but it could not block the thoughts from my head.
    Where was she now?
    What was happening to her?
    Was she in pain?
    Was she crying for me?
    I felt sick.
    The pain in my gut when her face appeared in my mind was overwhelming.  I was going to have to be diligent and judicious if I were going to be able to successfully defeat my enemy and save Alexandra from Edgar’s clutches.  I could not have the thought of her consuming me and keeping me unable to act.  I had no choice if I was to move forward, destroy Hadebrand, and bring my wife and child