The Seer And The Sword Read Online Free

Bellandra people did the work they most loved. All the children wore bright colours. Every building was beautiful. The sky filled with rainbow sights whether it had been raining or not. And no wars . . .
    No wars
.
    Torina had learned to be proud that her father always won the wars. Now, looking at the bruised and haunted face of a dead man’s son, she was seized with shame. Her father should not have brought war to Bellandra. Why had he done it? There must have been a good reason. But what if there hadn’t? What if King Kareed only wanted to fight? What if he killed a good man (he must be good, Gramere had called him good), killed him just because he wanted his kingdom?
    She wanted to curl up and never move. Gramere’s eyes bathed her with tenderness. The tightness in her stomach eased.
    * * *
    Outside, the world shimmered under a spell of dew. The upright figure of the old queen led the way over the grounds behind the castle. Close behind came the captive boy, with an expression in his eyes like a creature that cannot be tamed yet knows it has been snared.
    Trees dripped on either side as they went, while gold rays of new sun shot through here and there. Torina wondered if she’d see inside the barracks at last. After hiking for perhaps a quarter-hour, a large wooden building sprang into view. It was built simply and sturdily, left unpainted.
    Marching to the front door, Ancilla rapped sharply. They could hear boys inside. Eric, a tall young man, opened. He squinted at them. Torina spoke up eagerly.
    ‘Eric, would you fetch the trainer?’
    Eric disappeared inside, while other boys grouped themselves in the doorway, the young ones staring.
    Soon Emid, the trainer, stood there. Torina had seen Emid about the grounds since she could remember. His fierce face never scared her. She knew he was there to protect her.
    Emid rotated his great shoulders. ‘You called, my queen?’
    Ancilla gestured towards Landen. ‘Emid, the king has left word that this boy is to be brought up in his household.’
    ‘The prisoner from Bellandra?’ Emid made a sweep of his arm to scatter the gawking boys surrounding him, and stepped out of the barracks. The door shut behind him.
    ‘You are telling me to train this boy, madam?’
    ‘My dear Emid, the orders do not come from me. Keep in mind, this child should not be answerable for the actions of my warmongering son.’ She looked every bit as ferocious as the trainer. ‘Let him grow up here. In time, Archeld will become his home. He has no other now.’
    Emid shook his head. ‘Child he may be, but he won’t forget.’
    ‘Give him something else to remember.’
    Emid turned on Landen. ‘Boy—’
    ‘His name is Landen,’ Ancilla interrupted.
    Emid sighed. ‘Landen. Can you live here in Archeld, forgetting the past? Obeying my orders?’
    The boy’s voice was clear and ringing, without being loud. ‘You said yourself I wouldn’t forget,’ he answered.
    ‘I said it. I meant it.’
    ‘Then why do you ask if I’ll forget?’
    All four stood silent a moment, while Emid gnawed his lip.
    ‘Ah,’ he said. ‘I want to know if you can live here and obey my orders.’
    ‘I can.’
    Emid shook the boy’s hand. ‘Very well. Landen, come inside and we’ll find a place for you.’
    That was all. Landen disappeared through the doorway, and Torina walked away with Ancilla.

Chapter Three
    Dreea returned to her weaving, very pale, even quieter than before. Sometimes the king sat beside her and they talked, apart from everyone. Then Dreea’s eyes glowed and her movements quickened.
    Torina hovered near her mother till Dreea begged her to walk outside and amuse herself.
    In the courtyard, Torina climbed the low wall and sat with legs dangling. Below she could see the training field. She decided to watch the boys go through their exercises.
    Emid was conducting seltec, the tests that determined the level of warriorship for each boy. During the test, every soldier in training paired with