Azurite (Daughter of the Mountain Book 1) Read Free Page A

panic now in full force. 
    “Do you know what you are?” he hissed in her ear.  Zora squirmed under his hold and screamed for him to stop.  Ignoring her pleas, the man pulled up the bottom hem of her nightdress while her legging-covered legs kicked uselessly underneath him.  When her bare abdomen was exposed, the man laughed with twisted glee.
     “You’re mine now,” he whispered in her ear. 
    With that he pressed his hand unto her flesh, leaving a burning scar in its wake.  Fire seared through Zora’s stomach as she screamed, consuming her being from the tips of her toes into the depths of her spirit.  She looked down in horror as the portion of her nightdress where he’d placed his hand was now singed as if touched by fire.  Marking her ivory skin was the outline of a handprint dipped in blood.  Her muscles began to tremor, weak and immobile, and again she screamed in pain until her voice was all gone.  She listened as a menacing laugh enveloped her mind and then her distorted vision turned into blackness.  

Part I
     
     
     
     
     
    “In the beginning, the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of Creator moved upon the face of the waters.”
     
    I Codex
                  Book 1
                                Chapter 1
                                              Line 1
     

Chapter 1
     
    Alumhy, Samaria
    Three years later
    The advisors to Evangeline Winnser, Queen of Samaria, sat around a large council table decorated with fine food dishes that none of the men were interested in sampling.  This prestigious group of advisors met weekly with Queen Evangeline to communicate any issues arising in their fields of expertise that the Queen needed to be informed about.  Evangeline was a very involved and thorough Queen with regards to the reputation of her country, and she kept tight ropes on all of her advisors so that nothing would go unnoticed. 
                  Today, the friendly business-like atmosphere that usually occupied the legislative quarters was replaced by one of tension so thick, it could be seen by the naked eye.  Evangeline sat perched on the dais facing her four advisors, her gorgeous silk gown overflowing the throne and running like a waterfall down the few steps before her.  A magnificent crown embellished with sapphires, topaz, and diamonds adorned her head making the Queen appear overly dressed for the occasion.  Underneath the crown, a smooth, slightly aged face remained motionless while she listened intently and without interjection as her advisors conversed amongst each other.
                  “Are you positive other extractable veins haven’t been overlooked in this particular mine?” Arvil Pennington asked in an accusatory tone.  “Doesn’t your team prospect for several years before deciding where to dig in order to alleviate any room for error?  No one else has the authority to begin excavation besides you!”
    Arvil Pennington, Samaria’s Master of Commerce, sat directly across from Talan Leatherby who was in charge of overseeing Samaria’s entire mining industry.  Whether it was mining gems, metals, or minerals, this industry alone provided Samaria with the majority of her revenue.  Hence, any disruption of the mine’s productivity induced anger in Arvil Pennington who oversaw Samaria’s economic health.  Today, Talan Leatherby just glared resentfully at the small man across from him, as Arvil’s voice had taken on an incriminating tone. 
    “These reckless and poor decisions have set our trade back at least a year now,” Arvil continued in a shrill voice, “and will no doubt have irrevocable consequences on our fiscal integrity in the long run.  Which, mind you, is already unstable enough!”
    Arvil’s upturned nose only caused Talan’s dislike for the mousy man to boil harder inside of him.  But he