Draggah Read Free Page A

to the gates of hell and back.  But why leave the city?  What strategic advantage would that give him? ”
    “ You really think he left willingly? ”
    “ Yes, I just can ’ t fathom why. ”
    “ Don ’ t worry about it, ” she almost purred, as she put her hand on his arm.  “ I ’ ve made a decision.  I want you to come back to Sparlan Citadel with me. ”
    “ You do? ” Leonosis asked.
    He was shocked.  The Princess had treated him with contempt nearly her entire visit, and now she was asking him to come with her to the capital.  He couldn ’ t believe it.
    “ You and I have common interests,” she said.  “I promised Tiberius that I would see to it that his friends are pardoned if they can make it to the Citadel. ”
    “ You did what? ” Leonosis said angrily.
    “ No one has ever done it, ” she said.  “ But I have a feeling about your brother.  He may surprise us all.  If that is the case, then I want you there to rein him back in. ”
    “ You think I want to go to Sparlan Citadel on a fool ’ s errand.  I won ’ t leave Avondale unprepared if Tiberius returns. ”
    “ You think he ’ s just waiting, biding his time to attempt a coup.  I think he has other reasons for his departure. ”
    “ What could you possibly know about Tiberius?  You ’ ve only met him twice and you think you know more than his own brother. ”
    “ That is your weakness, Leonosis.  It is why you would make a poor King.  You can ’ t fathom that a woman could have ways of knowing things about a person that you can never understand.  And yet, it is true.  I ’ m guessing that if you dig deep enough into your brother ’ s recent activities, you ’ ll find the answer.  Or you could just come with me. ”
    “ You intrigue me, I ’ ll admit that. ”  He moved closer to the Princess.  “ At first you seemed distant, cold, even a little vain. ”
    “ Don ’ t misunderstand me, Lord Leonosis.  I have no interest in you as a lover. ”
    She stood up suddenly and Leonosis was taken aback by the way she looked.  She was still beautiful, perhaps even more beautiful than ever, but she seemed darker somehow, larger, and much more terrifying.
    “ What is this? ” he sputtered as he stumbled back off the dais.
    “ Your power comes from your position in this city, ” she said, her voice so loud it echoed off the stone walls of the audience chamber.  “ My power is much greater.  Do not underestimate me, or you will know pain you never thought imaginable. ”
    Leonosis couldn ’ t believe his eyes.  The Princess seemed to grow before his very eyes, looming bigger and bigger, until she had to stoop over him to keep from banging her head on the ceiling.  She was smiling, but it was a look of terrible cruelty.  She raised her hand, pointing a finger at him, and he felt something moving inside him.  He tore at his tunic as she began to laugh.  The sound made his blood run cold as it echoed around the chamber.
    He frantically pulled his shirt up, and there, visible just under the skin, was a writhing, serpentine creature.  He shouted in fear, and then passed out.
    When he woke he was alone in the audience chamber.  He had no idea how long he ’ d been lying on the cold stone floor, but his body ached.  He raised up high enough to look at his stomach, but it seemed normal.  He touched it, trying to ensure that there was nothing foreign in his body.  Then he rolled to his side and pushed himself up.  His head was spinning, but after a few moments, everything seemed to settle into place.  He rose slowly and walked to the door.  As hard as he tried, he couldn ’ t explain what had happened with Princess Ariel.  She was more than she seemed.
    He walked slowly back through the palace toward the banquet room, trying to figure out exactly what had happened.  Was it possible that Princess Ariel was some sort of demon?  Had he imagined the whole encounter?  He couldn ’ t put his finger on what