Read Online Citadel of the Sky (Thrones of the Firstborn Book 1) by Chrysoula Tzavelas - Free Book Online Page A

after him. “You’re very kind, Your Highness.” His hunched shoulders smoothed out as he bowed.
    After Berrin shepherded the men out, the King said, “Yithiere stopped the last Blighter at the border. It had almost no impact on the common folk. What they remember is Benjen.” He sighed. “What they fear is us.”
    Jerya glanced at her father and then said, “Kiar? What did you see?”
    Kiar said, “The simple one was touched by eidolons. Not like the pendants, but like Lisette or Iriss.”
    Iriss said suddenly, “I could read his lips. At least, I think so. The brother. Clary.” She said his name like she was tasting it. “He was saying the same thing over and over, mostly. Like he had a song in his head.” She absently began strumming her viola again.
    “Well, what was it?’ Tiana asked.
    Iriss said, “Oh! Um. Let me see. Dead, dead, dead star, between midnight and dawn. Dream, dream, dream, night drags on. Monster, monster, monster, it’s not real. Never, never, never, nightmares don’t heal.” She fell silent, and as the silence dragged out, she turned pink. “I didn’t say it made sense. But I did see it. I practice!”
    Kiar blew out her breath. “Very cheerful. So. Eidolon pendant. Eidolon-touched plague victim. Unfamiliar eidolon at the funeral. I think there must be an unknown member of the Blood.”
    Tiana said, “Are you sure it was eidolons? Our magic?”
    Kiar’s patience snapped. “Benjen the Bastard gets not one, but two, entries in the history of Blighters. Why are you so set against the idea that any of the Blood could do something bad?”
    Tiana looked frightened. “I’m not. I just don’t think it—I don’t want another Blood Blight. I—” she glanced at Jerya. “I know how bad they are. This isn’t anything like Benjen. A plague? Is it, Daddy? Tell them. Whoever it was would have to be here, and you can’t make people sick with eidolons or emanations.”
    Kiar took a deep breath. Then, begrudging the words, she said, “You’re probably right. Without seeing more survivors of the plague, I can’t prove a supernatural influence. Depending on where his village is, Clary may have run afoul of Cathay or Yithiere on one of their rides, or something even more arcane. The pendants date from long ago. And one stray eidolon does not, strictly speaking, make a Blight.” Even if it killed Tomas. “But it was an eidolon, Tiana.”
    Tiana lowered her gaze and sat, chewing her lip. Iriss asked, “Will they ever forget, Your Majesty?”
    Kiar said, “Not as long as bastards of the Blood go Blighter.”
    Lisette said sharply, “It’s not limited to bastards, Kiar.”
    The King said to Iriss, “I don’t know. You know me and memory. Rinta and Yithiere didn’t think they would. But Tomas… Tomas had a plan for easing some of the nightmares.”
    Jerya said, “What was it?”
    The King scratched his chin. “I’m not really sure. He didn’t want to burden me with it. Something to do with the Justiciars. I don’t attend council meetings much, you know.” Another eidolon stepped out of the King. “Tomas did that for me.”
    Kiar announced, “I’m dropping the Logos-vision now.” No one protested immediately, so she did so.
    Jerya bit her thumbnail. “I wonder what it was. I don’t think it’s working.” She shook her head. “I’m concerned that he didn’t bring these troubles to our attention.”
    Tiana said, “Maybe it was just politics making things bad. Politics aren’t our job.”
    “But fiends are,” said Jerya. “And Tomas hated politics. Something’s going on. I think the only way we’ll find out is by going to Court.”

Chapter 6

Love Me Not
    K iar slouched down the Palace hall that evening, deliberately taking the longest possible route to Twist’s chambers. It wasn’t where she wanted to be, but Jerya had insisted.
    “And you,” she’d said. “You keep saying Twist would know these answers. You’re his apprentice, go ask him. Today. I know