Aradia Awakens
Page 15
The last time Rezmona and her demons made one of these gathering trips, they'd gained over sixteen new prisoners–each fertile and ready to enter the breeding program. Although the program was a success, it didn't change the fact that leaving the palace was something she never looked forward to.
When Rezmona entered the church office she found Gregor hunched over the desk reading from a tattered old book. "Gregor, what is the meaning of this? Why are we moving the prisoners?"
He took a moment to mark his place, then looked up at her with tired eyes. "Just a precaution, my Queen. We have stayed here for far too long, and if we plan to collect more prisoners, we had better move now, before their loved ones attempt a rescue."
Easing her way across the room with a serious look on her face, Rezmona suddenly slammed her hands down on the old wooden desk. "That is no reason to move the prisoners! I could crush anyone who attempted such a foolish mission. Now, what's the real reason we are leaving, and what is it that you're reading?"
Gregor, her mentor, had served her mother and grandmother before her. He wore a long hooded robe to conceal his weathered face, because even under his glamour, age had clearly left its mark on this centuries-old demon. He walked with a tall wooden staff, presenting an image of an old and feeble demonic monk. But just as his appearance was an illusion, so was that assumption. Gregor's magick was extremely powerful, and in his prime, he was considered one of the most vile men in Abrinthill.
He squinted slightly, then gathered the book into his robe. "Just an old manuscript regarding the history of the town and its people. I found it here in the church."
Gregor was known to be a history buff so this shouldn't seem out of the ordinary. Seeming to relax ever so slightly, she asked, "Have you learned anything of value from it?"
"Nothing extraordinary. The church was founded over three thousand years ago. The people of the village lived modestly, and their town has always been very prosperous." Gregor motioned for her to follow him out the door.
"Prosperity is good. Hopefully that will translate to the fertility of their women as well," Rezmona replied, then followed her mentor to the carriage waiting at the back of the church.
"And to answer your previous question, my Queen, the main reason I've decided to move the prisoners has to do with the amount of time we'll be staying. I know how much you hate having to leave Abrinthill, so my plan is to gather enough prisoners this trip to sustain the breeding program for at least a solid year. If that goal is met, we would soon run out of room here in the church," Gregor explained. "I've started moving the prisoners to the abandoned castle on the outskirts of town. Even though the transport from the village will take longer, the castle will serve as a good base of operations until we are ready to return home."
Rezmona remembered the castle he was referring to. She'd noticed it during their initial trip into town. The back of it literally hung over a cliff, and the front was easily defended. He was right...it would serve as a perfect base. As she entered the carriage the idea of not having to leave Abrinthill for over a year put a smile on her face. "Continue dealing with the prisoners, Gregor. I'll meet you at the castle when you're done."
* * * * *
Gregor hadn't heard Rezmona approaching the office, so when she caught him reading from the ancient text, it had indeed startled him. And though her questioning his motives had set his teeth on edge, he quickly diffused the queen's anger with his even-keeled response because he wasn't ready to discuss what he'd found within the manuscript just yet. At present, he was only a quarter way through the book, but due to his powers of foresight knew it was important to finish it as soon as possible.
The day they'd entered the town, he'd been immediately drawn to this church, and after weeks of searching the ruins, he found the tattered book buried deep within its catacomb library. The moment he held it in his hands, he sensed it was imperative to gain the knowledge within, but the question of why still remained.
Other books by Tish Thawer:
The Rose Trilogy:
Scent of a White Rose - Book 1
Roses & Thorns - Book 1.5 (Short-story)
Blood of a Red Rose - Book 2
Death of a Black Rose - Book 3 (Available 2013)