The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

My children had beenhiding their fear to protect me. I wondered where they learned todo that. I have only myself toblame. Setting my cup of tea aside, I roseand hugged her tightly. “Go tell your brother,” I said.

“He already knows,” she toldme.

“You told me last?!”

“He told me. It was his watch,” shesaid in a matter-of-fact tone.

“His watch?! You were settingwatches?” Again, never underestimate the young. “And you wait totell me last.”

“You were sleeping. I wanted to wakeyou sooner, but Matthew thought you needed your rest,” she saidwith a smile.

Her words made me wonder exactly whohad been taking care of whom for the past few weeks. I had thoughtI was caring for my wife and children, but apparently the situationhad been partly the opposite.

Matthew entered from outside then,carrying a dead rabbit, presumably for dinner. Looking at hissister he said, “I see Dad’s up.” The tone in his voice clearlycommunicated his anticipation of my surprise.

“I’m still a young man, I hope you tworealize. I don’t need you both watching over me like a couple ofoverprotective shepherds!” I told them firmly.

My son rolled his eyes with a sigh andtook his prize to the kitchen. Moira just smiled, and then shereached over to pat my head. “You take a lot of keeping, and Mommawas tired.”

I gave her my best glare.

“Are you hungry?” she asked. “Youalways get grumpy when you’re hungry.”

Our conversation was a losing battle,so I studiously ignored her. Taking a sip of my tea, I rose andwent to find Penny. She was my only hope for an ally against theunholy conspiracy that was forming around us.

Chapter 50

We waited another week before emergingfrom our seclusion. Peter and Walter had been giving me reports allalong and things had been moving as expected, so I didn’t feel tooguilty. I might have pushed to wait longer, but Penny was beginningto get cabin fever.

That’s what she called it anyway. OncePenny had recovered her strength, Lilly had left, to give us moreprivacy. After a week though, I was pretty sure that my wife wasyearning for more diverse company.

In other words, I was driving herbatty.

Peter was relieved when we finallystepped out. It took a lot of pressure off of his shoulders. Walterand his children had been up and down the valley, assisting thosethat needed help to return to their homes.

Walter’s estate in Arundel had beenthoroughly mucked up by the Shaddoth Krys, but most of hisbuildings were still fine. It was nothing compared to the statethat Lancaster was in. The castle had been gutted by fire, some ofthe people’s homes had been burned, and most of the storehousespillaged.

Winter was deepening quickly, andwithout outside assistance famine would soon be an unwelcome guestin many people’s homes. The fact that the World Road wasinoperative only made matters worse; outside aid would be difficultto arrange or convey.

Teleporting to my house in Albamarl, Iset about creating a new circle there, one large enough toaccommodate wagons. Once it was established, Walter and hischildren took care of transporting what was necessary. One of themremained at either end to allow frequent trips.

Being one of the richestmen in Lothion, if not therichest, now Tremont was dead, I opened my pursestrings to purchase whatever was necessary. I gave Elise Thornbearcarte blanche to handle the arrangements in Albamarl in my name. Itwas something I had done once before, with Rose, but she haddeclined to involve herself this time. She still had deeper woundsto heal.

Once those things were in motion, Imade a visit to our new Queen.

***

Adam, the head chamberlain who hadserved in the palace under both King Edward and King James, was thefirst to respond when I made my presence known at thepalace.

“Her Majesty is in a meeting, YourExcellency. If you would like to leave your card, I’ll make certainthat she knows you would like an audience,” he told me with an airof efficient formality.

I had never known Adam to be anythingless than professional, but over the years he had learned to treatme with an extra level of respect. I had clearly had the ear ofKing James, being one of his most trusted confidants. Before that,I had been to the palace numerous times to see KingEdward.

When things had gone badly withEdward—well, I was the one still in the palace. Edward was buriedin the royal cemetery.

“What meeting is she in?”I asked casually. “She probably won’t mind if I drop in.” WhileJames was in power, I had had to fight with him to stayout of themeetings.

“That is a matter of state, LordCameron,” he responded.

Now he really was putting me off.‘Lord Cameron’ was my official title; if he’d been treating me morenormally, it would have been simply a ‘Lord’ plus my surname,Illeniel. Not to mention, he had just told me, in essence, thateveryone who ‘needed to know’ was in there—and I wasn’t one ofthem.

“Do you remember the last time yougave me a cold reception, Adam?” I kept my tone friendly, but Iwanted to make sure that he knew what he was setting himself upfor.

“Unfortunately, I have always had anexcellent memory, Your Excellency,” he answereddemurely.

I gave him my best genteel smile.“I’ll give you five minutes to report my presence to Her Majesty.I’ll even play nice and sit out here, so everyone can see that youfollowed your silly damn rules and kept me waiting. After the fiveminutes are up, I’ll find my own way, and I don’t mean byleaving.”

He held out a gloved hand, palmupward.

“I don’t have any damned cards!” I bitout, losing my patience a bit. I’d always thought the damn thingswere pompous and silly. Peter had had some made once, but I neverused them.

“Very well, Sir,” he said, and then heleft.

Taking a seat on one of the cushionedbenches that decorated the waiting room, I let my mind explore thepalace. Just because I was being kept out, didn’t mean I couldn’tpeer in any and every corner of the place if I felt likeit.

Imagine my surprise when I found mymagesight couldn’t sense anything beyond the few rooms in the entryareas and the courtyard. Curious, I stepped outside and focused mysenses from