The Mad Raven's Tale (The Accarian Chronicles Book 1) by Andrew Walbrown (little red riding hood read aloud txt) 📕

A horn sounded from the direction of the palace, long an ominous. Marinius looked out the window towards the keep. “I must be going.”

“Thank you, Marinius,” Pelecia replied. “For your secrecy. I could never repay you.”

Marinius bowed once more to Pelecia. “Roderic was like a brother to me, and you were the only woman he ever truly loved. It has been my privilege. One last thing,” Marinius reached into his robes and pulled out a book, old and worn. “His last request was for me to give you this.”

Pelecia opened the book and read a few lines, immediately bursting into tears. “I know these stories. They are the ones he read to me when I was ill.”

Marinius nodded. “It was his most prized possession. Farewell Lady Pelecia, I will return in a few days.”

Amantius was unsure how to react as he watched his mother press the book tightly to her chest. There was too much happening for him to process, too many thoughts flying through his mind to remain still. Am I supposed to be the king? Why has Mother kept this from me for so long? Are we in any real danger?

“Before you go,” Ulam said as Marinius strode towards the door. “Do you know about me? Do you know of my origin, how I came to be here?”

Marinius shook his head. “You were by Pelecia’s side when Amantius was born, though you were nothing more than an infant. We asked no questions. My apologies, but I must go.”

Marinius exited the house, quietly disappearing into the streets. Accaria was still chaotic, more so than at any festival or parade. People ran to and fro, some shouting in anger, others in mourning. After sunset, the noise began to slowly drift away, until only the ocean breeze drifted through the windows.

“What am I to do when you leave?” Ulam said, breaking the silence. Of all his thoughts, Amantius did not even consider the idea of leaving Ulam behind. It will be strange without him beside me. I will miss him.

“You will not be. You are going with him,” Pelecia said, her voice sad but firm.

“Master Marinius said nothing about my passage having been paid.” Though Ulam showed no emotion, Amantius knew the Orc was worried.

Pelecia bit her bottom lip as she looked at them both. She forced a smile, though tears were still pouring down her reddened face. “I will not be making the voyage across the sea.”

“What do you mean!?” Amantius yelled. “We are a family; we must stick together!”

Pelecia sighed and shook her head. “No, Amantius. Even if all three of us could go, I am an old woman now. I am not made for a life of adventuring. But,” she said as she ran her hand through his midnight black hair, “you two are young and have your whole lives ahead of you.”

Amantius jumped up; he could not believe what he was hearing. First, he was being forced out of his home, off the island that he loved. Now he was losing his mother as well. It was preposterous, as though none of this was real and he was living a nightmare.

“No! I will not leave you behind!” He declared as he took her hand in his. Despite his best attempts, he could not keep his voice from trembling. “Nor will I leave Ulam behind. Either the three of us go together or none of us go.”

“Do not be foolish,” Pelecia snapped, “You must go. If Varian discovers your lineage then…”

“How will he?” Amantius said, interrupting his mother. “How could he know? Even I did not know who my father was until now!”

“Torture,” Ulam replied, his voice flat, the emotion in the room crashing on his words like a waves on a seaside cliff. A chill went down Amantius’ spine. “No one willingly said anything all these years, but that does not mean a little torture will not help people remember. If what Master Marinius said was true, then there are potentially scores who know of their romance before his marriage to the Queen.”

Though Amantius was aware of the truth in Ulam’s words, he did not want to recognize it. He tried argument after argument, but Ulam crushed each attempt with articulate, sound logic.

“Very well,” he acquiesced after his last effort had been soundly defeated, “Ulam and I will go together.”

My beautiful life is over.

Chapter 6

Ulam

“It is today, right?” Amantius asked as Ulam stood by the window, playing the part of a sentry. “Today is the day we leave?”

Ulam said nothing, not even his customary grunt. In truth, he knew this was the day they would board a ship and sail to the mainland. Ever since Marinius spoke of the exodus from Accaria, Ulam had become progressively more excited about leaving.

Even though he knew this was the day, and the hour was near, he could not bring himself to tell Amantius. He knew the poor lad was hoping against hope, falsely misled by youthful optimism and denial. But he also knew he had to speak, otherwise, Amantius would know he was hiding something.

Ulam eventually grunted. “I assume. But, I have been wrong before.” He turned from the window and took a seat on the nearby sofa, studying his foster-brother’s face all the while. He could see the sweat and frustration building on Amantius’ brow and took a strange satisfaction in that. Knowing he could not tell the truth, and that a lie would ultimately be more harmful, he was comfortable leaving Amantius in the dark. Ultimately it did not matter to him, he had been prepared for Marinius’ arrival for days.

“What was it that Marinius said, exactly?” Amantius continued as he paced across the room. “That on the second day there would be a knock at the door, similar to this.” He balled up his hand and smacked his knuckles on the wood of a nearby desk. For a brief moment, Ulam saw that Amantius’ worries had disappeared, but now that silence was setting in