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Chapter 51
Last Updated:
2023-11-01 14:06:58
Latest chapter
By Order of the King Chapter 91
The door to the forge closed behind them, keeping its warmth as the bitter cold rushed in to greet them.The chill hit Iona like a slap, stealing the breath from her lungs. For a fleeting moment, she longed for the familiar heat of the forge—the fire, the glow, the comfort—but she shook off the thought and pulled her cloak tightly around herself.Beside her, Dougal barely seemed affected. If the cold bit at him, he didn't show it. Wrapped in his warm clothes and heavy cloak, he strode forward, gripping the basket firmly in one hand."Let's go," he said, urging her to move.Iona tried—but for a heartbeat, her limbs refused to obey. The cold had stiffened her joints, locking her in place."What happened to you? Move," Dougal pressed, his tone impatient. When she still didn't budge, he gave her a light push—not rough, not forceful. Just enough to jolt her forward.It backfired.Her balance wavered, her body tilting dangerously toward the ground. In that split second—before she could brac
By Order of the King Chapter 90
The blacksmith's shop was alive with movement—the heat, the rhythmic pounding of metal, the scent of fire and iron saturating the air.Dougal had been tasked with finishing repairs, mostly farm tools that their owners needed immediately.Today, more than usual had arrived—an endless parade of damaged axes, broken plows, and rusted hinges—all demanding to be fixed before sundown.At the back of the shop, his father was busy at work, shaping new tools with steady determination.Each time he brought the hammer down, a loud, resonant sound filled the workshop, mixing with the dance of shifting shadows. The warm light from the forge lit up the stone walls, creating a sparkling effect as heat spread through the air. It was hard work, unyielding work—but after so many years, his father made it look easy.The summers had been brutal, the forge’s heat turning the shop into a suffocating trap. But now, with winter settling in and the cold pressing against the walls, the furnace’s fire was no l
By Order of the King Chapter 89
Iona gritted her teeth as she trudged toward the garden gate, the basket's weight biting into her fingers. The cauldron was heavier than she expected—how was she supposed to carry it to the workshop?She pushed open the gate, stepping onto the road. And then, a realization struck her.She had no idea where she was going.Stopping in place, she scanned the street left, then right, searching for an answer. Her arms burned as she lowered the basket to the ground, rolling her shoulders to ease the ache.She closed her eyes briefly, thinking. Dougal had accompanied her partway that morning, until their paths had split. That much she remembered."So I can get to that point," she murmured, pressing her lips together. "But after that...?"Could she ask someone? Maybe. But who? The townspeople had never been eager to help, and even if she found someone willing, what would she say?"The blacksmith of... of..."She frowned. She didn't even know Dougal's father's name.Would asking for Dougal's f
By Order of the King Chapter 88
"Keep pressing your finger, I'll be right back," Talisha instructed."Okay," Iona murmured, her voice tighter than usual.As Talisha walked away, Iona's gaze followed her, watching as she exchanged words with Maysie, though she couldn't quite catch them. Maysie left hurriedly while Talisha shifted to another counter where Fergus cut meat with a cleaver.Iona wrinkled her nose. Was it necessary to leave here, too? He had always annoyed her, and now that she was forced to see him more often than when they still lived in their castle, the sight of him was even more unsettling.Anice was nowhere to be found. Bored of scanning the kitchen, she let her eyes rest on the wooden surface before her.She pressed harder against her injured finger, biting her lip at the sharp, unrelenting sting. Talisha was taking too long, making keeping her thoughts at bay difficult for Iona.And so, they spilled out.Hector's unmasked face rose in front of her, more vivid than before.Her stomach tightened.“Af
By Order of the King Chapter 87
As the distance between them narrowed, the twisting knot in Iona's stomach grew tighter."Good morning," Dougal greeted her as soon as they were face-to-face.Only then did Iona notice the dark circles under his eyes. She was almost sure they hadn't been there the day before when they had met."I wouldn't call it a good," she replied curtly, her voice clipped. "Let me guess—you were waiting for me. Of course, you were."Dougal nodded, his gaze dropping to the dirt road beneath their feet. "Yes, I was," he admitted, his voice quiet but steady.“You shouldn't have,” she said abruptly. “I can walk alone. I know the way to the castle.” The sharp edge in her tone was impossible to miss. Her father's words—be kind to him—echoed in her head, but patience wasn't her strong suit. Dougal could get under her skin, no matter how hard she tried to ignore him. It was as if the more she avoided him, the more he appeared in her path.She sighed heavily and moved past him, pulling her cape tighter aro
By Order of the King Chapter 86
Malcolm sat at the table while Fiona stood beside him, serving food. They turned their gazes in that direction when they heard the door open. Fiona straightened her back, smiled, and held a spoon. "Welcome home, my little girl. We were waiting for you, but you were late, and your father was so hungry. Come and sit with us; you must be hungry."Iona slowly dragged her feet to the table and sat down. "They gave us food in the castle, but I will eat with you too," Iona said."Really?" Fiona asked, clearly impressed. "I didn't expect that.""So, what did they give you to eat? The lords' leftovers, I presume," Malcolm sneered.Iona shook her head. "No, Father. They fed us the potatoes and vegetables that I peeled and washed," she said, emphasizing her words, and pressed her fingers to her chest to point to herself. "They were boiled with a little meat," she added, finishing her sentence.Fiona finished serving and sat down as well. She looked at Iona with concern. "I'm sorry, my little gir
By Order of the King Chapter 85
Talisha strode ahead, the corridor stretching long and cold ahead of her. Its stone walls whispered with memories of a time not so long ago when Iona walked these halls with her chin held high and wearing a beautiful and expensive gown. But now, her footsteps followed Talisha's brisk pace, her shoulders hunched under the weight of her new role, and her thoughts swirling in bitterness."Your duties are simple," Talisha began, her tone clipped and unyielding. "You will peel vegetables, clean the kitchen, and assist wherever needed. You are to remain in the kitchen—only the kitchen. When your work is done, you may return to your home. Is that clear?"The words felt like a slap. Iona's eyebrows drew together in silent protest, the weight of disappointment settling heavily on her chest. Only in the kitchen? It was a bitter pill to swallow. She had imagined something different— her work should include the entire castle so that she could move freely around it, to see and hear. But now?Swall
By Order of the King Chapter 84
Talisha returned, holding a small leather pouch in her hands."This is it," she said softly, handing it to Hector. Her voice trembled just slightly, but she quickly turned away. "Now, I can get back to my work.""Yes, of course. Thank you, Talisha."As she left, Hector stared at the pouch silently for a moment. His hands moved almost mechanically as he loosened the string and tipped its contents into his palm. The locket fell out, cold and heavy against his skin.He let the pouch drop onto the table as he studied the locket. The delicate gold chain spilled between his fingers like liquid light. He turned the locket over in his hand. The intricate floral engravings still caught the light, and the details seemed sharper, almost painfully vivid. At its center, the blue sapphire gleamed."It's beautiful!" Skye's voice broke through his thoughts, drawing his attention to her admiration."Yes, it is," Hector said, though his voice came out hoarse. He clenched the locket tightly, his throat
By Order of the King Chapter 83
Skye gazed thoughtfully at the doorway through which Talisha had just exited. Had she made the right decision? Perhaps she shouldn't have agreed to let Iona into their home and, by extension, into their lives. She couldn't forget how Iona had treated her in the past; it was a constant reminder of how little she could trust her. However, according to Talisha, Iona's family had fallen into poverty, losing their former glory and power. Maybe Iona and her parents, indeed, were in need.She bit her lower lip, deep in thought. Would that be enough to prevent Iona's malicious intentions?"Have you changed your mind?" Hector's voice cut through her thoughts. He stood off to the side, observing every move and subtle change in her expression. Startled, Skye turned her head towards him but didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she paced back and forth, her thoughts in turmoil. Finally, she said, "Do you think she will try something? I can’t forget her past behavior, but considering her current si
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