Read Blood Song: The First Book of Lharmell for Free Online

grew stronger. I smiled, tight-lipped, as they exclaimed over the green fields and the beautiful flowers. I agreed, ‘Yes, aren’t they lovely ,’ but I just couldn’t rustle up any enthusiasm.
    Occasionally I saw the blue-eyed phantom on the edge of my dreams as I was tortured with images of death and blood. Once, I woke in the middle of the night and saw twin blue points of light travelling next to the coach, but before I could yank the window down and have a proper look it had disappeared. Give me back my ring! I had called in my mind, but had heard nothing in reply. I began to fear the night and the dreams it would bring.
    The morning we were to arrive at the palace, Renata snapped. ‘Why are you constantly moping, Zeraphina? Do you not like the beautiful sunny days, the fresh fruit and the stunning scenery? Are you wishing you were back in that cold, run-down castle of ours?’
    I straightened in my seat and tried to look happy. ‘No, Mother. I am tired of the journey, that is all. I haven’t been sleeping well.’ I glanced at Lilith. ‘And I’ve been thinking how lonely I shall be in Amentia with Lilith gone.’ I winced inwardly at my lie. Of course, that’s what should have been making me miserable, if I wasn’t so wrapped up in myself.
    Lilith smiled and patted my hand. ‘Oh, Fina.’
    Renata sat back, satisfied. ‘Yes, of course. As shall I. But don’t worry. As soon as we get home there’ll be no end of suitors calling for you. Lilith’s advantageous marriage is going to make you quite a catch, young lady,’ she assured me with a smile.
    I groaned inwardly. Suitors. Something to look forward to.
    ‘Now,’ she said briskly, ‘wipe that mopey look off your face. We’ll be arriving at any moment and you need to look happy to be here. Lean forward and let me fix your hair.’
    She pulled the curls Eugenia had set that morning into a soft halo round my face. We were all dressed in the Pergamian style: loose, toga-like gowns that were belted around the waist with braiding. The seams along the tops of the arms weren’t closed up, but instead attached at regular intervals by strips of fabric. The style showed our slender shoulders off to advantage and the dresses were very cool. They needed to be; the midday sun was fierce. Not used to it, we had taken to fanning ourselves with our books.
    Xallentaria was bordered with fortifications, and as we crossed into the city proper I saw many soldiers patrolling the area and posted atop walls, their keen eyes trained on the sky and bows at the ready. What sort of enemy came from above? I looked up, but didn’t see anything except a vaulted blue sky.
    On the shimmering horizon, beyond the domes and spires of the city, the palace rose, robust and proud, and gleaming in the midday sun.
    Despite the presence of the soldiers the cityfolk looked cheerful enough and bustled about their business. There were women in gowns like our own. In twos and threes they sat under tea-house awnings, sipping from coloured glasses and nibbling sweets from tiny platters. Merchants plied their wares and children ran all over, playing tag and eliciting lazy calls from their parents to behave. Girls the same age as Lilith and me wandered here and there, holding parasols to protect their complexions and gossiping behind lacy fans.
    The palace lay on the north-eastern side of the city at the end of a long, tree-lined boulevard. Lilith and I hung out the carriage windows and gawked at it until Renata dragged us back.
    ‘Act unimpressed,’ she told us. ‘You’re supposed to be princesses for goodness’ sake, not country bumpkins.’
    I sat back, but tilted my head so I could see out the window. Everything was made of white stone and hurt the eyes to look at. The main keep, in which would be the great hall and living quarters of the king and queen and those at court, rose far above the outer walls, an immaculate, gleaming structure. I counted eighteen turrets, capped with gold and