Gold, Ice and Steel - Daniel Gibbs (icecream ebook reader txt) 📗

I will serve you as loyally as any other.”
Ayrlin seemed startled by his son’s apparent surrender, but Gurylin was not so easily fooled. Fortunately, Eyssalin’s elder brother was too much of a coward to speak against his father’s will. Ayrlin beckoned his son to stand before him, and opened his arms in an embrace. “Come back to me, my son. If there is anything you need of me, you have only to ask.”
Eyssalin stepped away from his father, one hand ready on the hilt of the Wyrmsword. “All I ask is the crown on your head, father…” sneered Eyssalin, and within a heartbeat, the sabre had sawed open the Dragon King’s sagging throat. The aged ruler dropped to the ground, grasping at his torn neck. Gurylin yelped girlishly, reaching for the sword at his own belt, but Eyssalin moved towards him with inhuman speed. A sharp flick of his wrist, and his elder brother was open from navel to collar. One of the black-clad spearmen behind him roared in anger, and tried to run him down. The Dragon Prince ducked beneath the lunging shaft, and slashed under the guard’s arm, almost severing it. A step back, with a smooth, arcing stroke, and the spearmen’s head was sliced clean from its shoulders. The other three threatened to move towards him, but he pushed them back with the Wyrmsword.
“You would be wise not to act against me, Dragons.” he smirked, “My father and brother lie dead. Kill me, and you kill the last heir to the throne.”
The black-armoured Dragons stepped back, seething with rage. As casually as he could muster as the fury of the lirum pumped through him, Eyssalin stood before the shocked crowd, and plucked the thin golden crown from his father’s skull. Before them all, he placed the circlet of dragons atop his own straight, black hair.
“People of Dragontower, my father’s reign of terror is over.” Declared Eyssalin in a righteous roar, “No more shall our city suffer from poverty, hunger and cruelty. No longer shall we be seen as the murderers of lesser kings. I shall rule you and all others in the March, as justly as I can. That, I promise to you now.”
Now, we see how wise I have truly been. Now we see if I have judged my people well.
Eyssalin grinned as his judgement proved correct. He grinned as the courtyard beneath the Black Horn shook to the cry of “Hail Eyssalin! Hail the Dragon King!”


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Publication Date: 12-30-2011

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