The Adamantists (The Crown Prophecy Book 2) Read online

  M.D. LAIRD

  THE ADAMANTISTS

  Copyright © 2017 M.D. Laird.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any other information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction, all names, characters, places, and events are the products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  For Carrie. It is a bit weird, but it’s okay.

  To the bottomless perdition,

  There is to dwell.

  In adamantine chains and penal fire,

  Who durst defy the omnipotent arms

  Nine times the space that measures day and night.

  John Milton, Paradise Lost

  Part the First

  Think’st thou ‘tis nought to doom thy guiltless children

  To dread atonement for their father’s wrongs?

  Nay, on thyself may fall dire retribution

  And the just laws that give back scorn for scorn.

  The Odes and Epodes of Horace

  “To what do I owe this honour?” Sonneillon Prince Thomas of the First Order addressed the king of Axandria slyly as he approached his throne. The king glared at Prince Thomas and did not speak. “If you’re waiting for me to kneel and kiss your ring, you’ll be waiting a long time.” The prince grinned, his cobalt eyes meeting the king’s angry demeanour.

  The king bristled as he glowered at the demon stood before him. He had nothing to do with demons unless he had to. They were arrogant, obnoxious and not particularly pleasant to look at, but, like everyone, they have their uses.

  “I am troubled by the news from overseas,” said the king. “The new Arkazatine queen has come into some rather powerful magic.”

  “So I hear,” said Prince Thomas. “What of it?”

  “I don’t like it. I refused to ally with her in her war, and she may seek revenge against me.”

  “I have heard she is weak,” said the demon, looking away from the king to examine his claws. “She wields a mighty power, but her heart is weak. She does not have the constitution for vengeance.”

  “All the same, I would prefer the magic on my side. I need an alliance with her.”

  “Why are you coming to me? Offer one of your sons.”

  “I have offered my heir, and she has refused him. She is betrothed to the former Asmodeus prince.”

  The demon prince laughed. “From what I have heard of that queen it does not surprise me that she would marry that disgrace of a demon.”

  “Be that as it may. It does not help my situation. She has offered allegiance with Axandria, but I want a pledge that has more weight than mere words. I want you to help me…persuade her to marry the Crown Prince.”

  “Why should I do that?”

  “Your assistance will not go unrewarded; I will give you the southern duchy.”

  “I have no need for territory.”

  “I will also offer you my youngest daughter.”

  “I have no need for a daughter.”

  “You may take her as your wife.”

  “I have no need for a wife.”

  The king frowned. “Name your terms.”

  “I cannot help you even if I wanted to,” said the demon plainly. “Demons are allowed to live in Anaxagoras under our decree, we are allowed to defend our nation, but we cannot conquer others.”

  “I don’t want you to conquer Arkazatinia; I want you to visit, stir things up a little between the queen and the demon and have her break off her engagement.”

  The prince laughed. “This plan is desperate. Just visit yourself and have your allegiance made official with a treaty. The girl is Lycean; Lycea is no longer won and lost on marriages. She can divorce your son as easily as she can marry him.”

  “In this world, as you know, Prince Thomas, lands are won and lost on marriage as are allegiances. I won’t accept anything less. The queen is incapable of producing an heir so that allegiance needs to be secured by marriage with her herself.”

  “Just have the aetheling charm her and get her to fall in love with him. He has a pretty face, I’m sure she’ll adore him.”

  The king bristled again. He did not like being mocked by the demon. “She is marrying a hideous demon rather than a beautiful thorian,” he snapped. “I think she’ll be rather more difficult to convince.”

  “I am offended,” gloated Prince Thomas.

  “I’m sure,” said the king sarcastically before continuing. “We can play this ridiculous exchange for the rest of the day if you like, but I am getting tired of it. You may be a demon prince, but you still reside in my lands, and you are still my vassal. You owe me your obedience.”

  “I am living here because Heaven lets me not because of you.”

  “You still have a duty to protect this continent. I am ordering you to help make sure that this continent is securely allied with Arkazatinia. I am being more than generous with my payment.”

  “Fine,” said the demon, giving the king a mocking yawn. “What do you want me to do?”

  “I want you to remind the former prince that he is still a demon.”

  “I doubt he has forgotten.”

  “I mean remind him of his demonic personality. Have him rid himself of these ridiculous ideas of love and remind the queen what a demon is and why she shouldn’t marry one.”

  “Did you not just offer your daughter for marriage to a demon?”

  “Yes, but a queen with a great power has more value for Axandria than a princess—it is a necessary sacrifice.”

  “Very well. When is the queen’s wedding?”

  “There is no date set as yet, but I want the alliance secured quickly. You have until February.”

  “That only gives me four months.”

  “I’m sure you’re quite capable.”

  Prince Thomas gave a wicked smile. “I’ll claim the duchy on my return, but I want your daughter now.”

  “I’m not giving her to you until the quest has been a success. If it fails, I may still need her.”

  “You’ll have to take that risk.”

  “This arrangement will cost me two children as it is.” The king snarled. “I will only pay that price for success.”

  “Then find yourself another demon.”

  “Fine,” the king barked. “Arrange a wedding ceremony, and you can take her afterwards.”

  “I mean I’m taking her with me now.”

  “You cannot take her virginity without marriage.”

  Prince Thomas shrugged. “Summon someone to perform the ceremony, I will wait,” he replied, then added, “Her fertility is going to be a problem for me.”

  The king grinned. “I will deal with it.”

  Several hours later, Prince Thomas travelled back to the Guild of Sonneillon with his new bride. She sat opposite him in the carriage the king had provided to transport them and her belongings. Thomas had not travelled in a carriage since his decree in Lycea many years ago and had forgotten how infuriatingly slow they were. The horses were no faster with one of Thomas’ demons frightening them along their course either.

  Thomas smiled broadly at his wife whose eyes were still bloodshot from her tears. She had been a little disappo
inted to learn she was marrying him and it took a firm hand and several threats to her life from her father to convince her to say her vows. It also took the hands of several of the king’s attendants to hold her down whilst an alchemist inserted a contraceptive opal stone beneath her skin.

  “Tell me.” He grinned. “Have you been with a man before?” The girl swallowed nervously and shook her head. He chuckled. “You’re in for a treat; you’re going to love it.”

  “What are you going to do with me?” she asked.

  “Well,” he replied, smiling, “first I’m going to tear off that dress and then—”

  “I meant with my life,” she snapped. “What on earth does a demon want with a wife? I expect my father to bargain with my life like I’m cattle, but what do you want from this?”

  “He is forcing me into his ridiculous plans for Arkazatinia; I had to get something out of him.”

  “That’s it?” she exclaimed. “You force me into marriage because you want to get one over on the king. What have I done to deserve this?” She started to cry again.

  “Oh relax.” The prince sneered. “You always knew your father would marry you off. Don’t pretend you’re surprised.” He batted his eyelashes at her. “Am I not handsome enough for you?” She said nothing and turned to stare out of the window. He sprawled on the seat opposite her and his foot caught her leg, she turned to face him. He grinned at her again. “Are you going to let me take your virginity?” he asked lazily.

  “I’ll have to,” she said, looking back through the window. “It’s not as though I’m going to be able to fight you off, is it?”

  Thomas laughed. “I won’t force you.”

  She turned her head towards him. “You won’t?”

  “I’m not a complete monster.” He grinned. “My decree prevents me anyway. Though if you want me to, I will happily oblige.”

  “I will never want to.”

  He shrugged. “It’s no matter. I have plenty of others willing to please me.”

  “You don’t intend to be a faithful husband then?”

  “I hadn’t given it any thought, but no, I will never settle just for you whether you want me or not.”

  “At least you’re honest, most men are just lying scoundrels. What about me? Can I see other people?”

  “Why?” He chuckled. “You have some stable boy you secretly love or have you some goat herd you have been having an affair with?”

  The princess glowered at him.

  “You should tell me, Princess,” he chided. “I can easily find out.”

  Another glare. “He was my educator’s son,” she said defiantly. “We planned to elope.”

  Thomas snorted. “And I have come along and ruined everything. I have probably saved his life; your father would have had him killed.”

  “We planned to leave the continent and start a new life in Arkazatinia.”

  “I have probably just saved our nations from war. If your father found out you were in Arkazatinia, he would have gone after you. That new queen is too soft to let him take you; she doesn’t know what’s good for her. She would have gone to war to protect you.”

  “You think she is soft because she isn’t a beast like my father?”

  “Your father is pragmatic.” Thomas smiled. “He does what needs to be done. It’s an admirable quality.”

  “Only if you’re a demon,” she snapped. “Not if you’re anyone with an ounce of decency.”

  Thomas laughed again. “We have not been married an hour, and you’re already assassinating my character. I thought that did not start until after the honeymoon.”

  Her eyes bore into his. “Enough games. What can I expect from my life now?”

  Thomas shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought this through.”

  “Why not just let me go? I could leave with James, and you never have to bother about me.”

  “Is James the goat herd or the stable boy?” he mocked.

  “Please,” she pleaded. “You don’t need a wife; you’re just going to make my life miserable.”

  “I’m afraid it’s not that simple, Princess. If you leave with the goat herd and people find out, it reflects poorly on me, and I will have to find you, bring you back and punish you by killing him.”

  “So I have to be unhappy for the rest of my life?”

  “Cheer up.” Thomas chuckled. “We have our honeymoon to look forward to.”

  “Honeymoon?”

  “Yes, we leave for Arkazatinia soon.”

  “Why do you want me to go? Aren’t you afraid I will betray my father’s plans to the queen?”

  “What a traitorous thing to say?” he remarked.

  “I owe him no loyalty.”

  “What about your brother? Surely he would prefer to be the consort king of the lovely Queen Genevieve rather than the husband of some mid-level lord?” He grinned at her. “Unless you want him to be saddled with an awful marriage as well.”

  “My father destroys enough lives.” She snarled. “He does not have to destroy the queen’s happiness too.”

  “If I leave you at home, what is to stop you running off to your stable boy?”

  “Are you going to hold me prisoner and prevent me from seeing him?”

  He shrugged. “I’m not the jealous type, but I don’t want another man messing with my property.”

  “I am not your property.”

  Thomas smiled. “According to your father you are. I own you now. Your life is mine. That includes your virginity.”

  “I’m not a virgin,” she snapped. “James took my virginity years ago. I knew my father would have me married and I wanted to choose for myself and lose it with the man I loved.”

  “I feel cheated.” Thomas laughed. “You are lucky you have married me, that little stunt could have cost you your life.”

  “I have no life anyway.”

  “Just out of curiosity,” he asked. “I thought you said you were planning to elope?”

  “We were.”

  “And how long have you been planning?”

  “It’s not that easy, we need money to begin a new life.”

  “Was he putting it off?” he chided.

  “It wasn’t like that,” she stammered.

  “It sounds like he was using you, Princess,” mocked Thomas.

  “You don’t know him. He has been saving what he could.”

  “It doesn’t take that long to make a plan to elope. You could have gotten jobs when you arrived at your new life. Unless working is beneath you?”

  “You don’t know anything.” She snarled. “He loves me.”

  “Well, at least I don’t have to worry about him running away with you.”

  “Just let me go,” she pleaded again. “You can pretend I’m in your guild. I can come back to keep up appearances if my father ever asks to see me.”

  “No. That plan makes me look foolish.”

  “Does it matter? It will make me happy.”

  “Why should I be concerned with your happiness?”

  “Because I’m your wife.”

  “You’re my wife, and you’re asking me to let you leave with another man on our wedding day.”

  “Do you delight in tormenting me?”

  “I’m a demon, I delight in tormenting everyone.”

  “I could hide from you. You won’t find me.”

  “If it were so easy you would surely have hidden from your father.”

  “I thought I would have some notice,” she said bitterly. “But I had a plan.”

  “Let me guess,” he teased. “You were going to save up all of your pennies and pay a dark alchemist to hide you?” She glowered at him, and he laughed. “It won’t work, Princess. No alchemist would risk the wrath of the king, or a demon now, for coin. He would want nothing less than your soul to make that bargain. Your freedom won’t belong to you if you no longer have your soul. And I would find you.” She began to cry again.
Thomas rolled his eyes. “Does this happen a lot?”

  “Yes it does,” she snapped. “I hate my life, and I hate it even more now.”

  Thomas gave her a slow smile. “You’re a dramatic thing, aren’t you?”

  She glared at him through her tears.

  He laughed. “Oh, hush now,” he said. “You never know, you may actually like being married to me. You may find yourself wanting to take me to your bed. I am very entertaining in the bedroom you know.”

  “I shall take your word for it,” she said icily. “If I am to remain in your guild then I have some demands.”

  “Is that so?” Thomas chuckled. “You’re hardly in a position to make demands.”

  She glared menacingly at him. “You’d deny me a few comforts? You didn’t have the sense to negotiate a dowry for me, but I know you can well afford to keep me and I shan’t go without.”

  What have I gotten myself into? She seemed so timid.

  “Are you always this haughty?” he asked.

  “It has been a source of pride for my father and no doubt the reason he has struggled to marry me to a lord.”

  “You mean I’m the only person stupid enough to marry you?”

  “It certainly seems that way,” she replied coldly, though she appeared a little offended. “Are you going to hear my requests?”

  “Ah…they are requests now. By all means, request away, Princess.”

  “I want my own room,” she began and paused waiting for him to respond.

  “You think I would throw you in my dungeon?”

  “I don’t want to share with you.”

  “Well, I don’t want you to share with me either, Princess. Especially if you do not intend to please me.”

  “I want a joining bathroom if you have one or, at least, a bathroom of my own.”

  Thomas shrugged. “Anything else?”

  “Yes. Where do you take meals?”

  “There is a communal dining room.”

  “I want to dine in my room. I wish you to provide me with an attendant to bring me my meals and refreshments. I want an allowance—I don’t want to have to ask you for money every time I wish to buy myself something. It should be generous and not subject to conditions—I won’t earn pocket money like a child. I want to be able to leave the guild to visit the town.”