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Back Golden Age Save as PDF
Chapters (70)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. CONTENTS
  5. MAP
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. 56
  62. 57
  63. 58
  64. 59
  65. 60
  66. 61
  67. 62
  68. 63
  69. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  70. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

At that moment the sun king began to writhe, waving his arms about as he clutched at his chest and then reached out to grab hold of the steward’s arm. He coughed, a wracking, shuddering cough that hurt Chloe to hear. He continued for what felt like an eternity and then blessedly stopped, his skin so pale he looked like death. The steward touched a cloth to his lips and Chloe was almost surprised to see there was no blood.

‘We can wait no longer,’ the steward said.

‘I agree,’ said the lord in orange robes. He nodded at the magus. ‘Give the cup to the steward.’

Solon leaned forward slightly to swallow the tea, his bony throat swelling and contracting as he gulped it down. The steward tilted the cup back until every drop was gone.

The king lay back once more. Every set of eyes in the room was on him.

His color slowly returned.

The sun king’s lips parted. He spoke, his voice strengthening with every word. ‘Better . . . So much better.’ His eyes were slightly glazed. ‘The pain. It is still present, but my soul’s passage through the jagged gates is made easier.’

A sleepy smile crossed his face. The magus frowned, but the steward looked relieved.

‘The girl,’ Solon murmured. ‘Bring her to me.’

The bald man took Chloe by the elbow and led her to the sun king’s bedside.

‘What can I do, king of kings?’ she asked.

‘Your skills have made me better.’ His smile drifted; he looked as if he would soon fall asleep. His eyes closed as she waited, but after a moment they opened once more. ‘I would grant you a small boon for your service.’

Chloe held her breath. She knew the soma flower brought feelings of contentment. She may not get this chance again.

She wondered what she should ask for. She tossed away idea after idea. She couldn’t ask for anything too big. Even if he granted her request, he may take it away the next day. She couldn’t ask for alternate sleeping quarters, nor the freedom to roam the city unaccompanied. She couldn’t ask to be returned to her homeland or for the sun king to cease his desire for the Ark of Revelation.

In the end, she realized, there was nothing she could ask for herself.

But she could help another.

‘My bodyguard, Tomarys, has a brother working as a slave on the pyramid.’

‘Mmm.’ Solon nodded, close to drifting away.

‘The work is dangerous. I would ask that you free the slave, or find him safer work somewhere else.’

Solon glanced up at the lord in orange robes and nodded. ‘See it done,’ he said.

‘I will, sire.’

The sun king’s eyes finally closed, and Chloe was taken from the room.

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