The Bird and the Sword (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles, #1)

by Amy Harmon

A bee fled with one goal in mind. Home. Home.

Aww cute. I love bees

His brow furrowed, creating black slashes over his narrowed gaze. I felt a surge of confusion and something else, something I couldn’t name, lit the air between us.

Lol he thought she wanted a kiss hehe

“Do it,” he repeated. I sat back down in the chair—collapsed—my legs suddenly so weak I couldn’t stand. “Lark,” he demanded, waiting, his eyes still trained on my mouth.

Okay they wre kinda cute

I closed my eyes, seeking the privacy I’d suddenly lost. I needed him to leave.

“Wh-what?” the girl stammered, her eyes widening once more. “She’s not even speaking, Highness.”

I would think he was crazy lol

I felt claimed without being wanted.

The king would not have my words. He was no different from my father; neither loved me and both used me for their own purposes.

“She is of use to me, Kjell. Who else can boast the same? I know no other woman who is of any use to me at all.” Kjell was silent, and my pounding heart slowed to a sad slog. I cursed myself for listening in. It served me right.

Oh...poor girl

Again and again Tiras called on me, directing me, wielding me like a sword, and I clung to Shindoh, doing my king’s bidding,

I pity this girl she will be worked to death

Sleep my friend, with peaceful dreams, And never travel far from me.

“What do you want, Lark?” he asked, his voice so soft I wanted to curl into it. Instead, I rolled away from him and closed my head and my heart. I would not give him that. What I wanted, my deepest desires, my dreams, they were mine. Only mine. “You won’t tell me?” I could hear the frustration in his voice. I resisted the question, mentally changing the subject.

I agreed to be his queen, Boojohni. “Of course ye did! He’s a fine bit o’ man flesh.”

Lol love this dwarf

Hashim.

Hashim...my love.

“I want to know that my kingdom is safe,” he whispered. “Our kingdom, Lark. That is why I chose you. You will protect her.”

Not i love you, not i want to keep you safe, i care for you. Any of those would have been appropriate man

“Only your walls, Lark.” He deepened the kiss, licking into my mouth as if he knew he’d find me there hiding from him.

“I cannot heal him,” Shenna said, finally. Tiras sat motionless, Kjell paced, and I mourned. Why? My voice was a cry, and Tiras winced.

“Thank the Gods,” Tiras breathed, as if another bridge had been crossed, another battle won, and the roots of joy in my chest grew tiny thorns.

Yeah that reaction would suck as well

I swallowed, keeping my words in my chest so they wouldn’t flood my head and become angry spells, but they slithered and snapped, and I stood, unable to trust myself to contain them. The king’s advisors shot to their feet, parchment and scrolls falling to the floor. I acknowledged them, just a stiff jerk of my head, and moved swiftly toward the door. “Lark,” Tiras called after me. I ignored him.

Yeah id be pissed to

yourself? I see you, even as an eagle. I watch you. And I am afraid for you.” His voice was suddenly so gentle that my will crumbled like the dry leaves beneath Shindoh’s feet.

“Because I knew you would follow me here. I failed that night. The timing was off. Then the king returned. I had to change my strategy.” I stared at her, not wholly comprehending. But . . . why? “I want Jeru. In order to have Jeru, I must marry a king, but Tiras has taken care of that, hasn’t he? He has made Kjell his successor.

What? No.

As Sorkin said, what a man chose to do with his gift was the true measure, and Tiras and I passed laws to hold Jeruvians accountable for their actions instead of their abilities.

Daughter, daughter, Jeru’s daughter, He is coming, do not hide. Daughter, daughter, Jeru’s daughter, Let the king make you his bride.

Why does this make me sad for some reason?