The Priory of the Orange Tree (The Roots of Chaos, #1)

by Samantha Shannon

Good knight, Cleolind answered, thou art kind of heart, but for thine own sake, leave me to my prayers, for a wyrm doth come to claim my life.” It sickened Ead to speak of the Mother in this way, as if she were some swooning waif. “The knight,” she pressed on, “was moved by her tears. Sweet lady, he said, I should sooner plunge my sword into my own heart than see thy blood water the earth. If thy people will give their souls to the Virtues of Knighthood, and if thou giveth me thy hand in marriage, I will drive this fell beast from these lands. This was his promise.” Ead paused to gather her breath. And suddenly, an unexpected taste entered her mouth. The taste of the truth. “Cleolind told the knight to leave, insulted by his terms,” she found herself saying, “but Sir Galian would not be deterred. Determined to win glory for himself, he—” “No,” Sabran cut in. “Cleolind agreed to his terms, and was grateful for his offer.” “This is as I heard it in the South.” Ead raised her eyebrows, even as her heartbeat stumbled. “Lady Roslain asked me to—” “And now your queen commands you otherwise. Tell the rest as the Sanctarian does.” “Yes, madam.” Sabran nodded for her to continue. “As Sir Galian battled with the Nameless One,” Ead said, “he was gravely wounded. Nonetheless, with the greatest courage of any man living, he found the strength to thrust his sword into the monster. The Nameless One slithered away, bleeding and weak, and tunneled back into the Womb of Fire, where he remai...