(eng) Jonathan Moeller - Frostborn 10 by The High Lords

Author:The High Lords [Lords, The High]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12: Nest of Vipers

Ridmark let out a long, ragged breath, preparing himself to fight.

It proved unnecessary.

He expected Tarrabus to protest, to take action, but the Dux of Caerdracon strode for the doors, his vassals and knights falling in around him. The Duxi who supported Tarrabus and their vassals followed as well, dispersing into the courtyard and heading back to their camps outside the walls of Dun Calpurnia.

There was a fight coming with Tarrabus, Ridmark knew…but it would not begin today.

Gareth conferred with Ridmark’s father for a moment, along with the Prince of Cintarra and the Dux Kors Durius of Durandis, a squat, paunchy man with a massive scowl behind his gray beard and arms that looked as if they could lift an anvil. At last Gareth nodded, and Leogrance Arban, the Prince, and the Dux of Durandis departed, joined by their men.

Ridmark looked at his father, but his father did not look back.

“What now?” said Caius.

“We ought to return to the Anathgrimm,” said Ridmark. He wanted to make sure that Miriam and Nyvane had reached the Anathgrimm safely, and they needed to prepare the Anathgrimm to act.

The crisis had not come today…but it would likely come tomorrow.

Especially since Ridmark’s own plans might trigger it.

“A moment,” said Calliande. “We need to confer with Dux Gareth before we proceed.”

She waited as the nobles filed out, leaving Ridmark alone with Calliande and Gareth and the others. Of course, with the Anathgrimm guarding Mara, they still made for quite a crowd.

“Mara,” said Calliande as Gareth and Sir Constantine moved to her side. “Can you ask the Anathgrimm to keep watch on the doors? We need to have candid words with the Dux, and I would rather we were not overheard.”

“Please do as she asks, Qhazulak,” said Mara.

The Champion of Nightmane Forest grunted, and gestured to his warriors. The Anathgrimm split up, moving to guard the main doors to the courtyard and the door behind the dais.

“That could have gone better,” said Gareth, shaking his head.

“It could have gone worse as well,” said Caius. “The High King could have favored Tarrabus, or refused to believe that Calliande was the Keeper, or ordered Ridmark’s execution, or rebuffed the friendship of Nightmane Forest.”

Qhazulak growled. “The human king would be a fool to rebuff the Queen’s friendship.”

“That, Lord Captain, is the infuriating thing about our High King,” said Gareth. “He is not a stupid man. He is neither a cruel nor a bad man. He is instead…”

“Moody?” suggested Jager.

“Mercurial,” said Kharlacht.

“And capable of refusing to see the obvious,” said Arandar in a quiet voice, “if he doesn’t want to see it.”

“At times his refusal to see the obvious beggars belief,” said Gareth. “The evidence against Tarrabus is tremendous. I have spoken against him. Comes Corbanic has spoken against him, as have a headman of Rhaluusk and Sir Marcast Tetricus. Hundreds of witnesses saw the Mhorites in Tarrabus’s domus at Coldinium, and there is the…proof of my own treacherous daughter. It is well known that she and Tarrabus were close,” his mouth twisted, “before she became the new Shadowbearer.

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