06 Princess of Landover by Brooks Terry

Author:Brooks, Terry [Terry, Brooks,]
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2010-04-10T10:42:46.549000+00:00

He did. More than any King before him. Hes done a lot of good. But he can only do so much. If he tried to take the land away from the Lords of the Greensward, there would be a war. Only the Lords can give away their own land.

But doesnt the King own this land? she pressed, gesturing at their immediate surroundings. Isnt Libiris his?

Libiris is his, but the land isnt. As a matter of fact, title to this particular piece of land is held jointly by the Lords and the River Master. It took years for them to agree on using even this small piece to build Libiris. I dont think theyve ever agreed on anything since.

Maybe they could be persuaded to do more, she said.

He laughed. Why dont you be the one to persuade them, then? A girl who talked with the dragon Strabo and lived to tell about it should be able to deal with mere mortals!

Maybe the King could do something, she suggested impulsively.

He gave her a look. You know, I was once inside the castle and saw the King.

She felt her throat tighten. How did that happen?

I was with a group of boys carrying baggage for one of the Lords. So I was allowed inside for a bit, and I saw the King and his Queen. I even saw their little girl.

She nodded slowly, measuring his look. How long ago was this?

Quite a while. I dont remember a lot about it. I was just a boy. The little girl was just a child. She would be older now. Your age, maybe. He grinned. But she wouldnt be nearly so interesting or pretty as you are, I bet.

She was suddenly anxious to change the topic of conversation. Tell me the rest of how you ended up being sent here as an indentured servant.

He finished the last of his bread and meat and washed it down with several swallows of water. As I recall, the bargain was that you were supposed to tell me something interesting about yourself first. Something other than that story about you and the dragon.

That wasnt a bargain I made. That was your condition for finishing the storya very unfair condition, I might add.

He thought about it. All right, maybe it was. If I finish the story, will you tell me something else about yourself afterward?

She stuck out her hands. Lets shake on it.

They shook, his hands strong and firm as they grasped hers. She liked the feel of themnot too rough, but they had seen hard work.

Well, then? she asked, withdrawing her hands from his.

Theres not much more to tell, he said. My father sold me into indenture to His Eminence because he felt I might find a better future here than if I stayed with him. There wasnt much work in the village and no one to teach me a useful trade. Or at least not a trade that interested me. He thought that coming here, working with books I could read and studying on my own when I wasnt working, might better serve me.

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