5 Sellswords 02 - Promise of the Witch King by R.A. Salvatore

Author:R.A. Salvatore [Salvatore, R.A.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-08-31T17:57:24+00:00

dawn on him, his soft appearance took on a much harder edge. “You

ask me to kill her?”

“I ask for your mercy and demand of you your strength.”

190

PROMISE OF THE WITCH KING

Olgerkhan seemed as if he would stride over and tear Wingham’s

head from his shoulders.

“If you cannot do this for me then. .” Wingham began, and he

lifted Arrayan’s limp arm and grabbed at the ring.

“Do not!”

“Then I will have your word,” said the merchant. “Olgerkhan,

there is no choice before us. Go and do battle, if battle is to be found.

Mariabronne is wise in the ways of the world, and he has brought

an interesting troupe with him, including a dark elf and a wizened

sage from Damara. But if the battle cannot be won, or won in time,

then you must not allow the castle to take Arrayan. You must find

the strength to be merciful.”

Olgerkhan was breathing in rough pants by then, and he felt his

heart tearing apart as he looked at his dear Arrayan lying on the

bed.

“Put her hand down,” Olgerkhan said at length. “I understand

and will not fail in this. The castle will not have Arrayan, but if she

dies at my hand, know that I will fast follow her to the next world.”

Wingham slowly nodded.

“Better this than to enter the castle beside that troublesome

dwarf,” said Davis Eng, his voice weak with poison.

Herbalists had come to him, and Pratcus had worked more spells

over him. He would survive, they all agreed, but it would be some

time before he even had the strength to return to the Vaasan Gate,

and it would likely be tendays before he could lift his sword again.

“Athrogate?” Calihye asked.

“A filthy little wretch.”

“If he heard you say that, he’d crush your skull,” the woman

replied. “The finest fighter at the wall, so it was said, and there’s more

than a little magic in those morning stars he swings so cleverly.”

“Strength of arm is one thing. Strength of heart another. Has one

191

R.A. SALVATORE

so fine ever thought to enlist in the Army of Bloodstone?”

“By serving at the wall, he serves the designs of King Gareth,”

Calihye reminded.

Flat on his back, Davis Eng lifted a trembling hand and waved

that notion away.

Calihye persisted. “How many monster ears has he delivered to

your Commander Ellery, then? And those of giants, too. Not many

can lay claim to felling a giant in single combat, but it’s one that

Athrogate all too easily brandishes.”

“And how do you know he was alone? He’s got that skinny friend

of his—more trouble than the dwarf!”

“And more dangerous,” said Calihye. “Speak not ill of Canthan

in my presence.”

Davis Eng lifted his head enough to glower at her.

“And be particularly wise to do as I say as you lie there helplessly,”

the woman added, and that made the man lay his head back down.

“I didn’t know you were friends.”

“Me and Canthan?” The woman snorted. “The more ground’s

between us, the calmer beats my heart. But like your dwarf, that one

is better on my side than my opponent’s.” She paused and moved

across the small room to the fire pit, where a kettle of stew simmered.

“You want more?”

The man waved and shook his head.

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