Forge of Darkness: The Kharkanas Trilogy 1 by Steven Erikson

Author:Steven Erikson [Erikson, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, General, Fiction
ISBN: 9781409032687
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2012-07-31T15:02:05+00:00

TWELVE

‘DO YOU KNOW who I am?’

The young woman stood on the roadside, looking up at him.

She was old enough to have had her first night of blood, and there was a looseness about her that invited lust. At his question she nodded and said, ‘You are Lord Urusander’s son.’

By any measure, her respect was less than satisfying, verging on insult. Osserc felt his face reddening, a trait of his that he despised. ‘I am riding to my father,’ he said. ‘I deliver words of great import. From this day,’ he continued, ‘you will see changes come to the world. And you will remember this chance meeting on this morning. Tell me your name.’

‘Renarr.’

‘My father awaits me with impatience,’ Osserc said, ‘but for you I will make him wait.’

‘Not too long, I should think,’ she replied.

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Only, milord, that I am sure the world is eager to change.’

He stood in the stirrups and scanned their surroundings. He had just crossed the ford of the nameless stream that half encircled Neret Sorr, although from here the settlement remained hidden behind the low hills directly ahead. Scrub flanked the stream’s basin, growing over the stumps of cut trees. The bushes seemed filled with birds, chattering in a thousand voices.

By the wet upon her leggings Osserc surmised that she too had been down at the stream, although she carried no skins or buckets. But he saw that she held something in one closed fist, and could guess at what it was. That alone made him feel ugly inside. ‘Are you from the village, then? I’ve not seen you.’

‘I don’t spend my evenings in the taverns, milord.’

‘Of course you don’t. But it seems that you know that I do.’

‘It’s known.’

‘Women fight to sit in my lap.’

‘I am happy for you, milord.’

‘What you are is insolent.’

Her expression faltered slightly and she looked down. ‘I am sorry that you think so, milord. Forgive me.’

‘It’s not your forgiveness that I want.’

And he saw then how his words frightened her, and that was the last thing he desired. ‘What do you hide in your hand?’

‘I – I do not hide it, milord. But it is personal.’

‘A stone from the stream.’

Eyes still downcast, she nodded.

‘A boy in the village?’

‘He is past being a boy, milord.’

‘Of course he is, to have earned your affection.’ Osserc drew up his spare horse. ‘You can ride? I will escort you back to the village. The day is hot and the road dusty, and I see that you wear no shoes.’

‘That is a warhorse, milord—’

‘Oh, Kyril is gentle enough, and most protective.’

She eyed the roan beast. ‘I did not know you gelded warhorses.’

‘Kyril would fight with my father’s horse, and that could not be permitted, as it endangered both of us – me and my father, that is – and distracted the other mounts. Besides,’ he added, ‘I grew tired of fighting him.’ After a moment, she still had made no move, and Osserc dismounted. ‘I was, of course, intending for you to ride Neth, since, as you say, it’s safer.

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