Ghost King by David Gemmell

Author:David Gemmell [Gemmell, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780307797452
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 2011-06-07T23:00:00+00:00

11

AT SUNSET PRASAMACCUS limped into the camp as Thuro and Baldric were preparing for their journey. Behind him came the red-faced Hogun, staggering under the weight of the deer the crippled Brigante had killed two hours before. Prasamaccus sank to the ground beside Laitha.

“What is going on?”

“The noble prince has decided to take on the Witch Queen,” she answered. “He is heading off to some mountain range to find a wizard.”

“Why are you angry? He has obviously earned their confidence.”

“He is a boy,” she said dismissively.

Tired as he was, Prasamaccus rose and limped to the group, where Thuro outlined the events of the day. The Brigante said nothing, but he sensed the growing excitement among the men. The man-beast Pallin had returned to the caves.

“How will you find the Dream Shaper?” asked Thuro.

As Baldric was about to answer, Prasamaccus interrupted sharply: “A word with you, young prince?”

Thuro followed the Brigante to a sturdy oak. “You obviously disbelieve that the Witch Queen overlooks us, but that is an assumption and therefore unwise. Let the man lead us, but do not discuss the exact location.”

“She cannot be everywhere; she is not a goddess.”

“We do not know that. But she must have known the length of her spell on Pallin, and she could have been watching for his death. Give me your sword.”

Thuro did so, and Prasamaccus took three arrows from his quiver and ran them down the blade. “I do not know if the magic can be transferred in this way, but I see no reason why not.” He returned the sword to the prince. “Now let us find this Enchanter.”

“No, my friend. Pallin says that you and Laitha must remain. They will not allow all of us to leave the forest. Look after her and I will see you soon.”

Prasamaccus sighed and shook his head, but he said nothing and watched silently as the two men walked away into the shadows of the trees. Helga seemed so far away. The camp women gathered around the deer, quartering it expertly, and the Brigante lay down beside Laitha, covering himself with a borrowed blanket.

“He did not even say good-bye,” said Laitha.

Prasamaccus closed his eyes and slept.

Two hours later he was awakened by the point of a boot nudging his side. He sat up to see Korrin Rogeur squatting down beside him.

“If your friend does not return, I will cut your throat.”

“You woke me to tell me what I already know?”

Korrin sat down and rubbed at tired eyes. “Thank you for the deer,” he said, as if the words had been torn from him under duress, “and I am grateful that your friend helped my brother.”

“Was your scouting mission successful?”

“Yes and no. There is an army camped now at the northern border—a thousand men. At first we thought they would enter the forest, but then they were ordered to dismount and return to their camp. It would seem this was around the time that the boy used his magic on Pallin.”

“Then he saved not only your brother but your people as well,” said Prasamaccus.

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