Kings of Morning by Paul Kearney

Author:Paul, Kearney [Paul, Kearney]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Solaris
Published: 2012-02-26T07:00:00+00:00

MY DEAREST SON,

I write in some haste and with my own hand and I will add no polish to my words, but know they come to you with all your mother’s love. If the seal upon this letter is broken, you must hold the messenger to account. If it is not, and it has reached you before the two moons rise on the month of Granash, then you may reward him.

Kouros looked at the sweating, filthy, horse-smelling hufsan courier who had brought this letter, along with a bucket of others as a blind.

‘What is your name?’

The hufsan was light-boned as a girl, and he looked as though he had not slept in days. His brown skin had a greyish tint.

‘Jervas of Hamadan, my prince.’

‘You have done well. Eleven days from Ashur to Carchanis – it must be something of a record.’

‘Thank you, my prince. I killed nineteen horses –’

‘You stopped at Ab Mirza, as we had arranged?’

‘Yes, lord. The second letter is hidden in the rim of the scroll bucket. The seal is intact, I swear it.’

‘Excellent. Now leave me, Jervas of Hamadan. My chamberlain will see to your needs. Remain close at hand. There will be a return journey soon.’

The hufsan sagged a little. ‘Thank you, my prince.’ He withdrew, taking the acrid stink of horse-sweat with him.

Kouros began to read again, but was distracted. ‘Anarish!’

The chamberlain tucked aside the tent flap and bowed.

‘Get that girl out of here. Her snivelling is making my head hurt.’

The naked, weeping girl was led away, red, bloody stripes livid upon her skin. Kouros’s face closed, as it always did when he was deciphering his mother’s code. He knew it off by heart, but still had to mouth the words aloud as he rearranged them, and occasionally he had to count upon his fingers down the alphabet.

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