Knights of the Rose by Roland Green

Author:Roland Green [Green, Roland]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-7869-6340-9
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2012-06-18T16:00:00+00:00

At the crest of Shammal Pass, Sir Lewin of Trenfar had dismounted to save his mount. Now he stood holding its reins, as the remainder of his company and its pack animals moved down the first rough hundred paces of the far side.

A young knight came up and saluted. Lewin recognized Sir Esthazas of Narol, Knight of the Crown for barely a year.

“All well?” Lewin asked.

“All well, in spite of the risks of this night passage,” Sir Esthazas said.

“Are you questioning my orders?” Lewin said.

“No, you yourself spoke of this passage as fraught with danger.”

“You remember correctly. Have you forgotten what else I said?”

“That we hide ourselves from dwarven spies by traveling at night. But—”

“Yes?”

“I beg your pardon for what may seem—what you said—but—”

“I will grant pardon for anything you say without hesitation,” Lewin snapped.

“Then—why assume the dwarves are enemies? Also, if the tales run true, they have night vision like cats. How then can we hide ourselves from them, even if we need to?”

“Never assume friendship from folk without proper notions of honor,” Lewin said. “And as for their night vision—it is easy to believe old tales about the other races, and so make them into fearful monsters to frighten children.”

The light of Solinari was bright enough to show Lewin the other knight’s flush. That reminded him just how young Sir Esthazas was—and also, that his mentor had been Sir Niebar the Tall, Knight of the Sword, friend to Sir Pirvan the Wayward, and outspokenly overfond of the other races.

Sir Esthazas would bear watching. Lewin was prepared to believe in spies deliberately assigned to his band, and in tales borne out of zeal. But insulting the young knight would only raise doubts about Lewin’s own honor among those whose goodwill—or at least, cooperation—he needed.

“I ask your pardon, Sir Esthazas. You raise these questions for the same reason I do mine, for the safety of our company. I can find no fault with that, and apologize if I seemed to do so.”

Lewin did not remember how or whether Sir Esthazas accepted the apology. He was too busy mounting up, and as he did, examining the trail before him. Some of the rougher parts seemed to have been worked at with hammer and chisel. To make an impossible passage merely difficult, or to slow what might have been a quick march, to keep enemies within ambush range longer? Dwarven work, either way, in this part of the Khalkist Mountains.

Sir Lewin prodded his mount into movement, and took his place in the rear of the column.

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