Oath of Gold by Elizabeth Moon

Author:Elizabeth Moon [Moon, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780671697983
Amazon: 0671697986
Publisher: Baen
Published: 1989-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

"You see?" said the king quietly, beneath it. Paks shook her head, felt the blood rush to her cheeks.

"My lord king," she said, as the noise began to die down. "I fear you have chosen the wrong person even so. I feel no call from my gods to accept this task. Many paladins find their swords give light when drawn."

"Lady, your modesty becomes you." The king's eyes were alight. "Yet see what a solution you are to our problem. A paladin: therefore untainted by evil ambition. A paladin of Gird, which will reassure our neighbors to the west, and warn those to the north. You can sense the taig. You are acceptable, I daresay, to the elves—" He glanced up at Amrothlin. The elf bowed slightly.

"Paksenarrion is, indeed, an elf-friend," he said. "We do not advise on succession, as you know, sir king; but if she held the throne we would not object." Paks gave him a sharp look, seeking for something more behind the words, but his face was smooth and unreadable.

"But I'm not of your House," she insisted. "I'm not Lyonyan at all, or even part-elf—"

"No, but you're honest, brave, and have the power of paladins. These will serve well enough. What has my heritage brought?" The king sounded both tired and bitter. "My Council has not agreed these last two years on a successor. I have found one with more ability than any of their candidates." He looked out at the others in the room. "Would you dispute that, Council members?"

"Not I, my lord," said Sier Halveric quickly. Others murmured agreement, but Sier Belvarin frowned.

"What if she's an agent of Tsaia, my lord? She has been a member of that Phelan's company—he's a Tsaian Duke, after all."

"A paladin?" The king looked shocked. "Belvarin, she's an agent of the gods—that's all." Belvarin looked unconvinced, but nodded. The king turned back to Paksenarrion. "Lady, before the Council and assembled nobles of my realm, and the elves as well, I ask you—I beg you—to take the throne when I die. You can do no worse than I, and I think you must do better, with the gods gracing you as they have. This kingdom—this green land—is the strong heart of the four southern kingdoms. If we—if it falls—then evil is free to ravage Tsaia and Prealith, not to mention the Ladysforest."

Paks knelt beside him. "Sir king, I grieve—for you, for this kingdom in distress. But—"

"Someone must, Paksenarrion," the king said more softly. Paks saw his eyes dull with approaching pain. "Please—save it—no one else—" His head sagged. She felt the mingled awe and terror of the others like a cloud.

"Sir king—" Her hand on his conveyed nothing; she had no power to give. She felt the live flesh stiffen, the skin hardening subtly under her fingers like cooling wax. A rustle filled the room. When she looked aside, they were all kneeling, even the elves.

Esceriel moved first. He took a corner of the king's cloak and covered the face. Paks looked up to see tears on his cheeks.

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