Stones of Power 02 - Last Sword of Power by David Gemmell

Author:David Gemmell
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi

*

Gwalchmai returned just as the sun was setting and Revelation and Prasamaccus joined him in the King's apartments.

'Well?' asked Revelation.

The white-haired Cantii shrugged. "The guard said that when the mist struck, his sword was in its scabbard, but when he awoke it was beside the King. What of it?'

Revelation smiled. 'It means that Uther killed the beast with the guard's gladius. What does that suggest to you?'

Gwalchmai's eyes brightened. 'He did not have his Sword.'

'Exactly. He knew what they had come for and hid the blade where they could not find it. Therefore they took him alive ... for torture.'

'Can you torture a soul?' asked Prasamaccus.

'Better than you can a body,' Revelation answered. 'Think of the inner pain you have suffered over the death of a loved one - is it not greater than any physical wound?'

'What can we do, Culain?' whispered Gwalchmai, his gaze resting on the still body of the King he had served for a quarter of a century.

'First we must protect the body, secondly find the Sword of Power.'

'It could be anywhere,' said Prasamaccus.

'Worse,' admitted Revelation, 'it could be anything.'

'I do not understand you,' the Cantii said. 'It is a sword.'

'It is fashionable from Silver Sipstrassi, the most potent source of power known to the ancient world. We built the Gateways with its power, fashioned the standing stones, created the old straight tracks your people still use. With it we left the Ancient Paths, stretching across many kingdoms, joining many sites of earth magic. If Uther wished, the Sword could become a pebble, or a tree, or a lance, or a flower.'

'Then for what do we search?' asked Prasamaccus. 'Can we send Uther's knights across the land in search of a flower?'

'Wherever it is, the Magic of the Sword will become apparent. Let us say it is a flower: in that region plants will grow as never before, crops will flower early and sickness will disappear. The knights must search for such signs.'

'If it is in Britannia,' said Gwalchmai.

'If it was easy to find, then Wotan would take it,' snapped Revelation. 'But think on this: When Uther was in peril, he had at best only moments to hide the Sword. Knowing the King as you both do, where do you think he would send it?'

Prasamaccus shrugged. 'The Caledones, perhaps, where he first met you and Laitha. Or the Pinrae, where he defeated the army of Goroien. Or Camulodunum.'

'All places Wotan will search, for the King's story is well known. Uther would not make it so easy,' said Revelation. 'Sweet Christos!'

'What?' asked Gwalchmai.

'There are two people in the Caledones that Wotan must not find. And I cannot reach them; I cannot leave here.' He rose from his seat, his face grey, his eyes haunted. Prasamaccus laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.

'The boy you spoke of?' Revelation nodded.

'And now you must choose between . . .' Prasamaccus left the sentence unfinished. He knew the torment raging inside him. Save the father or the son. Or, as Culain would see it, betray one to save the other.

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