The Dragon King Trilogy by Stephen Lawhead

Author:Stephen Lawhead
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2010-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

27

Quentin, are you sleeping?” Toli crept to the high, wide bed on which his friend rested. Quentin opened his eyes when Toli came near.

“No, only resting.” Both looked at his freshly bandaged arm, set with splints of bone and wrapped in new linen. A sling of forest green—to match his cloak—was bound around his arm, which rested on his chest. “Is it time?”

“Yes. The council will sit within the hour. Would you have me attend in your stead?”

“No, I feel much better. We will both go. Has everyone arrived?” Quentin raised himself up off the bed and swung his legs over the edge. Toli placed a hand under his arm and helped him.

“The lords of the flatlands have not arrived, but are expected to be late. Theirs is a far journey. But Eskevar thinks it best not to put off beginning.

“The others are here, or will arrive shortly. Rudd, Dilg, Benniot, Fincher,Wertwin, Ameronis, and Lupollen—those I have already seen.”

“Those are enough to ratify any decision the king might make, though I do not believe there will be dissent.”

“Do not be too certain of that. Mensandor has been long at peace, and men grow soft. Some will wish to avoid conflict at any price.”

“Then we must make them see that is impossible.” He looked at his friend sadly. “Toli, I do not love war; you know that. But I have seen enough to know that it has come to us whether we will or not. We have no choice if this land is to remain free.”

They walked from Quentin’s apartment to the round, high-domed council chamber in the north tower, passing through the walled courtyard where the king sometimes held vigil when weighty matters were bearing on his mind. The courtyard was clean and fresh and the sun directly overhead.

As they entered the yard, Theido and Ronsard, deep in discussion with another, waved them over. “Ah, Quentin! It looks as though Durwin has done his worst on you. How do you feel?”

“Fit enough. He wanted to keep me abed with a potion of his, but I declined. It would have meant missing the council.”

“Do you know Lord Wertwin?” Theido introduced the man standing with them.

“He has some interesting tales to tell in council,” added Ronsard.

“Yes, your lands lie to the south of here, do they not?” inquired Quentin.

“That is correct. Just beyond Pelgrin, above Persch.” The man smiled warmly, and Quentin noticed he was missing a tooth in his lower jaw; but that and his leathery, weather-beaten visage gave the lord the rugged appearance of a tenacious fighter.

“Sir, if you do not mind my asking, however did you come so soon? It would take a messenger two days to reach you.”

“Ordinarily, yes. But I was already on my way here—as I was telling Theido and Ronsard just now.”

Quentin did not need to ask what had prompted Lord Wertwin’s trip, but he did note its timeliness. They talked a bit longer until a page came out from the tower entrance across the courtyard to ask them to come in and take their places.

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