The War Lord by Steven E. Wedel

Author:Steven E. Wedel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sword and sorcery, wizard, barbarian, magic, quest, primeval, norse
Publisher: MoonHowler Press
Published: 2023-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

I'll Kill You Someday

“Very good.” Selith nodded his head and pulled on his long white hair. Tarod studied the wraith of the wizard, wishing he knew what the specter was thinking. “You will need to make haste to capture the assassin and return to the castle.”

“Tell me how to find this man,” Tarod said. He listened intently as Selith told how to find Jamoth’s farm.

“You will not change our story,” Selith warned. He repeated the lie they would tell to condemn Jamoth. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand,” Tarod said. “What if, once he’s arrested, he is able to convince somebody that he did not ... did not kill the king and queen?”

“No one will believe him because of his other crimes,” Selith said. “His trial will be quick and he will be executed immediately after.”

Tarod nodded, still not liking the idea of letting another man die for his own crimes.

“If you fail in this, it will mean your life as well as his,” Selith reminded.

“I know that,” Tarod answered.

“I will return to the castle now,” Selith said. “I will tell the chief guard and the head of the Council of Elders what I know and that you are bringing the guilty man in for judgment. They will be expecting you.”

“I’ll be there,” Tarod said.

Still nodding with satisfaction, Selith spoke a phrase Tarod could not understand and suddenly his ghostly figure was dissolving and once again swirling like steam. The smoke that was the wizard’s soul became a whirlpool and the funnel end moved across the ground to the empty body of the raven. The tiny tornado entered the open beak and soon the whirlpool was devoured by the motionless bird.

The raven struggled, its talons reaching and clawing, its wings stretching and flapping. Soon it was on its feet and stretching its wings, preparing for flight. It turned one small black eye up toward Tarod and pinned him to the back wall of the shallow cave with its glare. Then it fluttered its wings and disappeared into the black night.

Tarod tossed the last of his supply of twigs onto the fire. He sheathed his scimitar and sat down before the flames to contemplate what had just happened.

I can be king, he thought. All he had to do was lay the blame for his crime on the head of another criminal. Selith had said the man, Jamoth, was going to be captured and killed for his crimes anyway. Yes, I will be king.

But his kingship would only be a cover for the true ruling hand of Selith. Is that what I want? No, but it would do for now.

Tarod stood and kicked out his small fire. He gathered the few things he had brought with him from the castle of Nevara and started down the mountain in the direction of Jamoth’s farm.

He came in sight of the small sod house just after the break of day. He stopped at a point behind a clump of trees and watched the house for a short while.

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