The Emerald Crown by Michael Wallace

Author:Michael Wallace [Wallace, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Balsalom Publishing
Published: 2017-11-13T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Nathaliey was in bed in the keep, her head aching, her stomach churning from the bit of ale and bread she’d taken, when Wolfram knocked on the door and entered. He’d changed out of his tunic and breastplate and wore a simple linen shirt, with a bandage visible at the right shoulder blade. There was another cut on his hand, but he otherwise seemed healthy and strong. He looked around, taking in the bed, the single trunk, and the lantern on a roughly hewn table.

“These were the castle commander’s own quarters. Rather spartan, wouldn’t you say?”

Nathaliey fought off a violent shiver. “Whatever else this place is, it’s not built for comfort.”

Wolfram was partially blocking the light from the small window and moved into a different position to study her. “Your eyes are yellow.”

“That’s the least of my troubles.”

“Your strength will return with time. Food, clean water, and rest.”

“My body should heal quickly enough. I’m a wizard—we can live without food longer than you might expect.”

“They gave you nothing?”

“No food. A little water. And a poison—an elixir of thrall. I see wights. They’re standing over your shoulder right now.”

Wolfram cast a quick glance behind him. “Where?”

“I don’t know if they’re really here. I think not. It’s a vision, nothing more. I need time. And another wizard to heal me, time to eat and rest in the gardens.”

“I can’t give you that, I’m afraid. We’re rather short on wizards around here, and Yuli won’t leave the mountains to carry you down. I already asked.”

“Yuli?”

“Yuli is the flockheart, the queen of the griffin riders. I asked her to carry you home, but she refused. Said she already carried Markal to the lowlands and seemed shaken by the trip. Too many people, too hot. Thick, poisonous air. Her words, not mine.”

Nathaliey pushed herself into a sitting position with her back against the cold stone wall. “She knows Markal? When did this happen?”

“Sometime after he left us, but I don’t know anything more than that. The griffin riders don’t much care for us, and the feeling is mutual. When Yuli first approached, offering to help us drive Toth’s army from the mountains, my men almost caused a small war by trying to shoot their lead griffins out of the sky. We’re fortunate they missed.”

“What about Jasmeen? The acolyte, I mean. Did you capture her?”

Wolfram’s expression turned grim. “No, she escaped. As did Hamid and his marauders. We almost took him that night you sent a warning with your magical eye. I fought the brute myself, came face-to-face with Soultrup.”

“You bested him, though. You drove him back to the castle. I heard him return, and he’d lost men.”

“Aye, that we did. Hamid could have taken my life, though. He was defeating me at the time. He could have cut me down, but stopped, waited for someone else to do the killing.”

Nathaliey studied Wolfram’s face. “Because of the red sword?”

“Hamid was already struggling with the blade. Once, it tried to hurl itself from his hands before .

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