To Darkness Fled (Blood of Kings, book 2) by Williamson Jill

Author:Williamson, Jill [Williamson, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Marcher Lord Press
Published: 2010-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

24

Achan followed Carmack and Sir Gavin along narrow trenches cut through waist-high snow. His toes were numb, though walking warmed him some. He couldn’t wait to take his boots off by a fire. And sleep in a bed, a real mattress, not the icy ground or a trembling tree.

Carmack opened a door on the side of the keep. They filed into a narrow, stone corridor, lit by a lone torch. The chill lessened despite the thick layer of frost that coated the outer wall. Carmack passed the torch that had burned to a stub. The flame danced about, seeming to reach out and grab at Achan.

Carmack stopped at a door just past the torch. His brown eyes met Achan’s and he bowed without breaking eye contact. “You may wait in here, Your Majesty.” He pulled open the door and it scraped over the stone floor.

Achan entered into the back of a warm solar through the servant’s door. Iron sconces hung on timber plank walls. They held fat white candles that gave off the faint scent of jasmine and left the room smelling like a woman was nearby. Achan smiled at the thought.

He stood behind a round table. Across the room, a large pair of antlers was mounted above a simple stone fireplace that glowed with warmth. A sofa with a high, carved back faced the hearth, flanked by two matching chairs with brown cushions. There were no elaborate tapestries, no silver trays with grapes and tarts, no marble pillars or busts.

Achan liked this room a great deal.

Carmack closed the door before Sir Gavin could enter. Achan reached for the door handle. Sir Gavin!

All is well, lad. Warm yourself. I shall join you shortly.

Achan pulled off his mittens, shrugged off his cape, and set them on the tabletop. His fingers were pink. The crackling fire drew him around the sofa. He knelt beside a wrought iron poker stand and held out his hands.

“You intend to warm yourself by my fire without an introduction?”

Achan jumped up and whirled around, knocking the poker stand to the hearth with a terrible clank. A woman in a red gown sat in the center of the high-backed sofa, looking small, almost royal, as if sitting on a throne. Achan paused in shock at her familiar white-blond curls and blue eyes.

Lady Tara? He lunged forward to greet her, then remembered the poker stand. He spun around and righted it, mind fogged. He hadn’t expected to see Lady Tara until Tsaftown.

He popped back to his feet only to snag his scabbard on the poker stand. It clattered to the stone hearth again, rattling Achan’s nerves. He blew out a frustrated breath and righted it, stepping away more carefully this time.

“Lady Tara.” He bowed, clueless what to say. “Wh-What…uh, what brings you to Meribah Corner?”

A slow smile spread across her face and she scooted to the edge of her seat. “Why, Master Cham. Meribah Corner is my home now, and I welcome you to it. Though I would ask the same of you.

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