When Heroes Fall by Andrew Q. Gordon

Author:Andrew Q. Gordon [Gordon, Andrew Q.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-64080-838-6
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2019-05-14T05:00:00+00:00

THE MEETING with the king and his ministers lasted until late afternoon. Pfellcuk turned out to be an entertaining guide. He showed Farrell and Rojas around the palace, stopping often to provide commentary. Farrell felt certain Gorfin would not have approved of Pfellcuk sharing the more colorful stories.

Pfellcuk didn’t seem upset that Farrell hadn’t confirmed his lineage. He didn’t ask again as he walked them around. Several hours later, Nerti let him know when the meeting ended. She also advised him he needed to attend a state dinner. He tried to get out of it, but there was no way he could avoid the obligation, and he let out an audible sigh.

“Problems, Your Majesty?”

“It seems King Gorfin is fond of formal dinners.”

“In truth, he is not,” Pfellcuk said. “This is in your honor. No dwarf king ever paid a state visit to Othasus. If that weren’t occasion enough, there has never been a human king of the dwarves. What ruler would pass an opportunity to touch his name to such a momentous event?”

“I don’t feel like being part of a momentous event,” Farrell said. “I find such events tedious and a waste of time. No doubt Kel will lecture me in the morning about my bad behavior at dinner.”

“I find it hard to believe that the dwarves haven’t held numerous feasts in your honor already.”

“They have, I just find good reasons not to be there. And when I can’t avoid them, I never stay late.” He shrugged when he saw Pfellcuk’s incredulous look. “The dwarves don’t count many great wizards among their number. All I have to say is I am drained from all the magic I have done and I can leave without too many questions. That and my life partner and co-high king quite enjoys these events. His presence is more than enough to satisfy decorum.”

“I see your grandfather has taught you well.”

Farrell made a sour face. “And we were doing so well avoiding this topic.”

“My apologies, I didn’t mean to pick at that wound. I spoke without thinking.”

“No offense taken.” Farrell wondered if he was making too much of this. Kel wouldn’t have brought them here if he hadn’t trusted Pfellcuk. But Kel also didn’t expect to find the wizard in the capital. Farrell would be able to ask his grandfather soon enough. “Has Kel given you many details about what he’s doing?”

“That is a question I cannot answer. It would require that I know all his plans, and I do not. I knew he searched for his successor, but I have only seen him sporadically over the last two hundred years.”

“When was the last time you spoke to him?”

“That is something you will need to ask him.”

Farrell chuckled. “Well said, sir. You have been a gracious host and an entertaining guide. But now I need to find someone to take me to my rooms so I can prepare for the feast. It would vex my guards to no end if I didn’t show up presentable.”

“Presentable would hardly suffice,” Pfellcuk said, looking far too amused.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.