A Darkness Returns by Raymond E. Feist

Author:Raymond E. Feist [E. Feist, Raymond]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2024-06-13T12:00:00+00:00

• CHAPTER SEVENTEEN •

Preparations

Declan waited.

Standing next to Pug, he could see the wagons and mules between trees, and when the first wagon halted, he said, ‘Let’s go.’

They made their way to where Captain Joran could see them. His soldiers tensed and were about to draw their weapons until they recognized the prince, and everyone relaxed.

Joran saluted, ‘Highness!’

‘You can start here once Pug has removed this last stand of trees. Some stumps remain and a whole lot of branches need to be hauled out. Mainly you have a lot of big holes to fill up.’

Looking around, Pug asked, ‘Where’s Hatushaly?’

Despite his fatigue, Declan laughed. ‘I have no idea. I think he may be waiting for us back at the palace.’

Pug’s expression was openly quizzical.

‘He watched you work for a while, just as impressed as the rest of us, then wandered over to a far corner and … jumped?’

‘Jumped?’

‘I don’t know what you’d call it, but he stood in one place, then suddenly he was about ten feet away?’

‘He transported himself!’ Pug’s expression was one of pure astonishment.

‘If that’s what you call it. Then he saw me watching, waved, and then he was standing right next to me.’ Declan took a breath and said, ‘Damn near scared the wits out of me. Then he said he was going to go and get Hava, and he’d see us back at the palace.’

Pug said, ‘I know this is lost on you, but Hatushaly just did something in a few minutes it took me years to master.’ He went on, ‘I need to rest, but when you’re ready I can also get you to the palace in a … jump.’

Declan looked around at the workers unloading wagons and said, ‘I should probably do that, and leave this to Sixto and Joran to oversee. But—’

Pug interrupted. ‘You don’t like leaving tasks unfinished. I know.’ He looked at Declan. ‘After a few hundred years you get good at sensing what a person’s like after a short time.’

Declan said, ‘You’re right. I am not good at leaving tasks to others, as my brother Balven constantly has to remind me.’

‘Well,’ said Pug, ‘let’s both rest, and when you’re ready, we’ll go back to Marquenet after you’ve reassured yourself you’ve left things here in good hands.’

Declan tilted his head to indicate his agreement. He motioned Captain Joran over and said, ‘Once the other timbermen from the north arrive, start widening here and get those holes filled. The king will want a stone-paved road through here as soon as it can be built, to connect to the King’s Highway.’

‘Understood, highness,’ the young captain answered.

As they started back, Pug said, ‘A stone road? That’s a good idea. Given how close to the sea, you must get a lot of rain.’

‘Had you been here about a week ago you would have seen that at first hand,’ Declan replied.

‘I lived near the sea for a very long time,’ Pug said, ‘so I know how unpredictable the weather can be. Sometime I should tell you the story of how an unexpected storm put my feet on the path I walk today.

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