A King's Bargain by J D L Rosell

Author:J D L Rosell [Rosell, J D L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781952868009
Publisher: JDL Rosell
Published: 2020-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

"Where are we going?" Garin asked as he followed Wren down the halls.

"You've asked that how many times and I haven't answered?" Wren gave him a small smile, but it didn't touch her eyes. Jonn is missing — how could she be happy?

But despite that, and despite the other thoughts weighing on his mind, he was glad to be there with her. It was their first morning free of classes in the five weeks he'd been in the Coral Castle, and he could think of no better way to spend it.

And with no better company.

Some of the servants and guards gave friendly greetings, all of them knowing Wren, while they eyed Garin with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. No doubt most of them knew he'd come with Tal. And with the reputation he'd gathered for himself, it was no wonder people stared. He was a legend turned drunkard, from what anyone could tell, and a madman on top of that as news of last night's expedition spread. The only problem was that it drew attention to Garin, too. And attention was the last thing he wanted.

As much as he tried not to think about it, his thoughts went back to the ghouls exploding, and the strange, discordant sounds in his head. Had he imagined the whole thing? Was he going as crazy as Tal was said to be?

"You're quiet."

Garin shrugged. "Not really the kind of time to be talkative, I guess."

Wren gave a somber nod.

They passed the busiest parts of the castle and ventured into parts he hadn't yet seen. The stone corridors echoed with their footsteps. The suits of armor periodically posted like ghostly sentinels became dustier and lacked the exquisite polish of the main halls. The tapestries hanging from the walls that depicted battles and myths from Reach history became faded and moth-bitten around the edges. But still, Wren led them on.

At length, she pointed to a doorway. "Know where that leads?"

He tried picturing where they were from outside the castle. "A tower?"

She nodded. "Usually, a magister of the Warlocks' Circle occupies it, to be on hand to advise and assist the King. But right now, it's Kaleras who's taken up residence."

"Kaleras? The Warlock of Canturith?"

"Is there any other? But we don't want to go in there — he'd probably blow us up before we'd crossed the threshold. This way."

The hallway she led him down now was as dusty as any he'd seen and seemed to lead nowhere. But when they reached a wide window, Wren pressed her hands around the edges, found a latch, and swung it noiselessly open.

"Someone keeps the hinges oiled," he observed.

"My father showed me this spot. Look — you have to see the view!"

Garin watched apprehensively as she opened the window wider to a gust of wind and stepped out. Peering out after her, he saw a narrow ledge, no more than two feet wide, just outside the window. His stomach did flips watching Wren slide nimbly out onto it.

She looked back and saw him hesitating inside.

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