Disciple, Part VI by L. Blankenship

Author:L. Blankenship [Blankenship, L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, fantasy romance, fantasy war, knight, magic, prince, epic
Publisher: L. Blankenship
Published: 2015-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

“’Twas Margrave Leix I did swear to,” Captain Eith told Kiefan, leaning back against the sofa’s padded arm and setting her boots on the creamy silk. “’Twas the margrave that did give my orders and the margrave who did pull broken glass from my scalp after that night in Finn’s Tap. The Crown sent me south on a goose chase.”

Gregor poured us all mint tea on the low table nestled in the crook of the two sofas and set the kettle back on its trivet by the fire. I thought Kiefan would prod Eith for a clearer answer about where her loyalty lay, but he only waited.

She took a swallow of tea. “Don’t ask us to fight our own.”

“Never,” Kiefan said. “I would ask you to guard the baggage and the supply line.”

The captain looked at him across her mug. “You’ll release us from the Crown’s order to aid you?”

“If we take Reowan, yes. If not, you won’t need my word on it.”

Her mouth twisted, at that. The scar on her cheek caught the light. “I do not mock you,” she said, raising one hand. He did the same, in agreement. “’Tis stern stuff you’re made of, southlander. The baggage, then, and the supply line.” The captain stood and saluted him.

“Be ready to cross the Dúnforst-éa tomorrow,” Kiefan told her, standing as well. “You’ll get your mustering orders.”

Eith turned crisply and took her leave. Gregor saw her out past the door guards and asked the next guest into the imperial suite. This was why I’d stayed through a flurry of messengers and leafed through more of the books to pass the time.

Elect Teleri crossed the room with ease, hand on her hip where her sword should be. The guard had taken it from her when he checked her pattern. She wore no mail, today, only her dark blue Crown’s Blades tunic and black hose.

Kiefan did not ask her to sit; he went to stand opposite her before the fire. I lingered on the sofa with my tea.

“The Crown marches on Reowan,” he said.

Teleri folded her arms to match his.

“I will take it first.”

She eyed him, for a couple heartbeats. “What has this to do with me?”

“You chose Caercoed over your saint, you said. Your life for the kingdom and your love for its Crown.”

She said nothing, but her eyes slipped to me.

“Will you fight the Empress with us, to keep those oaths?”

“I’ll do nothing to harm Caercoed.”

“You don’t deny the attack on Reowan.”

Teleri’s eyes narrowed. “Little sense in lying to an augur. I did deliver two ruined bridges as you asked. What more, now?”

“Your loyalty, so long as we fight Arcea.”

“I’ll take no oath to you.”

“Woden would have you bound.”

“He’ll not touch me.”

“We’re not such fools as to turn our backs on a rogue elect.”

Neither raised their voices but the threats were plain enough. I kept a firm grip on my kir, not wanting to set either of them off.

“Perhaps Qadeem?” I said it softly as I could.

Both chins jerked toward me.

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.