The Dark Citadel Omnibus by Michael Wallace

Author:Michael Wallace [Wallace, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Balsalom Publishing
Published: 2015-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Markal left Nathaliey and Narud to their scheming in the library in order to find King Daniel. The king had bathed and dressed and ordered his chambers cleaned, but he was still too weak to be out. Instead of resting, however, he sat in the King’s Room high in Sanctuary Tower. Daniel signed decrees and issued levies to raise money for the war, but looked up to wave Markal into the room with a weary smile. Markal removed his shoes and took his place on a stone bench across from the dais.

The King’s Room was to the Brotherhood what the Thorne Chamber was to the Order. Here, Daniel met in council with the Knights Temperate; here, he had sent men to search for the lost cities, and here he had sent knights to clear the eastern Wylde of bandits or battle stone giants in the mountains. King Daniel could never command the Brotherhood, just suggest. By the vows of Sanctuary, the Brotherhood served no man but their own conscience. Not the king; not Whelan.

The room itself was spare to match the austere granite surface of Sanctuary Tower. This high up, at the narrow point, the room was the same width as the tower, about twenty feet in diameter. Tapestries depicted the battles and deeds of the Knights Temperate. A painting of a thorn tree beautified the ceiling. The floor, however, was bare stone, and since all who entered were required to do so barefoot, including the king, it could be an unpleasant place to visit in winter.

Daniel looked terrible: bony and pale, with trembling hands and sagging bags beneath his eyes. He got up and limped across the room, dictating orders, while leaning against an oak cane carved with a griffin head.

Markal looked around in mock surprise. “Where is the Harvester? Is he shirking his duties? I told him two days ago that you needed gathering.”

The two scribes who copied Daniel’s dictation eyed him with irritation, but the king managed a weak smile. Daniel said, “When the dark wizard himself sits on my throne, you’ll still be throwing out jokes, won’t you?”

“I certainly hope so.” He eyed the scribes. “Privacy, my king?”

The king dismissed the two men. When they’d left, Daniel slumped into his chair. “It won’t pass,” he said. “I close my eyes and I still see her hovering over me.”

Markal studied the king carefully. “Perhaps you had better tell me everything.”

He sighed. “I hate to keep repeating it. I already told Chantmer the whole story.”

“Chantmer is a busy man,” the wizard said, neglecting to add that Chantmer was busy with things he shouldn’t be meddling with. “As are you, of course, but I need to hear what happened, and from your own mouth.”

“Very well.” Daniel rubbed his eyes. “I’m sorry, Markal. I’m just so tired. I don’t know if I can go through with this.”

“Telling me about the wight, you mean?”

“No, everything. I’m not fit to lead Eriscoba into battle. What happens if the blue lady reappears

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