The Sworn by Gail Z. Martin

Author:Gail Z. Martin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, General, Fantasy fiction
ISBN: 9780316093576
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2011-01-25T07:39:03.812346+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

I don’t know how you get used to just riding up to the castle gates as if you owned the place.” Rhistiart rode alongside Cam. It was market day in the palace city, and down the long road that led to Aberponte, vendors cajoled and bargained with passersby to purchase all types of foods, housewares, and jewelry. Cam and Rhistiart maneuvered their horses carefully through the throng as children ran across their path and shoppers bumped and jostled their way through the crowd.

“Every now and then, I wonder at it myself,” Cam admitted. “You’ve seen Brunnfen. It’s hardly the center of the aristocratic world in Isencroft. ‘Backwater’ doesn’t seem to quite cover it. That used to stick in Alvior’s craw. The few times he went to court with Father, he came home fuming because he wasn’t dressed properly and he was ashamed. That didn’t go over well with Father. He was more practical. It didn’t matter to him whether he had the latest fashions or not. That’s probably one reason he and Donelan got on so well.”

They rode in silence the rest of the way. Cam kept trying to imagine just how he would break the enormity of Alvior’s betrayal to Donelan, and he hoped the king would maintain his usual practicality in his response. After all the blows he’d taken from his older brother over the years, Cam had no desire to bear the brunt of the king’s wrath for Alvior’s treachery. Rhistiart seemed to sense Cam’s mood and, for once, kept his songs and stories to himself.

They passed the lower guards with a cheerful greeting from the soldiers who recognized Cam and welcomed him back. Stable hands ran to take their reins as they reached the courtyard. Cam headed for the broad palace steps, and turned to see Rhistiart standing still.

“I thought I’d see to our bags,” Rhistiart said nervously.

Cam glanced around the bustling courtyard. “There are servants for that.”

Rhistiart swallowed nervously. “What are squires for?”

Cam sighed and grabbed the reluctant silversmith by the arm. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re an eyewitness to what we found at Brunnfen. I want someone to back me up. I’d rather Isencroft not prepare for war on my word alone.”

“War? Nobody said anything about war,” Rhistiart protested as Cam prodded him toward the steps. “This isn’t really what I had in mind.”

“You wanted an adventure. Well, we’re right in the middle of one, and from what we saw at Brunnfen, it’s a lot scarier than Leather John and his Divisionists. If Alvior really does come back across the Northern Sea, I guarantee you he’ll have more than a few dozen malcontents with him.”

Cam strode off through Aberponte’s corridors, greeted and waved on by the guards and servants who recognized him. Rhistiart ran behind him, making halfhearted objections that Cam ignored. Cam finally stopped at the entrance to the king’s private chambers. Rhistiart hung back as Cam spoke quietly to the two guards at the doors. One of them disappeared inside, and Cam waited, drawing a deep breath to ready himself.

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