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Authors: David A. Wells
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she saw the crowd. “Ah, breakfast is ready. There’s plenty for everyone.”
They ate a leisurely meal, enjoying the food and talking of little things. When only Lucky was still eating, Alexander sighed contentedly and looked to Isabel. She nodded.
“So tell me, what’s happened since I’ve been out?”
“The army is staged near the Gate,” Duncan said. “We’ve been using the magical larders in the Keep to produce supplies for them. I estimate we have sufficient food for a two-month campaign without the need to resupply. I’ve received word from Kevin and General Talia. Southport has assimilated many of the refugees from Northport and is busy building fast-attack boats and sending raw timber to Kai’Gorn. General Talia is rebuilding the city and he’s started building boats using Kevin’s design. Between the two of them, they should have over a hundred built and crewed by winter.
“Andalia has been quiet. Talia sent scouts to take a look and it seems they’re working on boats of their own. He says he has a plan to move a legion of infantry to Andalia if need be. The people of Kai’Gorn enthusiastically came around to our side once they realized that we meant it when we said they would be governed according to the Old Law.
“Duane is still up north keeping an eye on Rake and his legion of troublemakers. They’ve holed up in the mountains and are busy fortifying their position. I’m not too worried about them, except that they’re keeping a legion of Rangers occupied that I could use elsewhere.
“The shade is still loose in the camp and killing three to five men every night. Morale is starting to suffer and there’ve been some desertions. The men are afraid and I’m not sure what to do about it,” Duncan said, shaking his head in frustration. “Also, another wraithkin showed up last night at dusk. It attacked openly and killed twenty-three men before disappearing into the darkness. Captain Sava is hunting it as we speak.”
Alexander nodded somberly and looked to Kelvin.
“The wraithkin prisoner is safely contained within a magic circle at the base of the Keep,” Kelvin said. “He hasn’t responded to questioning since our initial interrogation. I’ve removed the collar and carry it with me in case we have need of it.
“Their daggers are a most interesting design. They don’t carry the magic that produces the taint themselves. Rather, they allow the dark magic of the wraithkin to flow through the blade and into the wound of their victim. So far, I’ve been unable to devise a counter to the taint, but I do have a number of wizards working on the problem. They’re pursuing several lines of inquiry that might lead to a solution.”
“Boaberous tells me there’s been a murder in the Keep,” Alexander said.
Anatoly nodded. “A serving girl was found dead. She was killed pretty savagely. We have little to go on right now, but Erik has assigned one of his best constables to investigate.”
“Anything else?” Alexander asked.
“King Abel is set to arrive today, and Lady Buckwold will arrive tomorrow,” Duncan said. “She has a letter from Duke Warrenton authorizing her to speak on his behalf. Regent Samuel of Northport arrived today and Regent Cery is on his way, should be here by dark.”
“Good, we’ll hold the council meeting day after tomorrow,” Alexander said.
Chapter 7
Alexander took Abigail aside after breakfast and walked her out onto the balcony that opened from the dining room. They were high up on the south side of Blackstone Keep and could see the central plateau of New Ruatha rising like a bump on the plain and the green of the Great Forest coloring the horizon beyond.
“I have something I need you to do,” Alexander said quietly. He knew Abigail wasn’t going to be happy with his plan, but there was no other way.
“All right,” she said with a shrug.
Alexander hesitated, trying to find the right words, wishing that if he did, it would make the
They ate a leisurely meal, enjoying the food and talking of little things. When only Lucky was still eating, Alexander sighed contentedly and looked to Isabel. She nodded.
“So tell me, what’s happened since I’ve been out?”
“The army is staged near the Gate,” Duncan said. “We’ve been using the magical larders in the Keep to produce supplies for them. I estimate we have sufficient food for a two-month campaign without the need to resupply. I’ve received word from Kevin and General Talia. Southport has assimilated many of the refugees from Northport and is busy building fast-attack boats and sending raw timber to Kai’Gorn. General Talia is rebuilding the city and he’s started building boats using Kevin’s design. Between the two of them, they should have over a hundred built and crewed by winter.
“Andalia has been quiet. Talia sent scouts to take a look and it seems they’re working on boats of their own. He says he has a plan to move a legion of infantry to Andalia if need be. The people of Kai’Gorn enthusiastically came around to our side once they realized that we meant it when we said they would be governed according to the Old Law.
“Duane is still up north keeping an eye on Rake and his legion of troublemakers. They’ve holed up in the mountains and are busy fortifying their position. I’m not too worried about them, except that they’re keeping a legion of Rangers occupied that I could use elsewhere.
“The shade is still loose in the camp and killing three to five men every night. Morale is starting to suffer and there’ve been some desertions. The men are afraid and I’m not sure what to do about it,” Duncan said, shaking his head in frustration. “Also, another wraithkin showed up last night at dusk. It attacked openly and killed twenty-three men before disappearing into the darkness. Captain Sava is hunting it as we speak.”
Alexander nodded somberly and looked to Kelvin.
“The wraithkin prisoner is safely contained within a magic circle at the base of the Keep,” Kelvin said. “He hasn’t responded to questioning since our initial interrogation. I’ve removed the collar and carry it with me in case we have need of it.
“Their daggers are a most interesting design. They don’t carry the magic that produces the taint themselves. Rather, they allow the dark magic of the wraithkin to flow through the blade and into the wound of their victim. So far, I’ve been unable to devise a counter to the taint, but I do have a number of wizards working on the problem. They’re pursuing several lines of inquiry that might lead to a solution.”
“Boaberous tells me there’s been a murder in the Keep,” Alexander said.
Anatoly nodded. “A serving girl was found dead. She was killed pretty savagely. We have little to go on right now, but Erik has assigned one of his best constables to investigate.”
“Anything else?” Alexander asked.
“King Abel is set to arrive today, and Lady Buckwold will arrive tomorrow,” Duncan said. “She has a letter from Duke Warrenton authorizing her to speak on his behalf. Regent Samuel of Northport arrived today and Regent Cery is on his way, should be here by dark.”
“Good, we’ll hold the council meeting day after tomorrow,” Alexander said.
Chapter 7
Alexander took Abigail aside after breakfast and walked her out onto the balcony that opened from the dining room. They were high up on the south side of Blackstone Keep and could see the central plateau of New Ruatha rising like a bump on the plain and the green of the Great Forest coloring the horizon beyond.
“I have something I need you to do,” Alexander said quietly. He knew Abigail wasn’t going to be happy with his plan, but there was no other way.
“All right,” she said with a shrug.
Alexander hesitated, trying to find the right words, wishing that if he did, it would make the
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