Read Online Born Of Darkness (Book 7) by William King - Free Book Online Page B

anything yet that makes me disbelieve that.”
    Gerd looked over his shoulder then at the dog-handler then at Rhiana. “You are just trying to get me into trouble, aren’t you, Kormak? Always the bloody same with you.”
    “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “It would not surprise me if, even down here, Aemon’s bloody brother had eavesdroppers.”
    “So?”
    “What do you want me to say? That the King builds temples and gives alms to the poor to ingratiate himself with the people? He does it because the nobles hate him for limiting their privileges and building a professional army. The preachers’ sermons praise the King’s virtues because he pays for their stipends as well as their temples.”
    “I have met Aemon. He does not seem so cynical.”
    “You have met Aemon so you think the same as me. King Aemon believes in the Light of the Holy Sun and in the Angel Zhamriel’s blessing. But most of all he believes in the righteousness of King Aemon. Not least of the believers in the sainthood of King Aemon is King Aemon.”
    It surprised Kormak to hear his old friend speak so strongly on the subject. “I just hope that your lady friend here is not a spy in the pay of our saintly king,” said Gerd. “I know I can trust Rodric here. I owe him too much in gambling debts for him to want me dead.”
    Rodric looked scandalised. Rhiana said, “Your secrets are safe with me.”
    Kormak felt tempted to tell Gerd that she had been an agent of the King-Emperor back in Port Blood. Just for a moment, he wondered if she still considered herself such. Perhaps that was why she was here now.
    As they approached the vault, the dogs began to whine. It was alarming hearing beaten-puppy noises coming from the throats of those fierce beasts. Shadowhounds had been bred for generations to hunt monsters through the stink of blights. Nothing was supposed to frighten them. Both the bigger dogs were reluctant to proceed. Fang bared his teeth and growled as he crept forward.
    Rodric said, “Never seen them behave like this before, abbot. Not even when we were hunting those spider-demons in Bogwood.”
    Gerd nodded. “Maybe they’ve been listening to me too much. Now, boys you know I was only joking. There’s nothing that bad down here. Ask Sir Kormak, he’ll tell you.”
    “They’re dogs, Gerd. They can’t understand what I am saying.”
    “With that Aquilean accent of yours, you’re probably right. I struggle with it myself.”
    The smallest of the dogs continued to move forward. It crept along on its belly, as if it was stalking something. Kormak looked at Rhiana.
    “I don’t sense anything in there. Doesn’t mean there is nothing there,” she said. “It could be masking itself. “
    “If anything can do it, a bloody Old One can,” said Gerd. “They are masters of magic. Live and breathe it. Comes as easy to them as eating expensive meat and farting does to my dogs.”
    Kormak moved beside Fang. The dog looked up at him and did not growl. Kormak went up to the vault door. It swung open easily on its hinges. Fang whimpered but kept moving forward. The other Shadowhounds kept their distance.
    Kormak entered the vault.
    He moved to the spot where the chancellor had fallen. The dog scampered along with him, as if desperate for the company. It sniffed the area where the body had been, alternately whimpering and growling.
    Kormak strode deeper into the room, heading towards the sarcophagus. The others followed. Rodric had to drag the other dogs. Rhiana looked gloomy. Gerd looked worried as he limped along.
    Kormak saw nothing except the mounds of treasure chests. He paid particular attention to the area on top of them. The monster might still be lurking there.
    Gerd slapped the head of the mace against his palm. He squinted into the darkness then limped up behind Kormak. He was quiet now, giving his full attention to their surroundings. Kormak missed the man’s chatter. The silence was ominous.
    He moved up to where the open