Read Online DemonWars Saga Volume 2: Mortalis - Ascendance - Transcendence - Immortalis (The DemonWars Saga) by R.A. Salvatore - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: R.A. Salvatore
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Je’howith?”
“Indeed,” the old abbot said unconvincingly.
Pony continued to alternate her gaze between the King and his two secular advisers, and neither of them stopped staring at her for one moment.
“Palmaris will be in firm and fine control,” the King went on, addressing the whole of the gathering again. “Duke Kalas will stay on as ruler, for as long as he feels necessary. Also, because of the continuing hostilities outside of Palmaris’ wall with the powries, goblins, and even reports of giant bands roaming the region, he will keep half the Allheart knights. That should suffice to allow the folk of Palmaris some peace of mind.”
Pony glanced at Francis and Braumin and the other young monks, their distress showing her that they understood well the meaning of the King’s decision. Danube didn’t fear any goblins or powries or giants, for Palmaris’ garrison had proven itself time and again in the war against them. No, when the King spoke of potential enemies, he was subtly referring to those enemies Duke Kalas might face from within, particularly from St. Precious. The Allheart knights would make Chasewind Manor a veritable fortress and would strengthen Duke Kalas’ influence tremendously.
At first, Pony, too, was more than a little distressed by the news. Privately, at least, she found herself siding with Brother Braumin; she did believe in the man and his cause. That admission nearly made her speak up then, announcing that she had changed her mind and that she would accept an offer to join the Church, not for the position of mother abbess but as an adviser to Brother Braumin in his new position of abbot of St. Precious. Almost—but even as she considered the action, Pony thought of Elbryan and her lost child, thought of the futility of it all, the waste of effort to battle enemies that seemed to her, at that moment, eternal.
She kept silent; indeed, she turned inward through the rest of the meeting. No further surprises came forth, from either Danube or the monks, and their business was quickly concluded. Pony did note the glare that Constance Pemblebury bestowed on her as they were leaving the audience hall, a scowl that deepened tenfold when King Danube took Pony’s hand and kissed it, expressing his gratitude yet again for her actions and her sacrifice and proclaiming that Honce-the-Bear was a better place by far because of Jilseponie and Elbryan, Avelyn Desbris and the centaur, Bradwarden, Roger Lockless, and—to Pony’s and everyone else’s absolute surprise—because of the quiet working of the Touel’alfar.
And then Danube and that moment of gratitude were abruptly gone; the King, Constance Pemblebury, and Duke Bretherford rode forth to the docks and the waiting ships. The reality of the still-gloomy day settled over St. Precious.
A temporary moment of truce, Pony thought as she considered the King’s last words to her. A brief shining moment, unlasting in the gloom. Like all such moments.
Pony was on the roof of St. Precious’s highest tower again later that day. The spectacle over at the dock section—with the tall ships unfurling their sails, thecrowds cheering, the trumpets blaring—did not hold her attention for long. Rather, she found herself looking north, beyond the city’s great wall, beyond the farmhouses and the rolling hills. Looking in her mind’s eye to Dundalis and her past—and perhaps, she thought seriously, her future.
Chapter 3
Joined by War
T HE ICY RAIN DRUMMED HEAVILY AGAINST THE BARE TREES , BLOWING IN SHEETS through the forest, soaking Prince Midalis and his army. They had hoped for snow, a great blizzard as so often blasted Vanguard, a storm gathering strength over the Gulf of Corona, drawing up the water and then dumping snow thigh deep throughout the region. But it was just rain this time: icy rain, and miserable to be sure, but nothing that would drive the goblin horde from their entrenched positions around the large, solitary stone
“Indeed,” the old abbot said unconvincingly.
Pony continued to alternate her gaze between the King and his two secular advisers, and neither of them stopped staring at her for one moment.
“Palmaris will be in firm and fine control,” the King went on, addressing the whole of the gathering again. “Duke Kalas will stay on as ruler, for as long as he feels necessary. Also, because of the continuing hostilities outside of Palmaris’ wall with the powries, goblins, and even reports of giant bands roaming the region, he will keep half the Allheart knights. That should suffice to allow the folk of Palmaris some peace of mind.”
Pony glanced at Francis and Braumin and the other young monks, their distress showing her that they understood well the meaning of the King’s decision. Danube didn’t fear any goblins or powries or giants, for Palmaris’ garrison had proven itself time and again in the war against them. No, when the King spoke of potential enemies, he was subtly referring to those enemies Duke Kalas might face from within, particularly from St. Precious. The Allheart knights would make Chasewind Manor a veritable fortress and would strengthen Duke Kalas’ influence tremendously.
At first, Pony, too, was more than a little distressed by the news. Privately, at least, she found herself siding with Brother Braumin; she did believe in the man and his cause. That admission nearly made her speak up then, announcing that she had changed her mind and that she would accept an offer to join the Church, not for the position of mother abbess but as an adviser to Brother Braumin in his new position of abbot of St. Precious. Almost—but even as she considered the action, Pony thought of Elbryan and her lost child, thought of the futility of it all, the waste of effort to battle enemies that seemed to her, at that moment, eternal.
She kept silent; indeed, she turned inward through the rest of the meeting. No further surprises came forth, from either Danube or the monks, and their business was quickly concluded. Pony did note the glare that Constance Pemblebury bestowed on her as they were leaving the audience hall, a scowl that deepened tenfold when King Danube took Pony’s hand and kissed it, expressing his gratitude yet again for her actions and her sacrifice and proclaiming that Honce-the-Bear was a better place by far because of Jilseponie and Elbryan, Avelyn Desbris and the centaur, Bradwarden, Roger Lockless, and—to Pony’s and everyone else’s absolute surprise—because of the quiet working of the Touel’alfar.
And then Danube and that moment of gratitude were abruptly gone; the King, Constance Pemblebury, and Duke Bretherford rode forth to the docks and the waiting ships. The reality of the still-gloomy day settled over St. Precious.
A temporary moment of truce, Pony thought as she considered the King’s last words to her. A brief shining moment, unlasting in the gloom. Like all such moments.
Pony was on the roof of St. Precious’s highest tower again later that day. The spectacle over at the dock section—with the tall ships unfurling their sails, thecrowds cheering, the trumpets blaring—did not hold her attention for long. Rather, she found herself looking north, beyond the city’s great wall, beyond the farmhouses and the rolling hills. Looking in her mind’s eye to Dundalis and her past—and perhaps, she thought seriously, her future.
Chapter 3
Joined by War
T HE ICY RAIN DRUMMED HEAVILY AGAINST THE BARE TREES , BLOWING IN SHEETS through the forest, soaking Prince Midalis and his army. They had hoped for snow, a great blizzard as so often blasted Vanguard, a storm gathering strength over the Gulf of Corona, drawing up the water and then dumping snow thigh deep throughout the region. But it was just rain this time: icy rain, and miserable to be sure, but nothing that would drive the goblin horde from their entrenched positions around the large, solitary stone
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