Read Online Drenai Saga 02 - The King Beyond the Gate by David Gemmell - Free Book Online
Authors: David Gemmell
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He smiled.
“Were it my choice, I would say yes. He is worthy. He is a man of the Source, although he knows it not.”
“Then we are—in the main—agreed,” said the leader. “I think it is time we spoke with Decado.”
“But should we not be more sure, Lord Abbot?” asked Balan.
“Nothing in life is sure, my son. Except the promise of death.”
5
I t was an hour past curfew, and the streets of Drenan were deserted, the vast white city silent. A three-quarter moon hung in a clear sky, its reflection glinting from a thousand rain-washed cobbles on the Street of Pillars.
From the shadows of a tall building came six men in black armor, dark helms covering their faces. They walked swiftly, purposefully toward the palace, looking neither to right nor left.
Two Joinings armed with massive axes barred their path, and the men stopped. Six pairs of eyes fastened on the beasts, and they howled in pain and fled.
The men walked on. From behind shutters and heavily curtained windows eyes watched their progress, and the marchers felt the stares, sensing the curiosity turning to fear as they were recognized.
They moved on in silence until they reached the gates, where they waited. After several seconds they heard the grating movement of the bar beyond, and the gate opened. Two sentries bowed their heads as the black-armored men marched forward across the courtyard and on into the main torchlit corridors lined with guards. All eyes avoided them. At the far end the double doors of oak and bronze slid open, the leader raised his hand, and his five companions halted, turning on their heels to stand before the doors with black-gloved hands resting on ebony sword hilts.
The leader lifted his helm and entered the room beyond.
As he had expected, Ceska’s chief minister, Eertik, waited alone at his desk. He looked up as the warrior appeared, his dark, heavy-lidded eyes fixing on the knight.
“Welcome, Padaxes,” he said, his voice dry and faintly metallic.
“Greetings, counselor,” Padaxes answered, smiling. He was a tall man, square-faced, with eyes the gray of a winter sky. His mouth was full-lipped and sensual, yet he was not handsome. There was about his features a strangeness, a taint hard to define.
“The emperor has need of your services,” said Eertik. As he stood and moved around the desk of oak, his dark velvet garments rustled. Padaxes registered the sounds, considering them not dissimilar to a snake moving through dry grass. He smiled again.
“I am always at the emperor’s command.”
“He knows that, Padaxes, just as he knows you value his generosity. There is a man who seeks to harm the emperor. We have had word that he is in the north, and the emperor wishes him taken or slain.”
“Tenaka Khan,” said Padaxes.
Eertik’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “You know of him?”
“Obviously.”
“May I ask how?”
“You may not.”
“He is a threat to the empire,” said Eertik, masking his annoyance.
“He is a walking corpse from the moment I leave this room. Did you know that Ananais was with him?”
“I did not,” said Eertik, “although now you say it, I understand the mystery. Ananais was thought to be dead of his wounds. Does this intelligence pose a problem for your order?”
“No. One, two, ten, or a hundred. Nothing can stand against my Templars. We will ride in the morning.”
“Can I aid you in any way?”
“Yes. Send a child to the temple in two hours. A girl child under ten years. There are certain religious rites which must be performed. I must commune with the power that holds the universe.”
“It shall be done.”
“Our temple buildings are in need of repair. I was considering a move to the country and the commissioning of a new temple—something larger,” said Padaxes.
“The emperor’s thoughts exactly,” said Eertik. “I will have some plans drawn up for your return.”
“Convey my thanks to the lord Ceska.”
“I will indeed. May your journey be
“Were it my choice, I would say yes. He is worthy. He is a man of the Source, although he knows it not.”
“Then we are—in the main—agreed,” said the leader. “I think it is time we spoke with Decado.”
“But should we not be more sure, Lord Abbot?” asked Balan.
“Nothing in life is sure, my son. Except the promise of death.”
5
I t was an hour past curfew, and the streets of Drenan were deserted, the vast white city silent. A three-quarter moon hung in a clear sky, its reflection glinting from a thousand rain-washed cobbles on the Street of Pillars.
From the shadows of a tall building came six men in black armor, dark helms covering their faces. They walked swiftly, purposefully toward the palace, looking neither to right nor left.
Two Joinings armed with massive axes barred their path, and the men stopped. Six pairs of eyes fastened on the beasts, and they howled in pain and fled.
The men walked on. From behind shutters and heavily curtained windows eyes watched their progress, and the marchers felt the stares, sensing the curiosity turning to fear as they were recognized.
They moved on in silence until they reached the gates, where they waited. After several seconds they heard the grating movement of the bar beyond, and the gate opened. Two sentries bowed their heads as the black-armored men marched forward across the courtyard and on into the main torchlit corridors lined with guards. All eyes avoided them. At the far end the double doors of oak and bronze slid open, the leader raised his hand, and his five companions halted, turning on their heels to stand before the doors with black-gloved hands resting on ebony sword hilts.
The leader lifted his helm and entered the room beyond.
As he had expected, Ceska’s chief minister, Eertik, waited alone at his desk. He looked up as the warrior appeared, his dark, heavy-lidded eyes fixing on the knight.
“Welcome, Padaxes,” he said, his voice dry and faintly metallic.
“Greetings, counselor,” Padaxes answered, smiling. He was a tall man, square-faced, with eyes the gray of a winter sky. His mouth was full-lipped and sensual, yet he was not handsome. There was about his features a strangeness, a taint hard to define.
“The emperor has need of your services,” said Eertik. As he stood and moved around the desk of oak, his dark velvet garments rustled. Padaxes registered the sounds, considering them not dissimilar to a snake moving through dry grass. He smiled again.
“I am always at the emperor’s command.”
“He knows that, Padaxes, just as he knows you value his generosity. There is a man who seeks to harm the emperor. We have had word that he is in the north, and the emperor wishes him taken or slain.”
“Tenaka Khan,” said Padaxes.
Eertik’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “You know of him?”
“Obviously.”
“May I ask how?”
“You may not.”
“He is a threat to the empire,” said Eertik, masking his annoyance.
“He is a walking corpse from the moment I leave this room. Did you know that Ananais was with him?”
“I did not,” said Eertik, “although now you say it, I understand the mystery. Ananais was thought to be dead of his wounds. Does this intelligence pose a problem for your order?”
“No. One, two, ten, or a hundred. Nothing can stand against my Templars. We will ride in the morning.”
“Can I aid you in any way?”
“Yes. Send a child to the temple in two hours. A girl child under ten years. There are certain religious rites which must be performed. I must commune with the power that holds the universe.”
“It shall be done.”
“Our temple buildings are in need of repair. I was considering a move to the country and the commissioning of a new temple—something larger,” said Padaxes.
“The emperor’s thoughts exactly,” said Eertik. “I will have some plans drawn up for your return.”
“Convey my thanks to the lord Ceska.”
“I will indeed. May your journey be
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