Read Online Fire of the Soul by Flora Speer - Free Book Online

citing
all the elderly mages, men and women both, who undertake long
pilgrimages that last for years. Spring and summer are the best
seasons for a voyage, and if we set out within the next week, we
can be back at Saumar in time to oversee the autumn harvest.”
    “Voyage?” Garit repeated, his expression so
calm, and so peculiarly bland that Calia knew he was deliberately
concealing his opinion behind the mask of diplomatic
self-control.
    “We?” Calia gasped. “My lady, I cannot go
with you. Surely, you understand why not.” It was all she dared to
say while Garit was listening, and Lady Elgida’s cool look scolded
her for even so minor a protest.
    “Grandmother,” Garit said in a warning tone,
“I have explained to you several times that I do not want Kinath
Castle. I’m content for Belai to hold it when he grows up. Surely,
after their years together, King Dyfrig knows Sir Mallory well and
considers him a responsible guardian for Belai and Kinen, or he
would not have appointed him to that post. Speaking for myself, I
have no reason to pledge my fealty to King Dyfrig, and even less
reason for returning to Kantia. Have you considered the possibility
that the king and Sir Mallory will take offense at my sudden
appearance and conclude that I mean to cause trouble over
Kinath?”
    Calia could see by the expression on Lady
Elgida’s lined face that her mind was made up. True to her
determined character, Lady Elgida was not going to be swayed by any
objection, no matter how well reasoned. Indeed, her next words
proved that she had thought her plans through with some
thoroughness before announcing them.
    “Garit, since you have nothing special to do
just now you may take yourself off to Port Moren first thing
tomorrow morning, and there you will hire a ship for a period of
two months. I refuse to sail across the Sea of Lestrac on one of
those disreputable ferries, or to be bogged down later on muddy
Kantian roads or subjected to vile, flea-infested Kantian inns. I
returned to Saumar from Kantia by ship, and I quite enjoyed the
voyage.”
    “You were twenty-five years younger then,”
Garit protested.
    “Choose a good sized vessel, with room enough
for Calia and me, and Mairne, too, to have a bit of privacy.” Lady
Elgida’s haughty expression challenged Garit to say again that she
was too old to make such a trip and she continued to give orders as
if her grandson hadn’t spoken. “You’ll want space aboard ship for
yourself and that glowering squire of yours, for the horses, and
for our baggage. We’ll take along half a dozen men-at-arms for our
protection once we reach Kantia. The men who came here with you and
two or three stout fellows from Saumar should do nicely. I
understand a certain number of ships are for hire to carry nobles
across the Sea of Lestrac. No doubt you are familiar with some of
them, and with their captains, so I leave the selection of the ship
to you.”
    “Thank you for trusting me that much,
Grandmother.”
    “Watch your tone with me, my lad. You will do
as I say. Allow me to inform you right now that if I am not content
with the arrangements the king of Kantia has made for my grandsons,
or if I have any reason to think they may not be safe in Sir
Mallory’s care, then I will expect you to petition King Dyfrig for
guardianship of them, and also to request that he grant Kinath
Castle to you as the eldest son of the previous lord. Whether you
want the place or not is irrelevant to me. You can always turn the
castle over to Belai once he’s grown to manhood. In the meantime,
you have a duty to your little brothers, and a duty to me, too.
    “Come along, Calia, I have instructions for
you and Mairne. We must begin packing at once. I want to be gone
from Saumar as soon as possible.”
     
    “My lady,” Calia protested the moment Mairne
had been sent from Lady Elgida’s bedchamber on an errand, “you
cannot expect me to accompany you to Kantia.”
    “Why not? You are my companion,