Read Online Flight of the Nighthawks by Raymond E. Feist - Free Book Online

of a larger good and my duty to the Crown, you know what I will do.”
    â€œI know, Erik.” Nakor understood if it ever came to a choice, Erik would put his oath and duty to the Crown ahead of anything Pug asked. He put the amulet back. “How long have you had it?”
    â€œA week. Some minor court officials and influential merchants are starting to turn up dead in the City of Kesh. It’s a big place and the dead men are of marginal importance, so the Keshians don’t appear to be taking note of it yet.”
    Nakor was thoughtful. “Or someone highly placed is ensuring they don’t.”
    â€œMy thought, as well,” said the Duke. He looked at the window, and said, “How long before dawn?”
    â€œFour hours or so,” said Nakor.
    â€œI think I will stick around a while longer, Nakor. If the approaching danger is worse than the Emerald Queen’s army, I want to be fit enough to stand on the wall with my sword in my hand.”
    Nakor grinned. “You will.”
    Erik smiled back and Nakor could see the health returning to his cheeks. When Nakor had seen him sleeping, Erik had looked like an eighty-year-old man, near death’s door. He now seemed more like a vigorous man of seventy or less.
    â€œI need to go. Drink the rest of that vial now.” Erik did so and handed the empty bottle back to Nakor. The skinny gambler pulled out another and said, “Hide this somewhere. Drink half of this one in a week’s time if you don’t feel as strong as you’d like to. And if you want to feel really wonderful, drink the rest a week after that.” He put it on the pillow next to the Duke. “I’d leave more, but it would be difficult for you to explain to the Prince why you suddenly look younger than he does.” Grinning, he added, “It’s a good thing you were born blond, Erik, because people won’t notice your hair isn’t as gray as it used to be.”
    The door at the far end of the room began to open. “Got to go now, Erik,” said Nakor and he darted into the shadow behind the large curtain.
    Erik knew that the window behind the curtain had stayed closed, but that if he rose to investigate it, Nakor would have vanished.
    The Royal Chirurgeon and the Duke’s squire entered the Duke’schamber and showed open astonishment at seeing the Duke sitting up in bed. “Your Grace!” exclaimed the healer.
    â€œRossler,” said the Duke.
    â€œSir?” asked the squire with a near stammer.
    â€œWhat are you two staring at?”
    â€œWhy, Your Grace…you, sir.”
    â€œWell, you can stop it.”
    â€œIt’s just that, well…”
    â€œI know,” said Erik, interrupting the healer. “You didn’t think I’d make it through the night. Well, I’ve got better.”
    â€œApparently so, Your Grace. May I?” He indicated his desire to examine the Duke.
    Erik patiently allowed the man to proceed, listening to his heart and breathing, and thumping on his back and chest. When he began examining the color of his eyes, Erik pushed him away. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he said, “I need to go to the jakes.”
    The squire said, “Your Grace, I will fetch the chamber pot.”
    â€œNot tonight, Samuel, thank you. I’m certain I can walk to the garderobe by myself.”
    Both stood a moment in silent amazement as Erik rose and walked across the room to the door that led to his private garderobe and opened the door. When it closed behind the now revitalized Duke, the stunned healer and the grinning squire exchanged looks of wonder.

THREE
J OURNEY
    T he boys groaned.
    Caleb looked back over his shoulder from the driver’s seat at the two slowly waking boys. He had dumped them in the wagon, said good-bye to Marie, and left Stardock Town before dawn.
    Zane was first to regain a semblance of consciousness and he blinked like a stunned owl as