Read Online In The Shadow Of The Beast by Harlan H Howard - Free Book Online Page B

of Veronique. She hoped to
all the gods that Sigourd or her husband had not seen the
expression her face wore, so telling it must surely have been. She
worked to compose herself, was about to speak again when the figure
standing in the shadows of to the side of Sigourd began to
stir.
    Stepping into the half light of the chamber
The Baron Mortaron spoke at last.
    ‘ The boy has been through
much. He cannot be certain of anything he saw, and neither can we.’
The old baron moved to the foot of Sigourd’s bed, studying the
young lord with his piercing, cold eyes, ‘but it seems to me
obvious that the root of all this is the Morays. They have cast the
first stone, they seek to provoke us into attack by destroying our
weapons stores and invading our lands to snatch and murder our
subjects.’
    ‘ Why should the Morays wish
to abduct a serving girl?’ asked The Regent.
    ‘ Who can fathom the minds
of our most hated foe?’ said Mortaron.
    ‘ This was not the Morays,’
stated Sigourd flatly, ‘this was like nothing I’ve ever seen or
heard of before.
    ‘ As I have already pointed
out lord,’ said Mortaron, addressing The Regent, ‘the boy has
suffered much. He is confused.’
    ‘ The boy knows exactly what
he saw!’ protested Sigourd angrily. The Baron turned to cast that
withering stare over his nephew.
    ‘ Father, we must find
Isolde. Her life is in great danger.’
    ‘ You must rest Sigourd,’
said The Regent, ‘be assured we will not allow this transgression
to go unanswered. But I will not move hastily.’
    ‘ The longer we wait, the
further away they will get with her,’ argued Sigourd, his voice
cracking with desperation.
    ‘ I understand your concern
son, but these are treacherous times. We must tread carefully.’
said The Regent.
    ‘ Damn you father, if you
will do nothing then I shall take up arms and find her
myself!’
    In an instant, The Regents stoic demeanor
was flensed away as his temper flared white hot, ‘I have more
pressing concerns than the disappearance of some serving wench at
the hands of a fantastical man-beast! Your place is here, leading
your father’s armies in the defense of their realm. You will rest,
and then you will report to your post as is your duty!’
    ‘ And what of Cal?’ replied
Sigourd coldly, ‘will you so casually disregard the murder of a man
that has served our family for two generations?’
    The fire in The Regents eyes died back,
something like sadness moving mournfully behind them. After a
moment he spoke again, and this time his voice was quiet thunder,
‘No crime that has occurred here today shall go unpunished. But you
will remain within the city until I deem otherwise.’
    With that, The Lord of Corrinth Vardis
turned and stormed from the chamber without another word.
    No one spoke for long moments in the
uncomfortable silence that followed the departure of The Regent,
until Veronique leaned forward to kiss Sigourd tenderly upon the
brow.
    ‘ Do not be angry with your
father Sigourd, he has much to contend with of late. But we will
search for your friend as soon as it is possible to do
so.’
    Sigourd, his face set like thunder, did not
respond. His sat staring silently ahead, his eyes burning with a
fierce defiance that Veronique knew only too well.
    ‘ Rest Sigourd,’ she said,
‘I fear there are trying times ahead for us all, and we shall need
all our strength to see them through.’
    Veronique stood and made her way from the
chamber, her face a mask of great sorrow, for she knew that for all
Sigourd’s reluctant dedication to duty, his affections for the
serving girl were strong enough to overrule it all.
    She passed by The Baron, not deigning to
look upon him as she did so.
    The Baron, his head bowed only low enough to
satisfy protocol did not raise his eyes until the Lady Veronique
was out of the chamber. Finally he looked up to cast a dark look at
Sigourd, their eyes meeting briefly.
    Sigourd and his uncle had never been close,
far from it