Read Online Into a Dark Realm by Raymond E. Feist - Free Book Online Page B

about their business as best they could be with armed men hiding in every other building. Erik was unconcerned about Nighthawk spies in the town, for no one was allowed to leave Cavell that day; his only concern was for someone observing from up high, in the hills above the town, and he was convinced he had taken every precaution possible.
    Magnus had aided the effort with an illusion spell, and unless any observer was a highly trained magic-user, the few minutes it took toget a hundred men into the town would have passed uneventfully. At sundown, Magnus had again cast his enchantment and the men quickly broke up into two companies, one heading to the main entrance up Cavell Run, and the other under Erik’s personal supervision heading to the rear of the keep.
    The old soldier stood motionless, his attention focused on the deployment of his men. He was nearly eighty-five years of age, yet thanks to a potion given him by Nakor, he resembled a man thirty years younger. Satisfied that things were as they should be, he turned to his companions, Nakor and Magnus, who stood nearby, while the Knight-Marshall’s personal bodyguard stood uneasily to one side; they were not entirely comfortable with their commander ordering them to stand away, as it was their personal mission to protect him at all costs.
    “Now?” asked Nakor.
    “We wait,” said Eric. “If they have any concerns about this approach to their citadel, they should have seen us coming, and if so, they’ll either do something inhospitable or they’ll attempt to flee through the other escape route.”
    “Your best guess?” asked Magnus.
    Erik sighed. “I’d hunker down and pretend there was no one at home. If that didn’t work, I’d have a very nasty reception in mind for anyone attempting to enter the keep.” He waved absently with his hand as he said, “We have old records, which even then were not entirely accurate, but what we do know is that Cavell Keep is a warren, and there are many places to lie in ambush or leave behind some nasty traps. It’s going to be no walk through the meadow going in there.”
    Nakor shrugged. “You have good men.”
    “The best,” said Erik. “Handpicked and trained for this sort of business, but I still hate to put them at risk needlessly.”
    Nakor said softly, “There is need, Erik.”
    “I’m convinced of that, Nakor,” said the old soldier. “Or I would not be here.”
    “How does that sit with the Duke of Salador?” asked Nakor.
    “He doesn’t know I’m here.” Erik looked at Nakor. “You picked a hell of a time to give me this to worry about, old friend.”
    Nakor shrugged. “We never get to pick our moments, do we?”
    “There have been times when I think that I might have been better off if Bobby de Longville and Calis had hanged me that cold, bitter morning, so long ago.” His eyes looked off into the distance, as the sun disappeared behind the rocks there. He turned to Nakor. “Then there are times that I don’t. When this is over, I’ll know better what sort of time this is.” The old man smiled. “Let’s go back and wait a while.”
    He led Magnus and Nakor down a narrow path between high rock faces, passing lines of soldiers quietly waiting to assault the keep on the rocks above. At the rear lackeys stood ready with the horses, and behind them waited wagons with supplies. Erik waved to his personal squire, who had stayed behind with the boys in the luggage.
    The squire produced a pair of cups and filled them with wine from a skin. Nakor took one, eyebrow raised. “Serving wine before a battle?”
    “Why not?” said the Duke, drinking deeply. He wiped his mouth with the back of his gauntlet. “As if I didn’t have enough to worry about, you send me off halfway across the Kingdom to dig out murderers.”
    Nakor shrugged. “Someone has to do it, Erik.”
    The old warrior shook his head. “I’ve lived a long life, Nakor, and one more interesting than most. I’d be a liar if I told