Read Online Kings of the North by Elizabeth Moon - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Moon
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Royal troops as well?”
“They’re not,” Dorrin said, “though they’re much better than they were a quarter-year ago.” If only she’d had some of her own cohort with her. “
I
am, however.”
Oktar shook his head. “My lord duke, the king would not be pleased if you died here when more good troops could prevent it. I feel evil as strong as any we rooted out back then.”
Would he not? It would solve several problems for him. But she must not think so of her king, the man to whom she had sworn fealty the day before, the man whose life she had saved and who had saved her from a traitor’s death.
“You think there might be a priest of Liart hiding there?”
“One, several, who knows? But I feel a great menace.”
Dorrin stepped back and glanced into the kitchen, where Jaim was just emptying a bucket of water into a pot. “Jaim, do you know where Marshal Veksin’s grange is?”
“Yes, m’lord.”
“Run ask Marshal Veksin to come here. We’re going to cleanse the cellar and need his help.”
Jaim paled. “My—my lord, do I have to come back?”
“I need a message taken to the palace as well,” Dorrin said. “You can go on from the grange to the palace gates and guide the troops back here.” Not that they didn’t know exactly where Verrakai House was. “You can stay outside the house, but I don’t want you wandering around in the city. Wait a moment while I write the message.”
Dorrin left the Marshals contemplating the door and ran back upstairs to find writing materials. She scribbled a quick note to the palace guard commander asking for assistance. When Jaim left, she took the opportunity to change from her court dress to her soldier’s garb and met Marshal Veksin at the front door, ready to fight if necessary.
“This looks serious,” he said as he came in. He, too, had prepared for a fight, bringing swords as well as stout sticks.
“Yes,” Dorrin said. She led the way down the passage. “Marshal-Judicar Oktar thinks there may still be a priest of Liart alive, in the cellar.”
“I brought an extra sword in case Tamis didn’t have his today.”
“Thanks,” Marshal Tamis said, and belted it on. “Are you going to clear the house?” he asked Dorrin.
“You think it necessary?” she asked.
“Prudent, perhaps. Your servants could wait in the stableyard.”
Dorrin heard the clatter of boots at the front of the house and went to meet the servants and send them toward the back. Then she collected her household. “We’re about to cleanse the cellars, and that may be dangerous. For your own safety, you must do what I say.Efla, Jaim, I want you in the stableyard, with Gani and Perin to guard you and the horses. Inder, you stand outside the front door to warn away any visitors.” Not that she’d had many visitors she hadn’t brought home herself. “Eddes and Jori”—her two boldest, who had made the most progress in arms, according to Selfer and Bosk—“come with me. You will be my personal guards.”
The five looked more eager than afraid and jogged off to get their swords. Efla put her hands on her hips, looking remarkably like Cook back at the domain. “I have two fowl in the oven.”
“You matter more than supper,” Dorrin said. “Out with you now.” Jaim was already out the door, as close to the outer gate as he could get. “Keep Jaim calm, Efla.” That might keep her calm as well.
When they were all disposed as she wished, she nodded to the Marshals. “Do you recognize any traps on this door?” Oktar asked her.
“No. I can try the Verrakaien command words if you like.”
“Do that,” Oktar said. “It may save us some struggle. But stay to one side, where we have room for our blades.”
Dorrin spoke the words. Nothing happened at first, then a key materialized in the lock, as if condensing from the air itself. Dorrin eyed it warily, but when it finished solidifying, it looked like an ordinary key—which it surely was not. Marshals Tamis and
“They’re not,” Dorrin said, “though they’re much better than they were a quarter-year ago.” If only she’d had some of her own cohort with her. “
I
am, however.”
Oktar shook his head. “My lord duke, the king would not be pleased if you died here when more good troops could prevent it. I feel evil as strong as any we rooted out back then.”
Would he not? It would solve several problems for him. But she must not think so of her king, the man to whom she had sworn fealty the day before, the man whose life she had saved and who had saved her from a traitor’s death.
“You think there might be a priest of Liart hiding there?”
“One, several, who knows? But I feel a great menace.”
Dorrin stepped back and glanced into the kitchen, where Jaim was just emptying a bucket of water into a pot. “Jaim, do you know where Marshal Veksin’s grange is?”
“Yes, m’lord.”
“Run ask Marshal Veksin to come here. We’re going to cleanse the cellar and need his help.”
Jaim paled. “My—my lord, do I have to come back?”
“I need a message taken to the palace as well,” Dorrin said. “You can go on from the grange to the palace gates and guide the troops back here.” Not that they didn’t know exactly where Verrakai House was. “You can stay outside the house, but I don’t want you wandering around in the city. Wait a moment while I write the message.”
Dorrin left the Marshals contemplating the door and ran back upstairs to find writing materials. She scribbled a quick note to the palace guard commander asking for assistance. When Jaim left, she took the opportunity to change from her court dress to her soldier’s garb and met Marshal Veksin at the front door, ready to fight if necessary.
“This looks serious,” he said as he came in. He, too, had prepared for a fight, bringing swords as well as stout sticks.
“Yes,” Dorrin said. She led the way down the passage. “Marshal-Judicar Oktar thinks there may still be a priest of Liart alive, in the cellar.”
“I brought an extra sword in case Tamis didn’t have his today.”
“Thanks,” Marshal Tamis said, and belted it on. “Are you going to clear the house?” he asked Dorrin.
“You think it necessary?” she asked.
“Prudent, perhaps. Your servants could wait in the stableyard.”
Dorrin heard the clatter of boots at the front of the house and went to meet the servants and send them toward the back. Then she collected her household. “We’re about to cleanse the cellars, and that may be dangerous. For your own safety, you must do what I say.Efla, Jaim, I want you in the stableyard, with Gani and Perin to guard you and the horses. Inder, you stand outside the front door to warn away any visitors.” Not that she’d had many visitors she hadn’t brought home herself. “Eddes and Jori”—her two boldest, who had made the most progress in arms, according to Selfer and Bosk—“come with me. You will be my personal guards.”
The five looked more eager than afraid and jogged off to get their swords. Efla put her hands on her hips, looking remarkably like Cook back at the domain. “I have two fowl in the oven.”
“You matter more than supper,” Dorrin said. “Out with you now.” Jaim was already out the door, as close to the outer gate as he could get. “Keep Jaim calm, Efla.” That might keep her calm as well.
When they were all disposed as she wished, she nodded to the Marshals. “Do you recognize any traps on this door?” Oktar asked her.
“No. I can try the Verrakaien command words if you like.”
“Do that,” Oktar said. “It may save us some struggle. But stay to one side, where we have room for our blades.”
Dorrin spoke the words. Nothing happened at first, then a key materialized in the lock, as if condensing from the air itself. Dorrin eyed it warily, but when it finished solidifying, it looked like an ordinary key—which it surely was not. Marshals Tamis and
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