Read Online Kingsteel (The Dragonkin Trilogy Book 3) by Michael Meyerhofer - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Meyerhofer
Ads: Link
lesser Knights behind them, the Knights of the Crane, nearly all of the Knights of the Stag had the dark eyes, olive skin, and braided, uncut hair common to natives of the Lotus Isles.
A few had the paler skin of mainlanders, but most of these had been admitted into the Order by virtue of their pedigree—their lineage could be traced all the way back to Fâyu Jinn’s first roster of Isle Knights who had served during the Shattering War. Though thousands of mainlanders sought to enter the Knighthood and paid a large sum to be trained in the Knights’ lore and the ancient Shao fighting styles, fewer than one percent of these ever actually became Knights.
We have to safeguard our precious ethnic purity, don’t we?
Aeko shook her head, fighting back a derisive smile. She wished she had the ability to glean their thoughts at a glance, the way Shel’ai did. But she could only see what was obvious. With her, at the head of the host, rode just a half dozen Knights with a third symbol on their tabards: a white nine-petaled blossom with a golden center. She was the first female Knight of the Lotus in the history of the Order.
As far as the histories have been chronicled, that is.
In the past, the Order had not hesitated to amend—or outright burn—certain texts they deemed too controversial or dangerous. They had all but eradicated written traces of Fel-Nâya, Knightswrath, the tragically obtained sword that Fâyu Jinn had used to win the Shattering War.
Few Knights below the rank of Stag even knew about it beyond fairytales and rumor. The Council’s official excuse for the secrecy was concern that a thousand starry-eyed Knights of the Crane might tear across the countryside, looking for a fabled sword that probably did not even exist. Aeko saw their point. Still, if anyone could remake the Order into what it was supposed to be, the way Fâyu Jinn had intended it to be, that was Rowen Locke. She glanced at the man riding next to her.
If I can keep Crovis from killing him.
Sir Crovis Ammerhel had done an admirable job of concealing his disdain. Grand Marshal Bokuden had promoted Aeko and given her formal command of the expedition—an unmistakable slight directed at Crovis—but Crovis knew better than to be too obvious with his scorn. Instead, he asserted himself in small ways. He rode just a little too closely and spoke just a little too cordially to be believable.
And, of course, he insisted on leaving the squires behind.
Aeko was more popular with the idealistic squires and younger Knights of the Crane. Normally, the Knights were accompanied by at least as many squires, giving Aeko an additional advantage. But Crovis had uncovered an obscure passage in the ponderous annals of the Codex Viticus that said an offending Knight couldbe arrested only by fellow Knights. He’d interpreted it to mean that Knights alone could go in search of Rowen. To her disappointment, her fellow Knights had agreed with him. The law was the law.
It won’t matter, though . Once the Knights see Rowen Locke wearing the Sword of Fâyu Jinn, maybe marching at the head of a Sylvan legion of reinforcements, they’ll fall all over themselves swearing allegiance.
She shifted uncomfortably in her armor. At least, I hope so.
The Knight of the Lotus took a deep breath to clear her mind and returned her attention to the task at hand. The column was making good time, already well away from the city of Lyos and halfway to Nosh. But the way was not nearly as safe as it had once been.
She spied a curl of smoke on the northern horizon. “The Bloody Prince must be preparing to winter at Cassica. Let’s hope the bastard stays there.”
Crovis’s reply said he’d missed her meaning. “Have no fear, Lady Shingawa. The painted men wouldn’t dare attack us.”
Aeko answered with a smile. “Dhargots aren’t known for being timid. You remember what Sir Royce said.”
Crovis frowned at the mention of the Lancer captain they’d encountered at Lyos.
A few had the paler skin of mainlanders, but most of these had been admitted into the Order by virtue of their pedigree—their lineage could be traced all the way back to Fâyu Jinn’s first roster of Isle Knights who had served during the Shattering War. Though thousands of mainlanders sought to enter the Knighthood and paid a large sum to be trained in the Knights’ lore and the ancient Shao fighting styles, fewer than one percent of these ever actually became Knights.
We have to safeguard our precious ethnic purity, don’t we?
Aeko shook her head, fighting back a derisive smile. She wished she had the ability to glean their thoughts at a glance, the way Shel’ai did. But she could only see what was obvious. With her, at the head of the host, rode just a half dozen Knights with a third symbol on their tabards: a white nine-petaled blossom with a golden center. She was the first female Knight of the Lotus in the history of the Order.
As far as the histories have been chronicled, that is.
In the past, the Order had not hesitated to amend—or outright burn—certain texts they deemed too controversial or dangerous. They had all but eradicated written traces of Fel-Nâya, Knightswrath, the tragically obtained sword that Fâyu Jinn had used to win the Shattering War.
Few Knights below the rank of Stag even knew about it beyond fairytales and rumor. The Council’s official excuse for the secrecy was concern that a thousand starry-eyed Knights of the Crane might tear across the countryside, looking for a fabled sword that probably did not even exist. Aeko saw their point. Still, if anyone could remake the Order into what it was supposed to be, the way Fâyu Jinn had intended it to be, that was Rowen Locke. She glanced at the man riding next to her.
If I can keep Crovis from killing him.
Sir Crovis Ammerhel had done an admirable job of concealing his disdain. Grand Marshal Bokuden had promoted Aeko and given her formal command of the expedition—an unmistakable slight directed at Crovis—but Crovis knew better than to be too obvious with his scorn. Instead, he asserted himself in small ways. He rode just a little too closely and spoke just a little too cordially to be believable.
And, of course, he insisted on leaving the squires behind.
Aeko was more popular with the idealistic squires and younger Knights of the Crane. Normally, the Knights were accompanied by at least as many squires, giving Aeko an additional advantage. But Crovis had uncovered an obscure passage in the ponderous annals of the Codex Viticus that said an offending Knight couldbe arrested only by fellow Knights. He’d interpreted it to mean that Knights alone could go in search of Rowen. To her disappointment, her fellow Knights had agreed with him. The law was the law.
It won’t matter, though . Once the Knights see Rowen Locke wearing the Sword of Fâyu Jinn, maybe marching at the head of a Sylvan legion of reinforcements, they’ll fall all over themselves swearing allegiance.
She shifted uncomfortably in her armor. At least, I hope so.
The Knight of the Lotus took a deep breath to clear her mind and returned her attention to the task at hand. The column was making good time, already well away from the city of Lyos and halfway to Nosh. But the way was not nearly as safe as it had once been.
She spied a curl of smoke on the northern horizon. “The Bloody Prince must be preparing to winter at Cassica. Let’s hope the bastard stays there.”
Crovis’s reply said he’d missed her meaning. “Have no fear, Lady Shingawa. The painted men wouldn’t dare attack us.”
Aeko answered with a smile. “Dhargots aren’t known for being timid. You remember what Sir Royce said.”
Crovis frowned at the mention of the Lancer captain they’d encountered at Lyos.
Similar Books
