Read Online Kingsteel (The Dragonkin Trilogy Book 3) by Michael Meyerhofer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael Meyerhofer
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her, and rose slowly, draining his cup. When the cup was empty, he passed it without looking to the Knight standing behind him. “Are you the one I’ve been kept waiting for?”
Aeko bowed slightly, wondering how much of the contempt in the man’s speech came from his accent. “I am Aeko Shingawa, Knight of the Lotus and Knight-Captain of this host. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
The ambassador did not answer for so long that Aeko wondered if he meant to ignore her. Then he simply said, “Vaanti.”
Aeko forced a smile. “And I trust that you were sent by Prince Karhaati.”
The Dhargot took his time nodding. “The Bloody Prince sent me.”
After a long silence, Aeko said, “And his message?”
“Just this: you are in our lands without permission. We Dhargots have no quarrel with the Isles. Leave at once, and the Bloody Prince will forgive your insult without bloodshed or demand for reparations.”
Aeko could smell the stink of the man’s breath, only thinly veiled by the sweet smell of lotus wine. She wondered if the man had deliberately chewed on an onion before coming to the camp. “Tell the prince I appreciate his generosity. No offense was intended. This is not an invasion. We are merely on a training exercise and did not know the Dhargothi Empire had extended its boundaries all the way to the heart of the Simurgh Plains. It seems I shall have to be better about consulting maps before I leave my keep.”
Vaanti sneered, though she could not tell if it was in derision or grudging appreciation. “The Bloody Prince claims whatever lands he wishes. If you object, meet him on the field.”
Aeko tapped her sword hilt. Someday, perhaps, when I have more men with me. “As I said, we’re on a training mission, nothing more.” She intended to leave it at that, but her eyes fell on Vaanti’s ghastly necklace again. She wondered if any of those ears came from women. She lowered her voice. “Cassica is not a protectorate of the Lotus Isles. Until its people request our help, Karhaati has nothing to fear from us.”
Vaanti looked surprised. Then he laughed. “Cassica’s a pen for dogs! We took it in accordance with the Way of Ears, which has guided my people for two centuries. If you want it, come take it. The Bloody Prince would welcome the fight.”
Aeko held up her hand. “We didn’t come here for a fight. I told you—”
Out of the corner of her eye, Aeko saw a flash of steel. Before she could stop him, Crovis strode forward and pressed the edge of his adamune to the Dhargot’s throat. Vaanti’s eyes widened. He tried to back up but collided with the Knight of the Crane standing behind him.
Crovis said, “Pray that your beloved prince never meets an Isle Knight on the field, little man, or else the Red Emperor will have one less son to pay him homage.”
Aeko hissed Crovis’s name, but he did not answer. She eyed the other Knights, some of whom looked back at her with uncertainty, and wondered if she should have Crovis seized. She decided against it.
Meanwhile, all the fight had gone out of Vaanti’s expression. The edge of Crovis’s sword had already drawn a thin trickle of blood, though given the steadiness of Crovis’s hands, Aeko figured that was deliberate.
She took a step forward and fixed Vaanti in her most withering stare. “On the Isles, threatening someone in their own home is considered extremely rude. I believe that’s the lesson Sir Ammerhel was trying to demonstrate.”
With the sword still pressed to his throat, Vaanti tried his best not to swallow. “I didn’t threaten—”
“Maybe we misunderstood. If so, I hope you’ll accept our apology and convey our peaceful intentions to your prince.”
Crovis pressed his sword against Vaanti’s throat for emphasis. A fresh trickle of blood ran down his neck.
The Dhargot said, “I will. Of course I will!”
“Good.” Aeko touched Crovis’s arm. To her relief, he stepped back, made a show of wiping his
Aeko bowed slightly, wondering how much of the contempt in the man’s speech came from his accent. “I am Aeko Shingawa, Knight of the Lotus and Knight-Captain of this host. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
The ambassador did not answer for so long that Aeko wondered if he meant to ignore her. Then he simply said, “Vaanti.”
Aeko forced a smile. “And I trust that you were sent by Prince Karhaati.”
The Dhargot took his time nodding. “The Bloody Prince sent me.”
After a long silence, Aeko said, “And his message?”
“Just this: you are in our lands without permission. We Dhargots have no quarrel with the Isles. Leave at once, and the Bloody Prince will forgive your insult without bloodshed or demand for reparations.”
Aeko could smell the stink of the man’s breath, only thinly veiled by the sweet smell of lotus wine. She wondered if the man had deliberately chewed on an onion before coming to the camp. “Tell the prince I appreciate his generosity. No offense was intended. This is not an invasion. We are merely on a training exercise and did not know the Dhargothi Empire had extended its boundaries all the way to the heart of the Simurgh Plains. It seems I shall have to be better about consulting maps before I leave my keep.”
Vaanti sneered, though she could not tell if it was in derision or grudging appreciation. “The Bloody Prince claims whatever lands he wishes. If you object, meet him on the field.”
Aeko tapped her sword hilt. Someday, perhaps, when I have more men with me. “As I said, we’re on a training mission, nothing more.” She intended to leave it at that, but her eyes fell on Vaanti’s ghastly necklace again. She wondered if any of those ears came from women. She lowered her voice. “Cassica is not a protectorate of the Lotus Isles. Until its people request our help, Karhaati has nothing to fear from us.”
Vaanti looked surprised. Then he laughed. “Cassica’s a pen for dogs! We took it in accordance with the Way of Ears, which has guided my people for two centuries. If you want it, come take it. The Bloody Prince would welcome the fight.”
Aeko held up her hand. “We didn’t come here for a fight. I told you—”
Out of the corner of her eye, Aeko saw a flash of steel. Before she could stop him, Crovis strode forward and pressed the edge of his adamune to the Dhargot’s throat. Vaanti’s eyes widened. He tried to back up but collided with the Knight of the Crane standing behind him.
Crovis said, “Pray that your beloved prince never meets an Isle Knight on the field, little man, or else the Red Emperor will have one less son to pay him homage.”
Aeko hissed Crovis’s name, but he did not answer. She eyed the other Knights, some of whom looked back at her with uncertainty, and wondered if she should have Crovis seized. She decided against it.
Meanwhile, all the fight had gone out of Vaanti’s expression. The edge of Crovis’s sword had already drawn a thin trickle of blood, though given the steadiness of Crovis’s hands, Aeko figured that was deliberate.
She took a step forward and fixed Vaanti in her most withering stare. “On the Isles, threatening someone in their own home is considered extremely rude. I believe that’s the lesson Sir Ammerhel was trying to demonstrate.”
With the sword still pressed to his throat, Vaanti tried his best not to swallow. “I didn’t threaten—”
“Maybe we misunderstood. If so, I hope you’ll accept our apology and convey our peaceful intentions to your prince.”
Crovis pressed his sword against Vaanti’s throat for emphasis. A fresh trickle of blood ran down his neck.
The Dhargot said, “I will. Of course I will!”
“Good.” Aeko touched Crovis’s arm. To her relief, he stepped back, made a show of wiping his
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