Read Online Knight's Valor by Ronald Coleborn - Free Book Online

north as Heth. One cage featured a few faces he recognized—women from Rivencrest, two of them nursing babes.
    â€œYou there,” Jerreb said, pointing to one of the nursing women. “I’m looking for Triyalle. Have you seen her.”
    â€œI know of three by that name, sir,” the woman replied.
    â€œFrom the Rivencrest neighborhood of Northbank, at the mouth of Kilgud Lake. We have a small cottage on seven acres. She had no children.”
    â€œAre you promised to her?” the woman asked.
    â€œI’m her husband.” When the woman’s expression bordered on alarm, Jerreb added, “She was sworn to secrecy. I’m a knight of the Outer Guard.”
    A round of gasps went up, and several women started to chatter in hushed voices as heads wagged.
    Finally the nursing woman said, “Fair one, that. But I’m afraid you won’t find her here.”
    Jerreb grabbed the bars of the cage, his eyes wide. “What? Are you certain?”
    â€œOne high in the ranks of our captors decided she was far too fair to reside in a cage, so he set her on the front of his horse and rode off.”
    â€œRode off where?” demanded Jerreb. “Which direction? Which road?”
    â€œThere are many roads that lead north from here, sir, and I did not see which was chosen. Will you be freeing us from these cages now?”
    Jerreb used his blade to slice the ropes that held the doors of the cage closed, and the women scurried out of the cramped space. He opened the other three cages and was soon surrounded by scores of women and children, but their numbers hardly reflected the many families that populated Rivencrest or the other lands the horde had touched.
    He looked over the crowd and began to speak. “There are inns two miles west of here, as well as a local magistrate, who will hear your grievances. Take the road that cuts through the woods, and travel together.”
    Before they could press him with questions, Jerreb mounted his courser and made his way to the other three men and their young captive.
    â€œThis one told us all,” Sendin said. “We have no further need of him.”
    â€œWe don’t take prisoners,” said Jerreb. “Not anymore.”
    â€œI’ll send him to hell, then,” Sendin said, and he thrust his blade into the captive’s heart and twisted it as the boy shrieked piteously. A moment later the field was silent once more.
    Jerreb heard a creaking sound and looked up to see the woman Seyalinn driving the spice wagon into the open field. Jerreb spurred his horse and drew up next to the wagon. The boy, Quarvik, was still strapped to his mother’s back. Jerreb spoke directly to him. “You told me I would find my wife here, yet she is nowhere to be found.”
    I said you would find her. I did not say you would find her here , thought Quarvik, who looked to be asleep.
    â€œBut she was brought here,” said Jerreb.
    Yes.
    â€œIs she safe?”
    I do not know. I have not dreamed of her since our journey east. Sir, I beg you, please do not speak your words, for when you speak, your thoughts are clouded, and I struggle to find the sense of them. Only think your words so that I might receive them clearly.
    Very well , thought Jerreb. But I need to find my wife. And I know not where she has been taken.
    As I have said , the time for that will come. Another matter must come first.
    You speak well for one so young .
    All that I know I have learned from my dreams.
    I can assure you, lad , you don’t know all.
    Jerreb turned away from the boy then and trotted toward his fellow knights. “We ride north, for Storms Reach. We’ll finish what we set out to do.” He turned to Ghendris. “Are you with us?”
    Ghendris directed his gaze toward the scores of dead Dremsa plainsmen that littered the field behind them. “It’s a battle the likes of this that sets fire to mi blood. And I can do with a few