Read Online Last Knight (The Champion Chronicles Book 2) by Brad Clark - Free Book Online
Authors: Brad Clark
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creek. At what he hoped was the perfect choke point, a place on the trail where the animal was certain to cross, he setup the simple snare trap. He tied one end to a nearby tree and the other end an open loop along the trail.
He took a quick measure of the forest around him. He spotted several trees that made good reference points so that he could easily find his way back. It could be some time before a rabbit or squirrel decided to take the path and if he were to stay around to watch it, they would certainly stay away.
As quietly as he could, he returned back to Steven and Laurin.
He found the open clearing, and even found their provisions on the ground next to an attempt at making a fire. But they were gone. His heart pounded hard as he looked around in a panic.
Chapter Six
Hibold pulled the fur-lined cloak over his shoulders and pulled it tight around his body to keep himself warm. The luxurious item had been payment from the regional governor of the northeast territories after Emperor Hargon had sent him there to investigate a sudden drop in tax revenue. Among the many issues he discovered, it was revealed that the governor was engaging in a relationship with one of his own second cousins. Rather than exposing the affair to the governor’s wife and to the emperor, Hibold took payment in the form of this wonderfully warm cloak, as well as a chest full of gold coins. Half made it back to the castle in the form of taxes owed, while the rest stayed hidden in his house. Even his wife didn’t know about it.
Although Prince Tarcious mentioned the various emissaries that were readily available in the palace, Hibold knew that was really not the case. They stayed in the palace because the only way they could get a job was to beg and bribe their way to be chosen. If he himself wasn’t going to be on the delegation to go back to Karmon, he needed to make sure that the job would get done right, and he only knew of one person that would be able to pull that off. Once found, Hibold was sure that he would jump at the opportunity, but finding him was not going to be easy.
Daytime was not the time to find this man, so Hibold waited until the sun had set. Cold and wind made the walk miserable, but the street lamps were lit, allowing him to see his way through the city. There were several places of disrepute that the man could be in, but there was one that was known to be his favorite, so Hibold took the chance on going to it first. It was the farthest away, so by the time he walked through the door, he was thoroughly frozen.
A very large man stood on the other side of the door, which protected him from the wind, but not the cold night air. Made to look even larger by the thick wool clock he wore, the man was an imposing figure that stood well over Hibold’s height. The large man glared down at the much smaller Hibold. But his demeanor changed when Hibold slipped him a large coin with the face of the emperor on one side, and the image of an eagle on the other. The large man’s expression softened and a wry smile slipped out. With a quick wave of his hand, he let Hibold pass.
The hall ran for some distance before it reached a stairwell that led down to a lower level. A chandelier hung from the ceiling of the stairwell, providing more than enough light for Hibold to descend. As he neared the bottom, raucous sounds and voices could be heard, which meant that he was nearing his destination. There was also the slight scent of perfumes and incense that brought back images of his own wild youth. Twenty years ago, he would have been panting and bursting at the seams with excitement at what the place offered, but now that he was older, and much wiser, he could only push aside the depravity
He took a quick measure of the forest around him. He spotted several trees that made good reference points so that he could easily find his way back. It could be some time before a rabbit or squirrel decided to take the path and if he were to stay around to watch it, they would certainly stay away.
As quietly as he could, he returned back to Steven and Laurin.
He found the open clearing, and even found their provisions on the ground next to an attempt at making a fire. But they were gone. His heart pounded hard as he looked around in a panic.
Chapter Six
Hibold pulled the fur-lined cloak over his shoulders and pulled it tight around his body to keep himself warm. The luxurious item had been payment from the regional governor of the northeast territories after Emperor Hargon had sent him there to investigate a sudden drop in tax revenue. Among the many issues he discovered, it was revealed that the governor was engaging in a relationship with one of his own second cousins. Rather than exposing the affair to the governor’s wife and to the emperor, Hibold took payment in the form of this wonderfully warm cloak, as well as a chest full of gold coins. Half made it back to the castle in the form of taxes owed, while the rest stayed hidden in his house. Even his wife didn’t know about it.
Although Prince Tarcious mentioned the various emissaries that were readily available in the palace, Hibold knew that was really not the case. They stayed in the palace because the only way they could get a job was to beg and bribe their way to be chosen. If he himself wasn’t going to be on the delegation to go back to Karmon, he needed to make sure that the job would get done right, and he only knew of one person that would be able to pull that off. Once found, Hibold was sure that he would jump at the opportunity, but finding him was not going to be easy.
Daytime was not the time to find this man, so Hibold waited until the sun had set. Cold and wind made the walk miserable, but the street lamps were lit, allowing him to see his way through the city. There were several places of disrepute that the man could be in, but there was one that was known to be his favorite, so Hibold took the chance on going to it first. It was the farthest away, so by the time he walked through the door, he was thoroughly frozen.
A very large man stood on the other side of the door, which protected him from the wind, but not the cold night air. Made to look even larger by the thick wool clock he wore, the man was an imposing figure that stood well over Hibold’s height. The large man glared down at the much smaller Hibold. But his demeanor changed when Hibold slipped him a large coin with the face of the emperor on one side, and the image of an eagle on the other. The large man’s expression softened and a wry smile slipped out. With a quick wave of his hand, he let Hibold pass.
The hall ran for some distance before it reached a stairwell that led down to a lower level. A chandelier hung from the ceiling of the stairwell, providing more than enough light for Hibold to descend. As he neared the bottom, raucous sounds and voices could be heard, which meant that he was nearing his destination. There was also the slight scent of perfumes and incense that brought back images of his own wild youth. Twenty years ago, he would have been panting and bursting at the seams with excitement at what the place offered, but now that he was older, and much wiser, he could only push aside the depravity
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