for safe passage, or simply by preying upon unsuspecting travelers. For years Soth had been satisfied to look the other way because the ogres were relatively few in numbers and generally kept to themselves, and because most travelers of Ansalon knew to keep well clear of the gap. Finally, he tolerated them because they were so well entrenched in the forest that any expedition he might mount would likely cost the lives of too many knights andgain far too little in return to make it worth the effort.
This however, was another matter entirely. People of Knightlund had been killed and wounded. His people. And still, many others remained in danger and would be without food through the winter if nothing were done to vanquish the ogres.
“You’ve done well,” Soth told the rider. “Get some food in you, and a change of clean clothing. Then we’ll meet in the Knights’ Chambers to discuss our battle plans.”
He turned to address the rest of those present, perhaps even the entire keep. “Begin preparations,” he barked, sending squires and footmen scurrying. “We shall be leaving as soon as possible.”
Soth placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. It felt good in his hand, and it would feel even better being swung against an opponent in battle.
Whenever they might be leaving the keep, it wouldn’t be soon enough.
Soth found Lady Korinne alone in their bedchamber. She was sitting by the window reading one of the thirty-seven volumes written by Vinas Solamnus which outlined the Measure of the Knights of Solamnia. She had begun reading the volumes that were housed in the keep’s library shortly after their wedding and had dedicated most of her waking hours to reading every word in every volume so that she might better understand the laws of conduct to which her husband was bound.
Curious about his wife’s progress, Soth checked the number of the volume—twenty-six. Soon she would be as familiar with the Measure as any knight, perhaps even more so. It was a generous gesture, one which endeared his wife to Soth—if it were in fact possible for him to love her any more than he already did.
“There is trouble to the south,” said Soth, kneeling byhis wife’s side and placing his hands in hers.
“I’ve heard as much.”
“It pains me to leave you here, but the people of Halton need me. Several have died, and more will certainly perish if we don’t make haste.”
Lady Korinne smiled lovingly and shook her head. “Dear Loren, how sweet that you feel you must tell me lies to protect my feelings.”
Soth was somewhat taken aback by his wife’s assertion. “I am certainly not telling you lies.”
“Oh yes you are,” she said, her voice still soft and loving. “You said you can’t bear to leave the keep, but I know there’s nothing your heart yearns for more than to be traveling Solamnia with your knights at your side, battling Evil.”
Soth returned her smile. “You know me too well, then.”
“Oh, I doubt that,” she said. “I just know that for you, or any Knight of Solamnia, there is no choice between the drudgery of keep life and an all-out battle against Evil.”
Soth smiled. “In that you are correct,” he said, realizing his wife clearly understood what was needed most from the wife of a Knight of Solamnia—understanding.
She placed a hand on his shoulder. “But please, promise me one thing.”
“Of course, anything.”
“When you leave the keep, think not of me, but solely of the task ahead of you. I don’t want your battle instincts dulled by any sentimental thoughts of me.”
“You are as unselfish as you are beautiful, my love.”
“Perhaps, but I can think of no other way to ensure that you will return to me quickly and unharmed.”
Soth nodded. “As you wish.” He leaned forward, took her in his arms and kissed her deeply.
“It was hard to know exactly how many ogres there were in total since they were so spread out over the entirevillage,” said the rider from
This however, was another matter entirely. People of Knightlund had been killed and wounded. His people. And still, many others remained in danger and would be without food through the winter if nothing were done to vanquish the ogres.
“You’ve done well,” Soth told the rider. “Get some food in you, and a change of clean clothing. Then we’ll meet in the Knights’ Chambers to discuss our battle plans.”
He turned to address the rest of those present, perhaps even the entire keep. “Begin preparations,” he barked, sending squires and footmen scurrying. “We shall be leaving as soon as possible.”
Soth placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. It felt good in his hand, and it would feel even better being swung against an opponent in battle.
Whenever they might be leaving the keep, it wouldn’t be soon enough.
Soth found Lady Korinne alone in their bedchamber. She was sitting by the window reading one of the thirty-seven volumes written by Vinas Solamnus which outlined the Measure of the Knights of Solamnia. She had begun reading the volumes that were housed in the keep’s library shortly after their wedding and had dedicated most of her waking hours to reading every word in every volume so that she might better understand the laws of conduct to which her husband was bound.
Curious about his wife’s progress, Soth checked the number of the volume—twenty-six. Soon she would be as familiar with the Measure as any knight, perhaps even more so. It was a generous gesture, one which endeared his wife to Soth—if it were in fact possible for him to love her any more than he already did.
“There is trouble to the south,” said Soth, kneeling byhis wife’s side and placing his hands in hers.
“I’ve heard as much.”
“It pains me to leave you here, but the people of Halton need me. Several have died, and more will certainly perish if we don’t make haste.”
Lady Korinne smiled lovingly and shook her head. “Dear Loren, how sweet that you feel you must tell me lies to protect my feelings.”
Soth was somewhat taken aback by his wife’s assertion. “I am certainly not telling you lies.”
“Oh yes you are,” she said, her voice still soft and loving. “You said you can’t bear to leave the keep, but I know there’s nothing your heart yearns for more than to be traveling Solamnia with your knights at your side, battling Evil.”
Soth returned her smile. “You know me too well, then.”
“Oh, I doubt that,” she said. “I just know that for you, or any Knight of Solamnia, there is no choice between the drudgery of keep life and an all-out battle against Evil.”
Soth smiled. “In that you are correct,” he said, realizing his wife clearly understood what was needed most from the wife of a Knight of Solamnia—understanding.
She placed a hand on his shoulder. “But please, promise me one thing.”
“Of course, anything.”
“When you leave the keep, think not of me, but solely of the task ahead of you. I don’t want your battle instincts dulled by any sentimental thoughts of me.”
“You are as unselfish as you are beautiful, my love.”
“Perhaps, but I can think of no other way to ensure that you will return to me quickly and unharmed.”
Soth nodded. “As you wish.” He leaned forward, took her in his arms and kissed her deeply.
“It was hard to know exactly how many ogres there were in total since they were so spread out over the entirevillage,” said the rider from
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