who’d find him rather fascinating.”
He didn’t dare let the man know about the voices he’d heard in his head. There were enough people who questioned his sanity for completely different reasons.
“That does make sense. We are at an impasse, then. It is our law that people of import are brought to Elenrune for interview with the King. You don’t want this,” Derac said.
“You’re a smart fellow. Are you certain I can’t bribe you away from Kelsh? I have no reason or desire to meet your King. I’m certain he’ll express his foul temper in yet another missive that wastes my time. Perhaps it might improve his temperament if he didn’t have to write so often. You can pass that to him, if you’d like.”
“I have a proposal,” Derac said.
Kalen stilled his fingers and met the man’s eyes. “I’m listening.”
“Come with us as far as Elenrune. If we haven’t convinced you to meet with the King by then, I will escort you back to the border myself.”
“This doesn’t benefit me or the Rift,” Kalen replied.
“Marist, Garint, come here!” Derac waved his hand to the two men. Garint’s expression darkened. Marist looked up from his bowl and hurried over. By the time that Garint made his way to the table, the man had managed to force a smile. “I’m not a Knight. You’re the only ones who can bargain with him.”
Garint picked the chair the farthest from Kalen and dropped into it with a scowl. Marist sat next to Derac.
“Law says you must come,” Garint said.
“I’m not bound to your laws, Knight, and it would do you well to remember that,” Kalen said. “I might choose to obey them in respect of your King, but for no other reason.”
~Don’t push,~ the male Yadesh said. ~We need his help.~
Kalen struggled to keep his expression neutral. The Yadesh had let him hear that. While the creature didn’t quite beg, it was close enough he wanted to wince. He’d been taught that they were noble beasts full of dignity and pride.
Garint’s was nothing more than a beast of burden unable to stray from the path it’d been told to follow. The Knight’s expression darkened further. “It might be in our mutual benefit if we could—at length—discuss new trade routes and options. Your people bring goods to Land’s End on a frequent basis. Gems, herbs, bones, things of that nature. They’re always in demand here. The King would be pleased to expand the business between the Kingdoms. Your people would have access to greater wealth and more supplies. Ours would get the goods that can be acquired from nowhere else,” Garint replied.
“That is nothing that couldn’t be discussed by missive. It’s been suggested several times over the years, but your King hasn’t seen fit to take it seriously. Is that going to change by journeying to Elenrune and speaking with him directly? Unlikely.”
Garint’s scowl faded into a smile that sent chills racing up and down Kalen’s spine. “I’ve heard that you are rather notorious for not selecting a Queen, Your Majesty. Perhaps I might be able to interest you in Kelsh’s Princess? She’s quite the beauty, and I have it on good authority that the King may consider extending her hand to the right suitor.”
Kalen made a dismissive, waving gesture. When he rested his palm down on the table, he drummed his fingers and toyed with the wooden handle of his dinner knife. “He’s been trying that for years. Missive.”
“Perhaps you might be interested in discussing a breeding program of horses,” Marist said. “The Rift has horses that men around the world desire, and you don’t sell them. Would you consider allowing us to breed some of our broodmares with your stallions to begin a new line altogether?”
“I don’t see that happening. That is one thing your King asks for often, and the answer is always the same. My predecessor said no, and I too say no.”
Garint leaned over the table and met his eyes. When the man spoke, it was in a
He didn’t dare let the man know about the voices he’d heard in his head. There were enough people who questioned his sanity for completely different reasons.
“That does make sense. We are at an impasse, then. It is our law that people of import are brought to Elenrune for interview with the King. You don’t want this,” Derac said.
“You’re a smart fellow. Are you certain I can’t bribe you away from Kelsh? I have no reason or desire to meet your King. I’m certain he’ll express his foul temper in yet another missive that wastes my time. Perhaps it might improve his temperament if he didn’t have to write so often. You can pass that to him, if you’d like.”
“I have a proposal,” Derac said.
Kalen stilled his fingers and met the man’s eyes. “I’m listening.”
“Come with us as far as Elenrune. If we haven’t convinced you to meet with the King by then, I will escort you back to the border myself.”
“This doesn’t benefit me or the Rift,” Kalen replied.
“Marist, Garint, come here!” Derac waved his hand to the two men. Garint’s expression darkened. Marist looked up from his bowl and hurried over. By the time that Garint made his way to the table, the man had managed to force a smile. “I’m not a Knight. You’re the only ones who can bargain with him.”
Garint picked the chair the farthest from Kalen and dropped into it with a scowl. Marist sat next to Derac.
“Law says you must come,” Garint said.
“I’m not bound to your laws, Knight, and it would do you well to remember that,” Kalen said. “I might choose to obey them in respect of your King, but for no other reason.”
~Don’t push,~ the male Yadesh said. ~We need his help.~
Kalen struggled to keep his expression neutral. The Yadesh had let him hear that. While the creature didn’t quite beg, it was close enough he wanted to wince. He’d been taught that they were noble beasts full of dignity and pride.
Garint’s was nothing more than a beast of burden unable to stray from the path it’d been told to follow. The Knight’s expression darkened further. “It might be in our mutual benefit if we could—at length—discuss new trade routes and options. Your people bring goods to Land’s End on a frequent basis. Gems, herbs, bones, things of that nature. They’re always in demand here. The King would be pleased to expand the business between the Kingdoms. Your people would have access to greater wealth and more supplies. Ours would get the goods that can be acquired from nowhere else,” Garint replied.
“That is nothing that couldn’t be discussed by missive. It’s been suggested several times over the years, but your King hasn’t seen fit to take it seriously. Is that going to change by journeying to Elenrune and speaking with him directly? Unlikely.”
Garint’s scowl faded into a smile that sent chills racing up and down Kalen’s spine. “I’ve heard that you are rather notorious for not selecting a Queen, Your Majesty. Perhaps I might be able to interest you in Kelsh’s Princess? She’s quite the beauty, and I have it on good authority that the King may consider extending her hand to the right suitor.”
Kalen made a dismissive, waving gesture. When he rested his palm down on the table, he drummed his fingers and toyed with the wooden handle of his dinner knife. “He’s been trying that for years. Missive.”
“Perhaps you might be interested in discussing a breeding program of horses,” Marist said. “The Rift has horses that men around the world desire, and you don’t sell them. Would you consider allowing us to breed some of our broodmares with your stallions to begin a new line altogether?”
“I don’t see that happening. That is one thing your King asks for often, and the answer is always the same. My predecessor said no, and I too say no.”
Garint leaned over the table and met his eyes. When the man spoke, it was in a
Similar Books
