Read Online The Bathrobe Knight by Charles Dean, Joshua Swayne - Free Book Online Page B

callously toss them aside for Shields and Arrows?”
                  I want to believe you , Dreston, I want to trust you, Wilhelm. A day ago and I would have. A day ago and I wouldn’t have had your machinations laid out in front of me. The Messenger whose daughter he held captive had been more than effective at his job last night. He had not only killed his contact but he had also gone to the Councilman’s estate and made copies of the Council’s plans as well. The idiots had just left the documents scattered across their desks like every soldier in the capital was in on their scheme.
    “Of course not, Dreston, but I’m just worried about the future of our legions. After losing the 8th Legion, I am going to have trouble going home and telling those that put me here why their sons and fathers won’t be coming home.”
    “I understand, but please, for the sake of the daughters and wives whose sons and fathers died to protect them, change your vote! I urge you to see reason.”
    Vote all you like, I’m not moving the 4th Legion and letting you sack Barkton and move on my capital.
    “Gentlemen, we have debated this for hours. Surely the King would like to have a say. He is in fact the benefactor of this land. King, please, speak reason to these sharks who so callously throw away the lives of good men and women over Arrows.”
    “What about Barkton? Is there really no threat of attack on it? When we moved the 4th Legion there it was due to an imminent threat from a small group of Black-Wings.”
    “Your Majesty, we believe the threat has pulled back. Given the news about the 8th Legion, our intelligence says that it was most likely the same Black-Wings threatening Barkton that were used in defeating our forces near Valcrest.” Ashcroft, the very Councilman who was supposedly against the idea of moving the 4th Legion was the first to offer reason against his decision. He may be a good schemer, but he is a terrible actor.
    “You believe Barkton to be 100% safe then, Ashcroft?”
    “I believe it is relatively safe.”
    “So there is or isn’t a threat to the area? Why, if there is no threat, do you want to leave the troops there instead of aiding Valcrest?”
    “It is as Your Majesty says: there is still a possibility of a threat. I was only reporting on the Black-Wing activity as I’ve heard it.”
    “Mmm. So you gentlemen want me to leave Barkton for the wolves and save Valcrest.”
    “Your Majesty, we don’t want to leave any town for the wolves. We just advise you to see reason and take as few risks as possible,” Wilhelm spoke, this time in his best sympathetic voice while eyeing Ashcroft for being so stupid just a moment ago. What? Did he forget his lines?
    “Hmm. Well, you’re in luck then if you were worried. Valcrest will be fine. I don’t plan on leaving either city for the wolves. I have seen this tragedy coming and taken measures to save them both,” he said, for he did indeed have a plan this time.
    He didn’t know what the Council was up to after the 8th Legion’s demise, but he knew they weren’t playing the same game he was anymore and that he was going to need troops. Their plans always came at the expense of lives. That’s why he had, since the moment of the Red Eye’s arrival, organized the 7th Legion to secretly clear out the so called ‘threat’ that was supposedly forcing the 6th Legion to overcommit to the small town of Kallafan on the north border. It was a risk doing it. If the White-Horns had seen them or the Council had gotten word that Oghan was defenseless, then thousands would have died. But they didn’t. The plan had actually worked, and now he could move the 6th Legion farther south and defend Valcrest.
    “You see, this time I’ve got good news,” the King began, about to tell the Council of how he had defeated their plan when he was interrupted by clamor outside the chamber.
    *Bang!* The doors to the chamber room flew open and a Guard, one the king