Read Online The King in Reserve by Michael Pryor - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Pryor
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the gap between a slab-like boulder and the trunk of a fallen forest giant. It landed with a crash, pulling up so quickly that Adalon had to fight to keep his seat, with Gormond's weight nearly throwing him off.
Cries of dismay made him turn to see Targesh and Simangee hurtle through the gap, one after the other. Adalon gasped when he saw how close they came to being knocked off as they squeezed through the narrow passage.
Outside the gap, he saw the Thraag riders milling, but none of them made any attempt to follow.
'Move further in,' Adalon said, and his advice was proven timely as a volley of arrows came through the gap. One struck the broken top of a pillar that was peeping from under a squat spearbush. Adalon stared at it and saw the tell-tale angular script of the A'ak. His chest tightened and his tail flicked once, with a sharp snap.
Ever since he'd fled the wrath of Queen Tayesha, he had been coming up against the remnants of the A'ak at every turn. His fate and the fate of the sinister, banished race seemed linked. At times, it was as if he were a piece in a game, being moved around by forces much larger than he was, and according to rules he would never understand.
No! he thought and he made an angry noise at the back of his throat. I am not a pawn! I am in charge of my own destiny, for better or for worse!
'Adalon?' Gormond's voice was small and weary.
'We're safe, Your Majesty.'
He halted his steed in a clear area surrounded by the straight trunks of beech and alder. He could make out stonework wherever he looked, much of it fallen and broken. At least, I hope we're safe.
'Let us cross this cursed place quickly,' he said, 'and leave our pursuers behind.'
'Aye,' Targesh said. 'And leave the A'ak alone.'
'The A'ak?' Gormond said, brightening. 'This is an A'ak place? We must explore! Who knows what we may find?'
'Oh, we know a thing or two about the A'ak,' Simangee said, smiling.
Adalon wasn't sure he liked the light of curiosity in Simangee's eyes, but he knew there was little he could do about it. He looked back the way they'd come. 'We're not being followed. Let's see if we can snatch some rest before we move on.'
Fourteen
They set up camp some way into the ivy-covered ruins, sheltered from the wind by the remains of an outbuilding. In the same way mould would grow on a piece of cheese, vegetation had enveloped what once had been a sizeable A'ak settlement. Masonry protruded through the thick growth. Many years had passed since the disappearance of the A'ak - long enough for buildings to crumble beneath the slow assault of nature. Adalon felt small in the face of such immensity.
Simangee warmed her hands at the fire. 'The Thraag troops must have known,' she said. 'That's why they wouldn't follow.'
Gormond poked a stick into the flames, his eyes bright with excitement. 'What sort of place was this?'
'A keep, I'd say,' Simangee suggested. 'With a small hamlet nestled outside the walls.'
'No-one would put a settlement in the middle of a forest like this,' Adalon said. 'It must have been built before the woods grew here.'
Targesh was sharpening his axe with a whetstone. He looked around. 'No birds.'
Adalon scratched his chin with a claw. The place was like a tomb. 'It's an unwholesome place.'
'That's as may be,' Simangee said, 'but let's not miss an opportunity.'
Adalon groaned. 'No, Sim, there's no time to explore.'
'Explore haunted ruins?' Gormond said. 'A perfect task for our band of brave adventurers. I couldn't look Sachi in the face if we don't.'
'Just a quick look, Adalon,' Simangee pleaded.
'We can't spare the time,' Adalon said. 'We must press on.'
Gormond looked disappointed. 'Very well. But give us a moment or two before we have to remount that metal beast. It might be magic, but my tailbones aren't.'
Adalon looked at the sun. Early morning still. 'A moment. That's all.'
Targesh looked warily at the ruins around them, but Simangee and Gormond peered about, bright-eyed. Adalon
Cries of dismay made him turn to see Targesh and Simangee hurtle through the gap, one after the other. Adalon gasped when he saw how close they came to being knocked off as they squeezed through the narrow passage.
Outside the gap, he saw the Thraag riders milling, but none of them made any attempt to follow.
'Move further in,' Adalon said, and his advice was proven timely as a volley of arrows came through the gap. One struck the broken top of a pillar that was peeping from under a squat spearbush. Adalon stared at it and saw the tell-tale angular script of the A'ak. His chest tightened and his tail flicked once, with a sharp snap.
Ever since he'd fled the wrath of Queen Tayesha, he had been coming up against the remnants of the A'ak at every turn. His fate and the fate of the sinister, banished race seemed linked. At times, it was as if he were a piece in a game, being moved around by forces much larger than he was, and according to rules he would never understand.
No! he thought and he made an angry noise at the back of his throat. I am not a pawn! I am in charge of my own destiny, for better or for worse!
'Adalon?' Gormond's voice was small and weary.
'We're safe, Your Majesty.'
He halted his steed in a clear area surrounded by the straight trunks of beech and alder. He could make out stonework wherever he looked, much of it fallen and broken. At least, I hope we're safe.
'Let us cross this cursed place quickly,' he said, 'and leave our pursuers behind.'
'Aye,' Targesh said. 'And leave the A'ak alone.'
'The A'ak?' Gormond said, brightening. 'This is an A'ak place? We must explore! Who knows what we may find?'
'Oh, we know a thing or two about the A'ak,' Simangee said, smiling.
Adalon wasn't sure he liked the light of curiosity in Simangee's eyes, but he knew there was little he could do about it. He looked back the way they'd come. 'We're not being followed. Let's see if we can snatch some rest before we move on.'
Fourteen
They set up camp some way into the ivy-covered ruins, sheltered from the wind by the remains of an outbuilding. In the same way mould would grow on a piece of cheese, vegetation had enveloped what once had been a sizeable A'ak settlement. Masonry protruded through the thick growth. Many years had passed since the disappearance of the A'ak - long enough for buildings to crumble beneath the slow assault of nature. Adalon felt small in the face of such immensity.
Simangee warmed her hands at the fire. 'The Thraag troops must have known,' she said. 'That's why they wouldn't follow.'
Gormond poked a stick into the flames, his eyes bright with excitement. 'What sort of place was this?'
'A keep, I'd say,' Simangee suggested. 'With a small hamlet nestled outside the walls.'
'No-one would put a settlement in the middle of a forest like this,' Adalon said. 'It must have been built before the woods grew here.'
Targesh was sharpening his axe with a whetstone. He looked around. 'No birds.'
Adalon scratched his chin with a claw. The place was like a tomb. 'It's an unwholesome place.'
'That's as may be,' Simangee said, 'but let's not miss an opportunity.'
Adalon groaned. 'No, Sim, there's no time to explore.'
'Explore haunted ruins?' Gormond said. 'A perfect task for our band of brave adventurers. I couldn't look Sachi in the face if we don't.'
'Just a quick look, Adalon,' Simangee pleaded.
'We can't spare the time,' Adalon said. 'We must press on.'
Gormond looked disappointed. 'Very well. But give us a moment or two before we have to remount that metal beast. It might be magic, but my tailbones aren't.'
Adalon looked at the sun. Early morning still. 'A moment. That's all.'
Targesh looked warily at the ruins around them, but Simangee and Gormond peered about, bright-eyed. Adalon
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