Read Online The Peasant by Scott Michael Decker - Free Book Online Page A

Guarding Bear hugged her.
    “I wish you'd told me about my cousin's sickness earlier, Lady Water,” Flying Arrow said. “I'd have happily sent the Imperial Medacor to cure her.”
    They all three knew he'd have forbidden Soothing Spirit to do exactly that.
    “We didn't want to bother you with such a petty matter, Lord Nephew.” She looked pleased to have defused the hostility between her men this time. She turned to Guarding Bear. “You met with the boy.”
    “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” Guarding Bear glanced toward the dais. “We ought to retain him, eh?” They didn't open their minds to each other. Flying Arrow might intercept their thoughts, and opening one's mind in the Emperor's presence invited his mischief.
    “I am. The boy might prove worthy of our patronage.”
    “What boy?” Flying Arrow asked.
    “The one who cured our daughter, Lord. We always reward good deeds.” Bubbling Water smiled at her nephew.
    Guarding Bear wondered how she'd retaliate for her daughter's poisoning.
    “You should punish bad ones;
I
always do.” Flying Arrow frowned at them.
    The ancient servant entered and announced, “The Lord Imperial Medacor Soothing Spirit.”
    Soothing Spirit walked toward the dais, a child in his arms. His head was completely bald and his skin was pink, without a wrinkle despite his eighty-one years. Radiating inner peace, he aimed his eyes at the floor. To everyone's surprise, he made no obeisance; instead, he handed the child to Bubbling Water as he passed her. Climbing the dais, he grasped the Emperor's hand and healed the burn, then wrapped gauze around the pink, new skin. “Please be careful with the hand until it heals fully, Lord Emperor.” Soothing Spirit retreated to the base of the dais and bowed to the mates. “Forgive my lack of manners, Lord General, Lady Matriarch. The Lord Emperor had hurt himself.”
    “Nothing to forgive, Lord Medacor.” Bubbling Water nodded to acknowledge the obeisance.
    “Infinite bless you, Lady Matriarch.”
    Guarding Bear felt Soothing Spirit's psychic scan.
    “Infinite be with you as well, Lord General. Both of you look well.”
    “Thank you, Lord Medacor,” he replied, nodding.
    “How is my cousin, Lord Spirit?” Flying Arrow asked.
    Soothing Spirit glanced at the girl. “Rippling Water is in excellent health, Lord Emperor.”
    Guarding Bear watched the Medacor. He was disappointed that Soothing Spirit didn't question why Flying Arrow had ordered him to examine a perfectly healthy child. The Emperor had long ago extinguished the Medacor's curiosity.
    “It pleases me to hear it,” Flying Arrow muttered.
    The Medacor glanced toward the door, his features serene. “Forgive me, Lord Emperor, I must attend to an emergency. Lord General and Lady Matriarch, my apologies for having to leave so abruptly.”
    “What emergency?” Flying Arrow asked, flexing his hand.
    “Two men have turned up unconscious, Lord Emperor, not an inch of skin on their bodies.” Soothing Spirit glanced placidly toward the door again.
    Flying Arrow dismissed him with a wave.
    As the Imperial Medacor turned, the servant entered. They met at the door and spoke. “Another one?” Soothing Spirit left quickly.
    Guarding Bear frowned. They'd find a fourth man without skin, he knew—the spies who'd watched him on his way to the castle. They're my fellow citizens, Guarding Bear thought, feeling sad.
    “Why do you frown, Lord Bear?”
    “We don't see each other often enough, Lord Nephew.” He knew the Emperor would never understand his sadness.
    His heart went cold. Leaping to his feet, Guarding Bear spun to face the door, his sword singing from scabbard.
    Unannounced, the Sorcerer Lurking Hawk stood just inside the double doors. Like most Northerners, his hair was blond, his skin pale. Like many Wizards, his face was gaunt from his abuse of his talents.
    Guarding Bear glared, his stance set and his body fluid to act at the first twitch of motion.
    “Lord General,”