Read Online Wizard of the Grove by Tanya Huff - Free Book Online

not when the delay kept the old lord so frustrated and entertaining. In the meantime, what difference did it make if a few more peasants died. “The cavalry stays here . . .” He paused and his smile grew mocking. “. . . to protect the king.”
    As though animated by the sound of his title, the king suddenly pulled himself erect, satin robes rustling like dead leaves. He leaned forward, pinning Lord Elan with his fevered gaze. “How many?”
    â€œSire?”
    Bony fingers crabbed along the broad wooden arms of the throne. “How many have died?”
    Hope flared in the old lord’s face and he leaned forward as well. If the king could be made to care . . . “Hundreds, Sire, thousands even.”
    â€œThousands . . .” He sank back into the cushions, his expression almost beatific. “Thousands. And they all died for me.”
    â€œAll for you,” the king’s counselor agreed, and only Lord Elan heard the laughter in his voice.
    *   *   *
    â€œThere are just too damned many of them!” Rutgar pulled off his helm and slicked back his dripping hair. “They’ve no need to kill us, we’ll die of exhaustion killing them.”
    Rael snorted and dropped down beside his armsman on the felled tree that served as bench, table, and occasionally surgery. “At least it’s over for today.” He dropped his own helm and began to worry at the straps of his greaves. After a moment, Rutgar slapped away his hands and began to work at them himself.
    â€œThey’ll jam if you twist them like that,” he muttered, “and I’ll be the one who replaces the straps if we have to cut you free.”
    â€œHighness.”
    Rael looked up and managed a weary smile. “My Lord Belkar.”
    â€œI thought I should warn you that as prince and heir, you’ll be taking the council tonight.”
    â€œI’ll what?” Rael pulled his leg from Rutgar’s grasp and stood. “Has something happened to Father?”
    â€œYour father,” Belkar paused, and his voice became decidedly acerbic, “the king, has ridden out with a patrol to prevent us being flanked by the enemy.”
    â€œFather has?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBut that’s crazy.”
    â€œSo I told him, Highness.”
    â€œThe king can’t just go riding off with patrols in the dead of night! Did he take his Guard?”
    â€œI believe some members of his Guard rode with the patrol, yes.”
    â€œWhat if he gets killed out there, miles from anywhere?”
    â€œI asked him that question myself.”
    â€œAnd he said?”
    â€œHe was tired of strategy and tactics.”
    â€œThat’s it?”
    Belkar’s lips twitched. “Except for some personal and unsavory comments about nursemaiding directed at myself, yes, that was it.”
    â€œOh, that’s just great.” Rael stepped past Belkar. Stopped. Returned. And threw himself back down on the tree. He had a sudden vision of what his father’s reaction would be if he took the Elite out after him. “Just great,” he repeated and thrust his leg back into Rutgar’s reach.
    *   *   *
    Now this is more like it,
Raen thought, lips pulled back from his teeth, his eyes shining beneath his plain iron helm. He lifted his sword and flicked the point left. The nearest member of the patrol, a shadow against the broken shadows of the forest, nodded and passed it on, then the line moved forward.
    They could hear the Melacians coming toward them—had been able to hear them for some time.
    Ten, maybe twenty yards and we’ll be right on top of them.
Raen ducked under a low branch and hoped his men were not advancing with the same amount of noise as the Melacians.
    The Ardhan line advanced, three feet, four, then a bellow of astonishment filled the night, closely followed by the clash of steel on steel.