2 Defiler of Tombs Read Online Free PDF

up,” Brandon said. He handed offered the flask again. It was a gesture of reconciliation. Kormak did not take it.
    “Then why did you?”
    “If you go around executing people with a king’s warrant, people up here might object.”
    “Would you?”
    “Not if you find the bastard on my land, I won’t. But you might not and you might need someone to speak up for you. Someone the local lords know.”
    “What are you saying?”
    “I am saying I’ll go with you. You might need me. I know the other landowners.”
    Kormak accepted the flask. “You sure it’s not just because you want to execute them yourself.”
    “Well, there is that,” said Brandon with a grin. It faded as quickly as it came. “I am serious, Kormak. Whoever opened that barrow deserves death. I won’t kill a man lightly but I will kill him for that. I owe little Olaf and his folks that much.”
    “I can’t say as I blame you,” said Kormak. “But we’ll have to find whoever did it first and that might take some time and you have lands to watch over.”
    “Then I’ll ride with you a ways and turn back if it takes too long.”
    “You have some idea who did this, do you?”
    “There were some travellers who passed through a week or so ago, skirting our land. Some shepherds saw them, said they looked pretty strange. Some Tinkers were here just a couple of days before you arrived. They were heading north to Hungerdale and most likely beyond.”
    “Tinkers?”
    “They come and go, they trade with the hill-tribes and the miners at Elderdale. A wagon passed on the old road a few days ago.”
    “You think the hill-tribes might have something to do with this? They are descended from the Men of Kharon and some of their shamans and witch-women still keep to the old ways.”
    “It’s possible. They used to raid along the border but we have not had any trouble for years.”
    “Maybe some of them have decided that opening a barrow might be trouble enough. The hill people have no love for you Sunlanders.”
    “Is that the voice of experience talking there, Kormak?”
    “I am from the highlands of Aquilea.”
    “The Aquileans bear no love for we Sunlanders either. You raid the borders of north-west Taurea constantly.”
    “I don’t.”
    “Your kinfolk do.”
    “I have no kinfolk.”
    “Your compatriots then,” Kormak shrugged. Brandon seemed to realise that he might have given offence.
    “You really think it might be the hill-tribes?”
    Kormak shook his head. Brandon looked at him and a realisation struck him. It was obvious from the expression on his face. He straightened his shoulders and looked directly at Kormak.
    “It was lucky for us you were here,” said Brandon eventually. There was a question in his voice. He was clearly wondering what had brought the Guardian to this part of the world.
    “Luck had nothing to do with it. I am looking for a necromancer called Morghael.”
    “Why?”
    “He took advantage of one of the battles down south to raise a regiment of the walking dead from the bodies left behind. Both sides in the civil war contributed to his army. He terrorised a fair bit of the Duchy of Osterlund.”
    “I had not heard this.”
    “You will. The rumours will come North in the spring.”
    “If he has an army you’re going to have trouble with him.”
    “Morghael’s army was put down by Duke Donal of Osterlund and his sons. He fled the field. The Duke put me on his trail and here I am.”
    “If this Morghael’s a necromancer, he could be the one who opened the barrow.”
    “Quite possibly.”
    “And yet you never told me. Instead you spent time quizzing me about whether any of my people could have done this. Or whether the hill-tribes could be behind it. And all the time you had a far more likely suspect in mind.”
    “I needed to ask Brandon. I can’t just assume Morghael did this. If it was somebody here it would mean I was leaving someone behind me who might open another tomb. Morghael is the most likely