A Darkness at Sethanon Read Online Free PDF

they are born
without flaw. They are fit to rule. Do you accept them as sons of the
royal house?” The crowd shouted its approbation. Anita
reflected her husband’s smile. Arutha waved to the crowd. “Our
thanks, good people. Until the feasting, I bid you all good day.”
    The ceremony was
over. Jimmy hurried to Arutha’s side, as was his duty, while
Locklear moved to Anita’s side. Locklear was formally a junior
squire, but he was so often given duty with the Princess that he was
commonly considered her personal squire. Jimmy suspected deLacy of
wanting to keep himself and Locklear together so watching them would
be that much easier. The Prince threw Jimmy a distracted half-smile
as he watched his wife and sister fuss over the twins. The Keshian
Ambassador had removed his traditional face covering and was smiling
at the sight. His four bodyguards hovered close.
    “Your
Highnesses,” said the Keshian, “are thrice blessed.
Healthy babies are a gift of the gods. And they are sons. And two of
them.”
    Arutha basked in
the glow of his wife, who looked radiant as she regarded her sons in
the nurse’s arms. “I thank you, my Lord Hazara-Khan. It
is an unexpected benefit having you with us this year.”
    The weather in
Durbin is beastly this year,” he said absently as he began to
make faces at little Borric. He suddenly remembered his station and
more formally said, “Besides, your Highness, we have a minor
matter to finish discussing regarding the new border here in the
West.”
    Arutha laughed.
“With you, my dear Abdur, minor details become major concerns.
I have little love for the prospect of facing you across the
negotiating table again. Still, I’ll pass along any suggestions
you make to His Majesty.”
    The Keshian
bowed and said, “I wait upon Your Highness’s pleasure.”
    Arutha seemed to
notice the guards. “I don’t see your sons or Lord
Daoud-Khan in attendance.”
    “They
conduct the business I would normally oversee among my people in the
Jal-Pur.”
    “These?”
said Arutha, indicating the four bodyguards. Each was dressed
entirely in jet, even to the scabbards of their scimitars, and while
their costuming was similar to that of the desert men, it was
different from anything Arutha had seen of Keshians.
    “These are
izmalis, Highness. They serve as personal protection, nothing more.”
    Arutha chose to
say nothing as the knot of people around the babies seemed about to
break up. The izmalis were famous as bodyguards, the finest
protection available to the nobility of the Empire of Great Kesh, but
rumour had it they were also highly trained spies and, occasionally,
assassins. Their abilities were nearly legendary. They were reputed
to be everything just short of ghosts in their ability to come and go
undetected. Arutha disliked having men only one step away from
assassins within his walls, but Abdur was entitled to his personal
retinue, and Arutha judged it unlikely the Keshian Ambassador would
bring anyone into Krondor who might be dangerous to the Kingdom.
Besides himself, Arutha added silently.
    “We shall
also need to speak of the latest request from Queg regarding docking
rights in Kingdom ports,” said Lord Hazara-Khan.
    Arutha looked
openly amazed. Then his expression changed to one of irritation. “I
suppose a passing fisherman or sailor just mentioned it to you as you
disembarked at the harbour?”
    “Highness,
Kesh has friends in many places,” answered the Ambassador with
an ingratiating smile.
    “Well, it
will certainly do no good to comment on Kesh’s Imperial
Intelligence Corps, for we both know that” - Hazara-Khan joined
in and they both spoke in unison – “no such group
exists.”
    Abdur Rachman
Memo Hazara-Khan bowed and said, “With Your Highness’s
kind permission?”
    Arutha bowed
slightly as the Keshian made his farewell, then turned to Jimmy.
“What? You two scoundrels drew duty today?”
    Jimmy shrugged,
indicating it wasn’t his idea. Arutha noticed his