Angus Wells - The Kingdoms 02 Read Online Free PDF Page B

horsehead of the plains
kingdom—rustling. He could hear fingers drumming softly on the tabletop,
knowing that was Hattim from the clinking of the bracelets the Galichian
favored. The distinctive creak of leather came from his father or Rycol, he
could not be sure which.
                Then he heard the door swing open
and felt cool air brush his cheek. Boots padded on flagstones and Brannoc’s
voice said, “My Lords, Kedryn, how goes it?”
                “Well enough, friend,” he answered,
smiling as Brannoc’s hand settled firm on his shoulder, wondering how Hattim
took the appearance of the onetime outlaw.
                Brannoc might easily pass for a
woodlander, being of mixed parentage, of which one half was forest-bom. He was
dark as any Caroc, with hair black as a Keshi’s, usually worn in braids that he
decorated barbarically with shells and feathers. He favored motley
leather—Kedryn could smell it as Brannoc took a seat beside him—and there would
be two daggers on his person even here among friends, one openly displayed at
his waist, the other strapped to his left forearm. He had won the respect of
most in the room; but Hattim, to judge by the grunt Kedryn heard, took it ill
that he must bow to the superior knowledge of a man he considered distinctly
inferior.
                King Darr said, “Brannoc, Prince
Kedryn has a notion he may effect a lasting peace betwixt Kingdoms and
Beltrevan and desires your advice concerning the forest folk.”
                “He shall have it,” promised
Brannoc, his tone suggesting he was quite undaunted by the illustrious company.
“Ask away, Kedryn.”
                “My father tells me the woodlanders
will speak only with me,” Kedryn said. “Why? Surely the king must represent the
Three Kingdoms in any parley.”
                “Normally—if such a term applies in
these circumstances— they would treat with Darr,” Brannoc answered. “But you
slew Niloc Yarrum, hef-Ulan of the Horde, and that puts you in a unique
position. You must understand the nature of the forest folk, my Lords. They do
not customarily act in unity: each tribe has its own territory, which is
considered inviolate. They fight amongst themselves for hunting grounds,
slaves, booty. Consequently they seldom pose any real threat to the Kingdoms,
being far too occupied with their own internal struggling. But Niloc Yarrum—
like Drul before him—overcame those differences to band all the tribes in the
Confederation, to raise the Horde.”
                “The Messenger,” interposed Darr,
“did he not have something to do with that?”
                “Indeed,” Brannoc confirmed.
“Ashar’s minion raised Niloc Yarrum to become hef-Ulan through sorcery. I have
spoken with Drott prisoners and they all tell the same story—how the Messenger
came amongst them and bestowed power on Yarrum. That is the exact reason Kedryn
is now so important to them—by defeating Yarrum he also defeated the Messenger.
He stood against Ashar’s elected and prevailed where no other could. Were he of
the forest, they would proclaim him hef-Ulan and he could command them by swordright. Because he is of the
Kingdoms, however, they find themselves in a predicament. They cannot accept
Kedryn as their overlord, but they view him as their conqueror. Perhaps we should
say he is, to them, the champion of the Kingdoms.”
                “And so he speaks on our behalf,”
suggested Darr.
                “You have it,” agreed Brannoc with
cheerful disrespect. “They know the terms must come from you, but they will
only hear them spoken by Kedryn.”
                “Why speak terms at all?” asked
Hattim. “Will they not disperse now? Scatter back to their barbaric ways?”
                “Mayhap,” Brannoc allowed, “but
mayhap not. Niloc Yarrum was Ulan of the Drott and his death