Betrayal Read Online Free PDF

to their guest.
    Merkhud nodded courteously in return. Patience, boy. I will explain all , and then the link was cut. He spoke aloud. ‘Forgive me, please, for this late and dramatic arrival. I’m due in Tal by Firstday but had to talk with your son before I left the district. We met at Minstead a few days ago.’
    ‘Oh, you didn’t mention that, Tor,’ his mother chided as she bustled the old man into a comfortable chair near the fire. ‘Now, have you eaten?’
    Food was ever the first thing that came to his mother’s mind, Tor thought sourly.
    Merkhud, by contrast, looked delighted. ‘Well, to tell you the truth I’ve been riding all day and haven’t had the chance to nibble on so much as a crust.’
    Music to her ears, Tor thought, trying to force a polite expression onto his face. Was this the bad omen his great-grandmother’s superstition had warned about, he wondered? Another crack of thunder answered him.
    ‘You must be chilled, Physic Merkhud. Let me get you a warming nip of something,’ Jhon Gynt offered.
    It was rare his parents had guests, let alone one with the ear of the King, and they were obviously going to enjoy it, Tor decided. He did not allow the shield to slip but returned to his seat, curious and frightened, wondering where this was leading. The men made polite small talk whilst Ailsa moved noiselessly and efficiently about her kitchen. As the conversation wore on, Tor could not help but become fascinated with the physic’s talk about life in the capital, Tal.
    The old man had a smooth, musical quality to his voice and close up appeared anything but threatening. His beard, though long, was trimmed neatly and the wispy hair was now tied back so his deep grey eyes were visible amongst friendly wrinkles.
    ‘What’s King Lorys like?’ Tor asked as their guest leaned back into his chair for Ailsa to place a tray on his lap.
    ‘Thank you,’ Merkhud said softly, smiling directly into Ailsa’s eyes. He turned to Tor. ‘Um, Lorys…let me see now. He’s an exceptional King. Far better than his father and grandfather before him who both ruled with fear. Lorys has an empathy for his people; he and Queen Nyria—’
    ‘Then why does he allow his people to be maimed, tortured and killed? What is he afraid of?’ Tor hurled back.
    He enjoyed watching Merkhud’s lips purse in reaction to his aggression. Their guest covered his irritation by eating some bread.
    ‘He’s a good man, Tor, but if he has a flaw it’s his traditional intolerance of sentients. He blindly follows his ancestors and their archaic laws which, at the time, were passed from fear. It makes me sad too.’
    Ailsa returned with a bowl of steaming stew. ‘Here now, this should warm your old bones.’
    Her rabbit stew, with its blend of spices and fragrant herbs, was famous in the district. She set down a plate with some extra hunks of bread thickly smeared with butter.
    Merkhud needed no further encouragement and set about consuming the delicious, simple fare. ‘This really is an extraordinary stew,’ he uttered between mouthfuls and Ailsa beamed.
    She wanted to return to her sewing but thought it impolite, so she smoothed her skirts instead, cleared her throat and stared at her husband, willing him to make some sophisticated conversation. Her son, she could see, wore a sullen countenance. His normally radiantly blue eyes were blanked dull; they looked like those of the rabbit she had killed earlier that day. She did not understand his bad humour but this visitor was far too important to ignore.
    Jhon Gynt took the hint. ‘So, Physic Merkhud, having you share a humble meal in our house is a pleasure, but you said you needed to see Torkyn?’
    Direct as usual, his wife thought, abandoning all hope of a long evening in fine company. She picked up her sewing.
    Merkhud had just finished cleaning up the rich, sticky gravy with a hunk of the bread. He sincerelywanted to lick the remains of that juice from his fingers. Instead he