Book 2 - An Ill Fate Marshalling Read Online Free PDF

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    Because I've been hearing whispers about El Murid maybe trying a comeback. They say Megelin hasn't turned out. They say he's getting more unpopular every day."
    „Then your sources are better than mine. All I hear is how the honeymoon is still on. I've got to run. I want to get some bets down before I head for the woods. I'm staying at the palace. I'll be riding mornings. Send a message if you want me to wait on you."
    Aral smiled. „Don't forget about the Fat Man's. I think you'll be surprised."
    Michael brushed the rainwater off his forehead. He hated hats. Sometimes you had to pay for your quirks. „I'll think about it."
    Ragnarson was crossing a courtyard to the stables when he spied Varthlokkur atop the castle wall. He shifted course.
    The man was staring at the east as though it might bite. And he'd behaved strangely earlier. „Is it something you can talk about?"
    „What? Not really. It's nothing concrete. Something in the east. Not entirely with the flavor of Shinsan."
    „You didn't mention it this morning."
    „Nepanthe. She's lost too much. I wouldn't want to crucify her with a false hope."
    „Oh?"
    „It's Ethrian. He might still be alive." Ethrian was Nepanthe's son by her first marriage, lost during the Great Eastern Wars.
    „What? Where is he?" Ragnarson owed his godson a huge debt. A cruel fate had compelled him to slay the boy's father.
    „It's just a touch of a feeling I get sometimes. I can't track it down."
    Ragnarson babbled questions. The wizard didn't re spond. He thought Bragi overly romanticized his one-time friend, Mocker, and the events surrounding the man's death. Bragi had had no choice. It had been kill or be killed.
    Ragnarson mused, „We never saw any proof that Ethrian died. Is there anything else?"
    „Anything else?"
    „Something you didn't want to bring up before. Everybody was hiding from everybody else. Your claim to be preoccupied was unconvincing."
    Varthlokkur turned slightly, shifting his gaze from the distance to the man. The corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement. „You grow bold. I recall a younger Bragi who shook at the mention of my name."
    „He didn't know that even the mighty are vulnerable."
    „Well said. But don't bet your life on it."
    Ragnarson grinned. „I'm going to try this conversation some time when you're less in the wizardly mood. When you're ready to answer questions." He nodded slightly, left the wizard to his meditations.
    Josiah Gales was a frustrated man. He could not cut the Queen out of her herd of courtly matrons. Even once she was aware of his need she could not disengage herself easily.
    The moment arrived at last. She stepped into a curtained alcove, beckoned. That mocking, tormenting smile danced across her lips. He ducked in after her.
    „What did they talk about, Josiah?" No one else called him Josiah.
    „Practically nothing."
    „They had to talk about something, didn't they?"
    „They did. It wasn't worth me skulking around through a lot of dusty passageways, my Lady. A lot of ‘Hello, how are you, long time no see.' Some ‘How come Prataxis scored so easy this year.' A little ‘What the hell is going on in Shinsan these days.' Then His Majesty sent them on their ways. He says they'll get together again when Prataxis gets back. He's got me wondering if maybe he isn't some suspicious."
    „He's always suspicious, Josiah. He's got good reason."
    „I mean more than your everyday suspicion. It was something he said."
    „Which was?"
    „He had Trebilcock wait till the others was gone. Told him to come play Captures with him. That's when he said it."
    „Said what?" A wrinkle of frustration danced across the Queen's brow. She peeped round the curtain. Her flock had not yet missed her.
    „That even the walls have ears."
    Inger's smile vanished. „Uhm. That bears thought. Thank you, Josiah."
    „I'm your slave, Lady."
    She left the alcove wearing a curious little frown. Her charges would find her a less gracious hostess