Covenants Read Online Free PDF Page B

throne of the kingdom, no? The grandson of Lord Flavan, forty lines to the throne?"
    "Well, yes, but my parents left all that.”
    "Does that make you any less the nephew or the grandson?”
    I'd once met a couple of lordlings who were stranded in Freston during a winter's storm. In their sneering arrogance, they'd reminded me of the underbelly of a toad— soft, white, and poisonous—and they cured any desire I had to claim nobility. I wasn't about to start now. I opened my mouth to say so but Captain Suiden spoke first.
    "You have valid points, Sro Laurel, but Rabbit belongs to my troop and with my troop he will stay.
    Further, I must take this request to my commander before a course of action can be decided."
    "Why? Does he not trust your judgment?”
    The captain stared at me, his eyes now blazing, but I shook my head. I hadn't told Laurel the commander's words.
    "Don't look so surprised, honored captain. You're here without a multitude of soldiers.”
    "Commander Ebner trusts me to fact-find and report back to him, not to have one of my men go haring off on your say-so," Captain Suiden said, each word deliberate. He set his teacup down.
    "So while we dither about, blood is spilled and our rage grows until war is unavoidable." Laurel pointed at the feather pinned to my tunic. "There is an obligation.”
    "I will not be coerced or manipulated." The captain's anger filled the tent and pressed down on us.
    "Don't tell me that you had nothing to do with us being lost.”
    Laurel growled, showing his eyeteeth, and lifted up on his haunches. "I did not. I am no swindler."
    "Ballocks.”
    "Sir," I said, trying hard to keep my voice from shaking. "If Laurel Faena said he didn't cause us to be lost, he didn't. He wouldn't lie, sir. Any more than you would commit treason." I turned to Laurel and saw that his pupils took up almost all of his irises. I swallowed hard. "And Laurel Faena, Captain Suiden is right. I'm obliged to you, but I also have an obligation to Commander Ebner. I would break faith and be declared a deserter if I were to leave without his permission." Stalemate. Oh, please God, I prayed, do not make me choose.
    "If I may make a suggestion, sir," Lieutenant Groskin said. He waited for Captain Suiden's nod before he continued. "What if we were to send a trooper back to Commander Ebner with a report? The horses had an easy ride yesterday and a good rest last night. Whoever's sent should make base before sunset and we should have an answer tomorrow morning, latest.” There was a moment's quiet as Laurel sank down until he was sitting again. Suiden raised his eyebrows at him. "Is this acceptable?"
    "It is acceptable."
    "Do it," Captain Suiden said to Groskin.
    Lieutenant Groskin got up, carefully edged around the cups and tea tray, and left the tent. The captain picked up his cold and probably very bitter tea and took a sip. At the same time Laurel began to preen, running his tongue over his paw. Both stopped with a grimace and Laurel lowered his paw while the captain put his cup down again. They did not look at each other as we sat in silence.
    A few moments later, Lieutenant Groskin opened the tent flap and peered in. Captain Suiden made a sharp gesture for him to enter.
    "I sent Ryson's tentmate," Groskin said as the flap closed behind him. "I figure that his nose deserved a reprieve." The captain stared at Groskin and the lieutenant's smile faded. He cleared his throat. "He understands, sir, that he is not to linger but as soon as he gets an answer from Commander Ebner to return here. I also took the liberty, sir, to have him ask for additional supplies if the commander approves us escorting the mag—uhm, Laurel Faena.” Lieutenant Groskin, problem solver and forward thinker. My brain tried to shut down again.
    "Very good, Lieutenant," Captain Suiden said. "You and Lieutenant Rabbit are dismissed.”
    We both were out of the tent so fast that the flaps swung back and forth for a few moments before settling into