Darkstone - An Evil Reborn (Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

believe?” Vish asked, wondering how Sulm would answer.
    The tutor shrugged. “Many men do what they want. The more power a man has, the more he can do what he wants,” Sulm looked at the roofs of the wives’ houses following a pair of birds engaged in a chase of some kind.
    “I’d like to have the power to act any way I please,” Vish said.
    That brought Sulm eyebrows halfway up his forehead. “You don’t think you do?”
    “No, the sorcerers want me to pledge loyalty to them. Mother wants the same thing. Father does too. I am bound by my promises. Mother has taught me that and you have too, if you remember.”
    Sulm leaned over, grinning, and put his palm to his forehead. “What have I created?”
    “The gods created me. I am their creature, as are we all.”
    That brought a laugh to his tutor. “As are we all. One second you spout sedition and the next you declare the most rote of religious statements. As are we all. In the end that’s all we are, just men. Let’s get you something sweet to eat in your kitchen.” Sulm smiled and laughed. “I’ll beat you to your house.” He walked quickly and Vish had to trot to keep up with him.
    Perhaps Sulm was a friend after all.
    ~~~

 
     
    Chapter Three
    ~
    V ish’s twelve-year-old eyes drank in the size of the horse in front of him.
    “I’ve never ridden a horse that big,” he said. He’d only seen these massive beasts in parades.
    “Your father commands you to ride a hunting steed. It is a hunt, after all, and you’ll have to manage,” the groom said. “This is a big event. All of your brothers twelve and older are eligible to ride on the annual hunt, if invited. This is your special day!” The older man grinned. “I’ll help you up. This old horse is gentle enough, you’ll see. She’ll take you on a good ride.”
    Vish walked up to the horse’s head and reached up to pat her nose. She didn’t bite his hand off. That would be a good sign.
    “You can mount now, prince.” The groom smiled and put threaded his fingers together so Vish could jump up on the animal.
    “Whew!” Vish said as he jumped onto the saddle. The groom adjusted the stirrups while Vish leaned over and patted the horse’s neck. He jerked on the reins and the horse jumped a bit to the side, knocking the groom over.
    “Prince, the horse is intelligent enough to react to the way you use reins. You must be careful when you give it instructions through the reins,” the groom said. “She’s even trained to react to guidance with your knees. It might be fun for you to learn. You can practice on your way to the hunting preserve. Start soft and increase the way you squeeze until she reacts to the pressure of your legs. Push your knee one way and the horse will go that way. Push the opposite way and the horse will veer in that direction. It is easy, Prince. The horse should respond. Can you do that?”
    A ripple of excitement went through Vish. He recognized it as a type of fear, but tried to keep his face as impassive as the other riders who began to mount. He nodded and jerked his body forward to get the horse moving. Would that work? It did, like it had when he rode much smaller ponies. His excitement settled down as he joined the other riders. The horse was smart enough to follow the others in the long line.
    As they moved through the city, Vish felt the uneasy tension of riding such a large beast amidst all of the crowds and sounds, but once they exited the East Gate, they entered farmlands. He was towards the back of a long line of riders, all mounted on horses as big as his. He’d been to his father’s vast hunting preserve before on outings with his mother and siblings. Then he rode in one of the carriages, but not as a member of a hunting party. They wouldn’t reach the preserve for another hour or so and then it might take a few hours to get to where they would be hunting. At least that’s what Sulm said. He’d also talked him into wearing a coat of ring-mail