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

man had many other sons. Did he treat them all the same way? Vish wondered how much his father interacted with any of them.
    “It is, father. I turned twelve, three months ago.”
    The Emperor nodded. “Three more years and you’ll be counted as a man. I have something for you.” He reached into a saddlebag and pulled out a dagger and handed it to Vish.
    “One should have a personal weapon on a hunt. You may always wear it my presence, even if most others are forbidden to bear arms in my proximity. What do you say?”
    Vish gazed at the dagger. A jewel had been placed at the end of the pommel. Curving lines of inlaid gold glittered in the sunlight, but Vish looked at the steel itself. Every surface of the handle looked perfect—but it was polished without too bright of a sheen.
    “It’s not shiny.” Vish said. He wasn’t disappointed, just curious. Sulm had only taught him the basics of holding a sword and a knife in the last year and he could tell that his tutor didn’t excel in the handling of weapons.
    The Emperor’s mouth twisted into a grin. “Weapons aren’t always made to be shiny. There is sometimes an advantage to being dull, but deadly. Have your tutor or Yalla’s cook teach you how to keep it sharp. The cook probably knows how to do a better job.” The Emperor laughed and let Vish ride beside him in silence for a few moments. “Have a good day, Vishan.” The Emperor nodded to the guard that rode just behind.
    “Come with me, Prince,” the guard said as he guided Vish back to his proper place in line. Vish eyed those who passed. He saw a number of youthful faces including the brother who ran into him in the Imperial Compound two years ago. There were more nobles. The hunting party must have numbered nearly one hundred. The guard hurried back up towards the Emperor, leaving Vish by himself towards the back of the line again.
    The audience with his father had been limited to a few sentences and yet Vish didn’t mind the abrupt ending. He pulled the dagger out of its ornate leather sheath and admired the patterning forged into the blade. The marbled steel didn’t reflect the sun’s light other than to show a blurred, but bright image of the sun itself. Pulling out a pocket square, he ran the cloth over the sharp edge and he marveled at the sharp edge splitting the weave. He’d have Sulm take him to the Imperial Library and they could research what kind of steel the Emperor had given him.
    His father had called him by name, but did he actually recognize him? Vish doubted it. Presenting the gift obviously gave the Emperor pleasure, but he must have done such a thing many times in the past. Did each son get the same kind of knife? Vish wanted to find out.
    The party stopped at a large meadow not far into the forest. A permanent marble pavilion dominated the open area. Vish remembered the place from outings with his immediate family, but then it wasn’t so crowded. Men, who had ridden behind the wagons, rode up and began to tie up horses at stone rails as more servants hurried to set out food and drink on the tables underneath the large dome of the pavilion. Vish just moved along with the rest as they walked into the woods and relieved themselves on the leafy forest floor. He made sure that none noticed his mail shirt. He pondered removing the wretched thing so he could cool down, but Vish knew he wore the protection for a reason. He looked forward to a cool drink of water.
    “Prince Vishan?” A smiling older man stopped the young prince as he emerged from the woods. He was a noble of some kind, wearing a dark brown leather vest with black silk trimming. His hair had just begun to gray. “I am Fenakyr. I serve as a Baron. My domain is on the border with Serytar. Your father has just asked me to accompany you on the hunt. Let us sit and refresh ourselves together and I’ll tell you what happens from here on.”
    “I thank you,” Vish said. “I’ve never hunted before.”
    Fenakyr laughed. It