Destined for a King Read Online Free PDF Page A

new lord. Will they swear oaths of allegiance?”
    “It remains to be seen. We must take care, though. We’ll need all the men we can gather.”
    True enough. They’d chosen Blackbriar because its position and defenses made it the most vulnerable of the Strongholds. For years, Thorne had relied on strong allies to shield him. But Magnus could take the keep back just as easily unless they built improvements and quickly. Fixing the broken gate was the least of their worries; Kestrel knew that as well as he. Torch trusted his second in command to take the appropriate measures. And one minor fortress was more fortress than they’d possessed a fortnight ago.
    Kestrel turned a piercing blue gaze on Calista, who had retreated to a corner with her maid. “Is there anything else?”
    “Yes, you can change Owl’s orders.”
    “The boy is merely loyal. What would you have me do? He insists on standing guard.”
    “He must learn to obey his betters. Make certain he takes his training in the yard. I will not have him fall behind while I lie here. And tell him to take a bath. It would do him some good to smell of something other than horse dung for a change. It might even change his luck.”
    “His luck?”
    “His disposition, at least. I don’t suppose you can order it, but if you could convince the maid to make a man of him, things might be rather more pleasant around here.”
    Kestrel shot a glance at Calista. “Am I to surmise you’ve put your trust in Thorne’s daughter?”
    She stood near the fire, deep in discussion with her maid. If she’d paid any heed to their exchange, she showed no sign.
    “I have and you know it.” Torch touched the Stone at his throat. “I’ve seen…”
    Kestrel held up a hand. “Save me from your superstitions. Even if I were to believe in such, you know better than to trust every vision you see.”
    “I am willing to trust this one.” But if Kestrel questioned that assertion, Torch could not have explained why. A feeling, nothing more, and Kestrel would be just as fast to dismiss a mere feeling, even one that originated in the gut. “As long as I’m here, we can hold her father as a guarantee to her good behavior.”
    “Are you quite through?” Calista asked from her corner. “We need to get on with the procedure.”
    At Torch’s raised brows, Kestrel inclined his head. “My lady summoned me here.”
    Calista stepped closer, that bloody vial still clenched in her fist. “I think you might take your elixir now.”
    He couldn’t help it. He looked at the maid, who stood there, roses blooming in her cheeks, the very picture of health. “Will it put me back to sleep?”
    “Yes, but—”
    “Then before I take it, I should like to order a bath. Your maid can see to the task, surely.”
    Calista firmed her lips before turning and poking at something in the fire. “I think you’ll want to wait for the bath,” she said over her shoulder. “And you really ought to take that potion.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I need to close your wound.”
    Kestrel moved to the side of the bed, and pressed something into Torch’s hand—a length of clean linen wrapped tightly over itself to form an unbending cylinder. “You’ll want that between your teeth, my lord.”
    Calista turned back from the fire, brandishing a poker wrapped in a length of cloth. Its tip glowed red hot.

Chapter 4
    The wrong banners were flying over the castle. In place of the Blackbriar rose with its foot-long thorns, a blue field emblazoned with a raptor floated in the sky. A Black Kerrick, a bad omen, if the tales Calista’s grandmother told were true.
    Why would anyone take such a symbol to himself? Calista shivered in spite of the sunlit day. Best not to consider, whatever her suspicions. The man wished to inspire fear in his foes, certainly, but the black birds could well draw misfortune to the Bastard Brotherhood.
    No matter. She still had a job to do. Tearing her eyes away from the flags that floated from each