Guardians of the Keep: Book Two of the Bridge of D'Arnath Read Online Free PDF Page A

would tell him of the strange, fog-bound cavern hidden in the snowy
    peaks of the Dorian Wall, and of the cruel, empty-eyed warriors who had sought to ensure their
    dominion over the Four Realms as well as their own far-distant lands by luring the finest swordsman in
    Leire, the King’s Champion, to fight the Prince of Avonar. I told the story sparingly, so that all I spoke
    was truth, yet withholding the parts a child could not understand or that it would be dangerous for him to
    hear. The boy’s attention did not waver through all my telling.
    “. . . . And so, you see, they never intended for your father to win the match. They made him
    confused and angry and didn’t tell him what they planned, for the Prince was pledged not to slay anyone
    from our lands. It was a most sacred vow that his ancestors had made, and the wicked men wanted to
    corrupt the Prince. But despite their tricks, your father discovered how he’d been deceived, and he
    refused to fight the Prince any longer. He told the evil men that there was no honor for King Evard in the
    match.”
    Now came the most difficult part to explain. I dared not touch on the subjects of sorcery and
    enchantment and D’Arnath’s magical Bridge that linked our world to the world called Gondai and its
    royal city of Avonar. How could I explain that a soulless warrior Zhid had raised his fist and with terrible
    enchantments had driven Tomas to madness so that he impaled himself on D’Natheil’s sword? How
    could anyone, adult or child, comprehend that Prince D’Natheil was truly my husband, Karon, who had
    once let himself be burned to death rather than betray his Healer’s principles?
    “These men were so wicked,” I said, “and their leader so lacking in honor and truth, that they drove
    your father to fight once more. It was difficult—impossible—for him to see in the fog and the dim light,
    and when he charged, thinking to slay the evil warriors, he ran right onto the Prince’s sword. The Prince
    was furious at what the wicked men had done, and he fought the villains until they could do no further
    harm. The Prince and I tried our best to save your father, but his wounds were terrible, and we could
    not, I held your father in my arms, and he told me he didn’t suffer. And then he spoke of you.”
    The boy’s great eyes were shining, flecks of blue and amber in their rich brown depths, displaying a
    child’s pain that tugged at my heart no matter my disinterest or resentment. I was pleased that Tomas’s
    son mourned him. It should be so.
    “He said that you were fair and had his looks, and so you do. And he said you were intelligent and
    opinionated, and that he wanted very much to tell you what a fine son you were. He was very proud of
    you.”
    The boy took a shallow breath with the slightest trace of a quiver in it.
    “He died in my arms soon after that. I buried him by that lonely lake with a sword in his hands as was
    proper for the King’s Champion. When you’re older, if you wish it, I’ll take you there.”
    From a green silk bag much like the gray one I had given Philomena, I drew the heavy gold ring with
    the crest of the four Guardian Rings on it, and I placed it in the boy’s hand. “This is yours now. When the
    time comes, wear it with the dignity of your father and grandfather. They were not perfect men, but they
    always did what they thought was right. Great responsibilities come with such a fine thing as this, and you
    must learn of them as your father would wish.” But, of course, as I watched the boy wrap his slender
    fingers about the ring so tightly that his knuckles turned white, I wondered who would teach him. Not his
    mother or her aunt or her fluttering maids.
    The child looked up at me as if seeing me for the first time. His voice was no more than a whisper.
    “Who are you?”
    “My name is Seri. I’m your father’s sister. That would make me your aunt, I suppose.”
    I thought I was prepared for whatever his reaction