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

is unable to do so.” The physician’s broad face creased into a disappointed frown,
    and he lowered his voice. “The boy is in desperate need of some looking after, especially since his
    father’s death. You’ve seen it, have you not—how troubled he is?”
    “I’ve only met the boy today.”
    Philomena’s aunt appeared at the top of the stair. “Sir physician, your dallying is insupportable. The
    duchess awaits.”
    Ren Wesley called up to her. “Madam, I have journeyed for most of a day to wait upon the good
    lady. Inform Her Grace that a portly old man, stiff from a long carriage ride, does not move so quickly up
    the stairs as sylphlike creatures such as yourself. Only a moment more and I shall be at her side.” His
    scowl gave way to a raised eyebrow and a twinkle in the eye as soon as he turned back to me. “I would
    speak to you on the boy’s behalf, my lady. Now, if no other time is available.”
    Unlike my nephew, I had never been the master of my own curiosity. “You should go up,” I said. “I
    can postpone my departure for a little while. I’ll be in the music room.”
    “Thank you, my lady. I will rejoin you as speedily as may be.”
    I sent word to Renald that our departure was delayed and returned to the music room. Sadly, this
    room was more neglected than the library, cobwebs draped over a standing harp as if the spiders were
    trying to add new strings to it. I straightened the portrait of my mother that hung over the hearth. My
    fragile, lovely mother had brought music and grace to this musty warriors’ haven. She had been afraid of
    war and hated talk of it. When she had died so young—I was but nine years old—people had said that
    life as a Leiran warrior’s wife had been too harsh for her. I had vowed to be stronger. Strange how
    things work out.
    I ought to go. No need to concern myself with the child. By spring Philomena would be mobile again
    and would take her children to Montevial. Though I would be sorry to see Comigor left vacant, perhaps
    it would be better for the boy. Surely in the capital city some friend of Tomas’s would take him under his
    wing.
    As I picked idly at the strings of a lute that hung on the wall, that consideration led me to think of
    Darzid, Tomas’s cynical, unscrupulous military aide. Darzid was an enigma, a charmingly amoral man
    who had attached himself to my family eighteen years before. With only flimsy proof, I was convinced
    that Darzid’s mysteries were connected with my brother’s terrible deeds, and, ultimately, with the
    soulless Zhid warriors who had killed Tomas and tried to destroy D’Arnath’s Bridge. Darzid was unlikely
    to concern himself with Tomas’s child. But the possibility that Philomena might turn to him for the boy’s
    tutelage kept me in the music room waiting for Ren Wesley. If I could discourage any such association
    through the good offices of the physician, I had to do so.
    Almost an hour later the leonine head poked itself through the music-room door. “May I?”
    “Please, come in. I hope everything is well with my sister-in-law.”
    Heaving a massive sigh, the physician lowered himself to a high-backed chair that creaked woefully at
    the burden. “As I expected, the duchess needed only a good measure of reassurance. I’ve recommended
    that she keep close to her bed this time in hopes we may bring this child into the world for more than a
    single day. The last two arrived well beforetime, and, as such infants will, they lacked the stamina to
    survive more than a few hours. Every day we can prolong Her Grace’s confinement gives the little one a
    better chance. But I ramble. You desire to be off.”
    “I do, but it’s not for lack of interest in renewing our acquaintance. I’ve nothing but good memories of
    our evening’s encounter.”
    The physician clucked his tongue. “What dreadful dinner parties the countess concocted! That
    particular evening was the only one in my memory when I did not return home