Knight Eternal (A Novel of Epic Fantasy) (Harbinger of Doom Volume 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

you know?” said
Claradon. “How did you know Ob cheated?”
    Theta smiled but didn’t respond.
    “ He knew because I’m an
old warrior and old warriors play the odds or they don’t live to
get old. I played way against the odds with that move, so he knew I
must’ve had an edge: a big one.”
    “ This game is too
complicated for me,” said Dolan. “I prefer Spottle.”
    A soldier clad in the livery of House
Harringgold marched stiffly into the room. “Excuse me, Lord Eotrus;
gentlemen. Duke Harringgold requests your presence forthwith in his
drawing room.”
    “ Is there some trouble?”
asked Claradon.
    “ I fear so, sir. Your
brother, Sir Ector, is in with the Duke.”
    Claradon stood. His face paled. “He’s
supposed to be at home.”
     

 
    III
    AMBUSH
    “ You want to be a hero, boy?
    Live to write the history
books .”
    — Ob
     
    Sir Jude Eotrus’s massive
destrier thundered forward at full gallop, adorned in steel barding
and colorful caparison. Jude wore the traditional armor of the
Knights of Tyr—a suit of steel plates tied to an undercoat and
leggings of chain links. Armored gauntlets, greaves, and boots
completed his protection. His steel helm hung from a saddle loop,
his black cape fluttered in the wind. To his left arm was affixed a
heater shield emblazoned with the Eotrus coat-of-arms.
    Fixated on exacting righteous vengeance on
those that sent the messenger against his home and claimed to hold
his father captive, Jude stared forward, jaw clenched, only mildly
aware that Sergeant Balfin rode beside him. Four more armored
knights and seven sturdy men-at-arms rode behind them, dirt and
gravel flying from their horses’ hooves.
    From the corner of his eye, Jude saw
something large fall from a tree on the right side of the road.
    “ Pull up,” yelled
Balfin.
    What?
    A heavy rope sprang up across their
path.
    Zounds!
    No time to stop. No time
to turn or jump. The rope caught Jude’s steed high on its legs,
shattering them, just as he wrenched his boots free of the
stirrups. The horse crashed to a halt, flipped head over hooves,
and slammed to the earth. Jude rocketed forward, spun over once in
the air, and sailed some dozen feet before landing on his back. He
slid several yards along the dusty road, and aided by his momentum,
gained his feet in an instant; the crash and howls of men and
horses filled the air behind him.
    Ambush!
    Battered and disoriented, Jude drew his
sword and assumed a defensive stance.
    Is this really happening? I should’ve been
paying attention. Sir Gabriel would have my hide.
    Foreboding, armored
figures emerged from the woods. Two men clad in blood-red armor
with helms that covered their faces strode toward Jude with swords
drawn. Behind them stalked a very tall, broad man in black-enameled
armor, a dragon crest of red adorned his breastplate. Grizzled and
scarred, armor gouged and dented: a veteran killer. Jude heard the
rattle of steel and war cries of battle behind him.
    No time to look. Is this real? My head spins; get ready. Cut them
down. Quick. Jude backpedaled several
steps to buy time to clear his head. Behind me—something.
    Jude half turned and beheld a huge figure
shaped like a man, but of brick-red skin, long fangs, pointed ears,
and bald pate. An unspeakable union of man and demon, its very life
a blasphemy and an affront to all that’s holy. Far taller and
broader than Jude, the creature stalked toward Jude, brandishing a
massive, two-handed sword, chipped and stained with the dried blood
of its last victims.
    Dead gods, what’s that? Can’t fight that.
Need help.
    The red creature laughed at Jude’s look of
alarm, and then spoke in a rich baritone voice. “You look surprised
to see us, boy. Did you think to find us asleep beside the road,
waiting for you to swoop in and kill us like you did our
messenger?”
    It speaks? What is
it? “Messenger? That thing was a monster,
a demon.”
    “ It was only sent to
deliver our ransom note, nothing