My Royal Pain Quest (The Lakeland Knight series, #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

bad enough.
    “The king and I were hoping that you could tell me exactly, specifically what those deeds are.”
    “Alas, no.” Triar sighed. “If I had my emerald apple, I’d find it out for you, but it was stolen.”
    “Emerald apple? What’s that? And who stole it?”
    “Swirgs, cunning and thieving underground creatures. My fault, I should have guarded it better. As to what it is, the emerald apple is a priceless tool, it allows to do a variety of things. One of them is getting truthful and accurate information. Once a year, I can ask the apple one question, no matter how difficult. It is also called the Apple of Faradin’s wisdom.”
    “Well, if Faradin’s got something to do with it, it’s not going to work. I’ve already asked him my question, and he refused to answer.”
    “Ah, but the apple would not refuse. It’s different. Whoever owns it owns the right for the answer. I haven’t used it for questions for several years, so if the apple was with me, I’d ask it specifically about each one of your deeds. But, as I said, Swirgs got it.”
    “All right, let me go take it from them and bring it back. Where do I find these Swirgs?”
    The hermit chuckled and shook his head.
    “You don’t know what you are talking about. They are not going to just give it back. And very few who dare enter the Swirgs’ domain return.”
    “Sounds like the stuff I signed up for, anyway. Dragons, Swirgs, what’s the difference?”
    Triar gave me a long, thoughtful look.
    “Well, now that I think of it, it might actually qualify as the Deed of Pure Hand. Yes, very likely. Not only is the apple hard to retrieve, you would be tempted to take it for yourself. If you keep your word and bring it back to me—provided you manage to stay alive, of course—I think there’s a good chance you’d have the first deed accomplished.”
    “Then it’s settled. Give me directions to their place.”
    “One of the entrances into their underground caves is not very far from here. Go down to the creek and follow the stream until you see two big oak trees. When you get there, look for a smaller creek that runs from under thick lilac bushes. The entrance is behind those bushes.”
    That was easy enough to remember, and I was sure glad I didn’t have to travel far this time.
    “Remember this,” Triar went on, “Swirgs are excellent liars. If they don’t kill you on the spot—which they’ll try, as soon as they realize what you’re after—they will try to deceive you.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind. Any idea where they might be hiding the apple?”
    “Somewhere in water, it needs to be wet to work best. There will be other gemstones there, Swirgs love them and steal them from everywhere; but you should recognize the emerald apple when you see it: it is the size of a child’s fist, beautiful deep green.”

     
    ***

     
    Cassandra waited for me, entertaining herself by throwing daggers at a thin dry birch tree—and hitting it every time.
    “So Triar didn’t kick you out?” she asked. “How did you manage to get on his good side?”
    “The medallion you rescued helped. Let’s go. I’ve got some fighting to do.”
    “Oh? With whom?”
    “Some creatures called Swirgs. Have you heard of them?”
    “I heard stories when I was little, don’t know whether they’re true or not.” Cassandra untied the horses she had tethered to a tree. “From what I remember, Swirgs are small and harmless, they take care of forest plants and such. Why would you want to fight them?”
    “You must be confusing them with someone else. Swirgs live underground, come out at night and steal stuff. Triar says they are rather dangerous.”
    “Sounds like fun.” She handed me Onyx’s reins. “I suppose we’ll go back to the village first, to get you a new sword?”
    “New sword? Why?”
    “You didn’t use yours at the tavern, so I assume it’s broken—unless you are under some strange vow.”
    “Ah.” I got in the saddle. “No vows,