Myrren's Gift Read Online Free PDF Page B

remarkable individual. I freely admit, without any shame, that I think he will turn into one of the finest-looking men Morgravia has ever bred. Shar rest his mother’s soul.” This last he added perfunctorily. “I don’t know whether it’s because he lost his mother early, or because he has no siblings…or simply because I am a woeful father. Whatever the reasons. Celimus is not so remarkable on the inside. In fact I know him to have a darkness within that troubles me.”
    Wyl nodded, fearful of what to say to a King making such a frank admission about his own son.
    Magnus held him with a light blue gaze. “I’ve heard the two of you are enemies. Is this true?” Wyl felt tongue-tied. He had no desire to lie to Magnus who was being so candid with him and he tried to be diplomatic in his response.
    “That’s a strong word. sire. I am Morgravian. I am prepared to die for my Kingdom and for its ruler. I am no enemy to the King.” he assured, horrified to think Magnus might think otherwise.
    Instead Magnus grinned. “So like your father. But perhaps you are prepared to die for this King. son.
    How about King Celimus?”
    Wyl understood. “You obviously wish me to do something for you. sire.” The King sighed. “Yes. Wyl. I do. And it’s not going to be easy. I trusted your father all of my life, and I trust his son now. Moments before your father died we joined our bleeding palms to make an oath. Your father’s deathbed wish was that I bring you back to Pearlis and make a General of you. You are a Thirsk and it is your birthright to head the Legion. But part of our oath was that we make our two sons blood brothers.”
    A blood oath? Wyl felt the slow crawl of a chill through him as Magnus continued.
    “I gave my word to your father—my closest friend, my blood brother—that his son would become my son.” He paused again. Wyl said nothing, his silent thoughts racing ahead to guess what the King might ask of him. “Do I have your loyalty, my boy?”
    Startled, Wyl quickly moved to kneel before the King. He placed his hand on his heart. “Yes. sire. You will never have to question it.”
    The King nodded. “Good. I am elevating you to your father’s revered title of King’s Champion. It comes into effect today but I do not grant this position lightly. You despise my son.” He held up his hand to hush Wyl’s ready objection. “I know this—and he has given you little reason to think highly of him in any way.
    so I do not hold this against you. However, from now on you will protect the heir of Morgravia with your life, as your father protected me with his.
    “As of this moment you will shadow the Prince in all that he does. I don’t doubt for a second that any of his activities are distasteful, as I know my son has a penchant for cruel habits. Together we will try to change this. Make a friend of him. Wyl. Influence him. Everything that made your father the fine man he was is embodied in his only son—I know this to be true. Your reputation precedes you. boy. You have the qualities that make a special man, a leader of men. and I want you to do everything you can to imbue Celimus with those qualities.”
    Wyl tried to object.
    Magnus interrupted him. “No buts, Wyl. This is my command. You are already General to the Legion and Champion to the King, and one day you will be called to act for Celimus—at his command. In the intervening years, you will befriend the Prince and somehow, child. I pray your humility, your sense of right and wrong, your courage, and your leadership will rub off and help him as he matures. I know I ask a lot of you, Wyl, but this is your duty now—your duty to me.” The King’s eyes blazed as he reached forward and grabbed Wyl’s wrist. “Swear it to me, Wyl. Make this pact with your sovereign.”
    Wyl felt his world suddenly spin as he put his other hand over his heart and gave the solemn oath to be
    “blood” to Celimus.
    Magnus suddenly dropped Wyl’s wrist and