Shards of a Broken Crown Read Online Free PDF

his navy sunk, in keeping the Eastern
Kingdoms from starting trouble. The Prince has Kesh in the South, so
that leaves it to our merry little band to reclaim the West.”
    “Why does
that not fill me with joy?” asked Dash rhetorically.
    “I believe
you would be in need of a healing priest if it did. You would
obviously be bereft of your senses.”
    “When does
this campaign begin?” asked Dash.
    “When you
hear the first sound of ice breaking in the West, start packing.”
    Dash said, “I
heard ice break this morning.”
    “Well, get
packing,” said Erik. “We leave for Krondor within the
week.”
    Dash nodded.
“Very good, Captain.”
    As Dash turned
away, Erik said, “One other thing.”
    “What,
sir?” asked Dash.
    “Your
office as Court Baron does you no good in the army, so you and James
are both being given the rank of Knight-Lieutenants.”
    “Thank
you, I think,” said Dash.
    “Tomorrow
head down to the quartermaster and draw uniforms for yourself and
James.”
    “Sir,”
said Dash with a weak salute, then he turned and walked toward his
own quarters. Muttering to himself, he said, “Damn. I’m
in the army.”

    Jimmy tugged at
his ill-fitting black tunic. “Damn. I’m in the army.”
    Dash laughed. He
gently elbowed his brother, indicating the Prince was about to speak.
    “My lords,
gentlemen,” he began, addressing the gathering in his audience
hall, formerly the Baron von Darkmoor’s. “The King
requires the presence of most of the Army of the East along the
Keshian border and to the east. That leaves it to what is left of the
Armies of the West to drive the remaining invaders from our shores.”
    Dash whispered
to his brother, “Perhaps we shouldn’t have sunk all their
ships. It makes the trip home so much more difficult.”
    Arutha, Duke of
Krondor, threw his younger son a dark look, and Dash fell silent,
while Jimmy attempted not to laugh aloud. One thing James admired
about his younger brother was an ability to find something funny in
almost any situation, no matter how bleak.
    Prince Patrick
said, “Of course it does,” looking directly at Dash.
    Dash had the
good grace to blush before his Prince.
    “But we
can arrange to transport them home at a later time. First they must
surrender.”
    Dash tried to
wish himself invisible.
    Patrick
continued. “Intelligence confirms that this General Fadawah is
seizing the opportunity created by the Emerald Queen’s defeat
to fashion a little Empire for himself.”
    He walked to a
map and took a pointer and indicated the area between Krondor and
Ylith. “From Sarth to Ylith, Fadawah’s forces are in
complete control.” The pointer swept to the east. ‘ “They
control the forests up to the mountains, and most of the passes to
Nightmare Ridge. We have a stable front along the ridge.
    “To the
north”—the pointer moved north of Ylith— “he’s
run into some stern opposition at LaMut. Earl Takari’s holding
the city, but barely. Only the harsh winter kept Fadawah from taking
the city.” Looking at Arutha, he said, “Tell me of Duke
Carl.”
    Arutha said,
“The Duke is a boy. He’s barely seventeen. Earl Takari is
only three years older.”
    The men in the
room knew the fathers of the two nobles mentioned had died in the
invasion. Arutha continued, “But Takari is Tsurani stock, and
has been studying under his Swordmaster since he could walk. He’ll
hold LaMut until the last man if needs be.
    “Carl may
be a boy, but he’s surrounded by a strong, if small, army.”
Arutha nodded to a man standing behind Erik von Darkmoor, a tall,
dark-haired man wearing a kilt and sporting a longsword hung over his
back. Dash and Jimmy knew him to be the leader of a company of Hadati
hillmen from Yabon, by name of Akee.
    Akee said, “Most
of my people are serving in Yabon. Fadawah will not take Yabon.”
    Almost to
himself Patrick said, “But come spring he’ll be inside
the walls of LaMut, and all the Tsurani honor in that city