Skull Gate Read Online Free PDF Page A

accusing me?"
    He glared. “Not yet. The circumstances are odd enough that I doubt you were actually involved in the murder of my cousin—"
    â€œMurder?” she interrupted.
    His voice dropped a note. “Don't take that tone with me, woman.” He hesitated, challenging her with his silence, then resumed. “There's no doubt of Aki's death, whether by your intruder or some clever sorcery, as some say. You may not have been involved, but you were certainly not at your appointed post, that is, at Aki's side. That's the same as desertion."
    Her defiance melted, and she looked away. No denying it, he was right. Her place was with Aki. Had she remembered that, the child might not be gone. The blame was hers.
    She chewed her lip.
    Thogrin continued. “For now, though, I'm inclined to mercy.” A subtle smile spread over his face and he stretched, gripping the jewel-encrusted arms of Korkyra's throne. “I have to consider that it may have been your carelessness that has brought me to this great seat.” He beckoned for the serving girl to refill his cup.
    Frost regarded him, her eyes narrow slits, as he sipped the wine. She had to get away. This man did not trust her; his attitude, every word he spoke betrayed that fact. If he did not arrest her now, he had a reason. Probably to concoct more evidence against her, she considered. She had no doubt that Thogrin Sin'tell would lay blame at someone's feet. It would not do to leave Aki's disappearance unexplained. The people would always wonder.
    He leaned forward again. “However, mercy is not foolishness. There are still questions to be asked before this affair is solved."
    There it was. He intended to solve it. She calculated the time that had passed. Tras Sur'tian would be waiting at the eastern gate.
    â€œSo you are not to leave the palace for a few days,” Thogrin went on. “When this is cleared up, then we may negotiate your continued enlistment in the service of Korkyra.” He paused, pursed his lips. “But certainly not as a soldier. Trousers just don't become you.” The serving girl leaned forward and whispered in his ear. Thogrin barked a short laugh and waved her away. “Not pretty enough,” he said over his shoulder. Then, back to Frost, “You may keep your quarters for now, but you have no status in court. You are my guest."
    He dismissed her with a gesture.
    She backed up a few steps, then turned and walked away. There was a fine film of sweat on her palms. She wiped her hands on her tunic, feeling Demonfang beneath. Tras Sur'tian was right. Thogrin Sin'tell was not a man to trifle with. His ambition made him dangerous.
    But had he, in fact, arranged Aki's disappearance?
    If she had any doubts, they vanished when, at the door, she turned for a final look at the man she'd already begun to think of as foe.
    In the shadows behind the throne a figure stirred and came forward into the light. He was dark-robed, hooded. She could see no face. For a brief instant she thought it was last night's intruder. But this man was shorter, and the way he slouched spoke of age or infirmity.
    He saw her then, stopped in mid-step, and drew himself erect. They regarded each other across the hall. Still she could not see a face. Then the figure walked to the throne, took up a position behind Thogrin, and laid a withered hand on the emerald seat.
    She nodded and left the hall.
    Thogrin Sin'tell was not the sole possessor of Korkyra's crown. The old man had admitted it with his gesture. There was challenge in that gesture, and warning.
    â€œWizard,” she muttered to herself, “or sorcerer or witch.” Well, she'd known from a first glance at Aki's strangely scorched sheets that magic was involved. Yet her own witch-powers were gone forever. What could she do?
    She took a deep breath. Whatever she had to do, she vowed. She had failed Aki once. If the little queen lived, it was her responsibility to find her. If she