The Black Sword Trilogy: The Four Nations Read Online Free PDF Page A

hea rth and began filling it with tobacco from a pouch on her waste.
    “That’s my pipe, too.”
    “Not today it isn’t.”
    Kenner closed his eyes and chuckled.
    “As you were about to tell me, though…” He said leading Terri.
    “Oh yes, how the hell I found you.  Would you believe me if I told you the trees told me?”
    “Actually that wouldn’t surprise me at all.”
    “Really?”
    “The sword talks to me all the time.”
    “I thought as much.”
    “Well, it doesn’t really ‘talk’ to me.  I get impressions and feelings, sometimes I see things…”
    “It’s the same way with me and the Bow.”
    “That was an excellent shot, by the way.” Kenner told her.
    “I’ve made harder.”
    “Do you hunt with that thing?”
    “Good heavens no!”
    “Why not?”
    Terri lit the pipe and took a thoughtful draw.
    “I’m not sure I can explain it.  For some reason or another, it just doesn’t feel as if it would be right.”
                  “How goes the war?” Kenner asked.
    Terri looked far off and sighed.
    “Where do I begin?”
    “Try the twenty five words or less version.”
                  “Well,” Terri began.  “It was going fairly well.  We’ve won all the major battles, so far and there haven’t been large casualties.”
    “You said ‘was’ as in past tense.  What seems to have happened?”
    Terri took another thoughtful draw.
    “His Majesty King Melkur; that’s what happened.”
    “Is he not the brilliant military strategist his father was?”
    “He’s an absolute idiot.”
    “Careful,” Kenner teased.  “You could be flogged for saying that.”
    “Actually, the King has raised that penalty to having one’s tongue cut out.”
“Ouch!”
    “His Majesty had one of his mini sters punished that way.  He had the entire city of Kallesh come out to witness.  Everyone was required to attend and no one was allowed to leave until His Majesty had finished his four hour speech.”
    “That sounds consistent with the Melkur I met.  How has he screwed up the war?”
    Terri closed her eyes and shook her head.
                  “He’s made an absolute mockery of it.  He’s constantly interfering with military policy and overriding strategy decisions made by the Generals.  Instead of pursuing enemy forces and driving them out of Walechia, he has the Grand Army wait until enemy forces threaten a village or city.  We then march to wherever the enemy are, fight, win, people die and then the King calls us back to Kallesh.  That means that over the last two years, our infantry has marched hundreds of miles they shouldn’t have had to and they’re almost at the point of exhaustion.  He won’t let our Generals pursue when reliable sources send messages of enemy movements.  All too often, he’s waited to send the Army until it’s too late.  Small towns and villages have been burned and civilians murdered.  It’s ridiculous.  He’s a moron!”
                  Kenner then poured two cups full of ale for himself and Terri.
    “It’s about bloody time,” Terri teased him as he gave her a cup.
    “So, is that why you’re here?” He asked her.  “Did you desert?”
    “No, believe it or not, I’m on a diplomatic mission.”
    Kenner lowered his head and glared at her.
    “You’re not asking me to join in this madness are you?”
    “Great Lady, no!”
    “Good.  Because the answer includes language I prefer not to use in the presence of a lady.”
    Terri looked at him, smiled and winked.
    “I haven’t been called that in a while.”
                  At that moment, there was a knock at the door.  Kenner rose and opened the door to see the pretty, red haired school teacher standing in front of him.  Terri then saw a side of him she hadn’t seen before.  In an instant, his whole demeanor changed.  He stepped backwards awkwardly.  He stood up straight, almost as if standing at attention.  And yet, he