The Death of Chaos Read Online Free PDF Page B

but I stood a better chance than she did, what with wizardry and firebolts apparently flying around.
    “Thank you, my dear subcommander.”
    “What about an escort partway?” asked Kasee. “It would speed up the first part of your trip, wouldn’t it?”
    The message was clear enough, and I bowed to the need for deliberate haste. “It wouldn’t hurt to have a few troopers, at least until I get to the Lower Easthorns. As Krystal can tell you, I’m hopeless with most weapons.”
    Krystal snorted. “He can only hold off or disable two or three at a time with that staff of his. That’s how he translates ‘hopeless.’”
    “Are you on my side or this Gerlis’s?” I asked.
    Kasee smiled.
    “How soon?” I glanced from one woman to the other. “Yesterday? I can’t do that. How about tomorrow?”
    “Tomorrow…” mused the autarch. “There are reasons that tomorrow might be a little…precipitous.”
    “The day after?” I just wanted to get on with it, a tendency that had a way of getting me in trouble, and Kasee had indicated the need for haste.
    “That would be better, for everyone.” The autarch gave Krystal a broad smile, and my consort actually flushed. So did I. Then the autarch stood and nodded at Krystal, and she nodded back. I gave the autarch a half-bow.
    As we left the study, I asked, “Do you know where Tamra is?”
    “She was in the small guest quarters off the Second’s barracks. Do you think she knows where Justen is?”
    “She might.”
    Krystal shook her head. “Justen isn’t about to be found.”
    “Probably not. He seems to vanish whenever I’m headed into trouble.”
    “Do you really think so?” Krystal rubbed her forehead again.
    “Sometimes…still, he didn’t get that ancient by walking into trouble.” I reached out and squeezed her shoulder, offering her both reassurance and a bit of order.
    “Thank you.”
    Although the autarch’s residence wasn’t a fortress, it was designed for defense, with thick walls, small windows, and shadows everywhere, even at midday. We walked down the long corridor toward the gate to the guard building.
    The two soldiers on duty nodded as we passed, and before long we reached Krystal’s quarters, and the always-present Herreld, who opened the door for us. He didn’t smile, but he no longer frowned when I showed up.
    Once the door was shut, I did manage another hug, and a kiss.
    Krystal disengaged herself. “I don’t know how you enjoy that with a blade half between us.”
    I just leered.
    “You’re terrible.” Her eyes twinkled, and she turned and dropped the bar in place. Then she unfastened the sword belt, and kicked off her boots with two rapid thuds.
    I grinned, but I didn’t finish the grin because Krystal had both arms around me. Somehow, I did manage to get my boots off.
    Later, as we lay entwined in the green quilt, I stroked her forehead. “You won’t be coming home tonight, will you?”
    “No. We have to meet with Mureas and Liessa. How did you know?”
    “I have my ways, lusty wench.” I hugged her tightly, enjoying the feel of her satin skin against mine, and the perfume of her short hair against my cheek. All we could do was use the times we had together, and with Krystal’s promotion and the troubles ahead, I knew those times were about to become a lot less frequent.
    Outside, the bell chimed four times, and the quick sounds of booted feet below the balcony told of the changing of the guard.
    Finally, Krystal sighed, turned, and squeezed me for a long while, then released me.
    “You have to get to your meeting? What sort of meeting?”
    “It has to do with the new commander.”
    “That’s you. Kasee said so.”
    “That’s what Kasee wants. And probably Liessa. Mureas wants her nephew Torrman—”
    “Isn’t he the one whose hand you took off?” I nibbled on her ear.
    “If I don’t get up, I never will.” Krystal gave me another hug and kiss, and swung away. “That was an accident. He threw sand in my