The Invisible Chains - Part 2: Bonds of Fear Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    hundred and twenty miles that the carrier pigeons must fly. The best
    of them do nearly fifty miles an hour. But that’s in ideal conditions.
    The average will be nearer to forty-five miles an hour. That’s a flight
    of almost twelve hours. If they’re faster and the weather is favorable,
    they could do it in about ten to eleven hours. If they’re slower it will
    be more like thirteen hours.”
    “You know a lot about pigeons,” Marak smiled.
    “As I said, I made it my business to know. The informer, if there
    is one, is still here. He has to compose his message and bring it to
    wherever his contact with the pigeons is. That could be near or far.
    It’s about seven. Even if he left now he would still need about an
    hour. The king also needs time to read the message, digest it, make
    a decision, and formulate an answer. Let’s say all that also takes an
    hour. The royal carrier pigeons are trained to fly in a straight line,
    which means they will pass over the meadow where you will have
    posted your archers, at the earliest about twenty-two hours after the
    message leaves Lorseth. Depending on when the message is sent,
    which could be any time between eight in the evening and five in the
    morning. Most likely the pigeons that carry the return message will
    fly over the meadow between six in the evening tomorrow and three
    the following morning.”
    “Did you say pigeons? Plural?”
    “Oh, yes. Important royal messages are always sent in triplicate.
    So, three pigeons. There are predators, one of the animals could
    become sick, or,” he smiled wryly, “get shot.”
    “That means we’ve got three chances,” Marak said.
    Bonds of Fear
    35
    “Yes, if none of them has met with misfortune by then. Another
    advantage is that they will be descending, which should make it
    easier to see and shoot one of them. I also picked this day because it
    is around full moon. Let’s hope our luck holds and the weather stays
    like it has been for the last few days, with clear open skies.”
    “Hm. You make it sound almost possible,” Marak mused. “Won’t
    they get suspicious when only two of their pigeons make it?”
    “I should think not. They lose a lot of birds. Occasionally none at
    all make it.”
    “I’ll have my top marksmen posted in the meadow, and I myself
    will be there as well, of course. Let’s hope your plan works. It is a big
    meadow,” Marak said. “Oh yes, I’ll bring the capsule as soon as I’ve
    retrieved it to you. Unopened of course.”
    “Thank you. I hate it with a passion, to go behind their backs
    like that, but once doubt starts to creep in, it spreads like a cancer,
    infecting all and everything in its path. I can’t be careless in this.”
    “No, you can’t. Who knows, maybe tomorrow you can exclude
    them both. Let’s think positive.”
    “Let’s hope so.”
    “Let’s hope I can exclude all three of you, Marak. I hope so. I so do
    hope so.”

    36
    Andrew Ashling

    With a large ladle, Ehandar scooped some tepid water out of the
    basin and emptied it in the kettle that hung on an arm that pivoted
    above the fire in the hearth. Then he took an equal amount of hot
    water out of the kettle and transferred it carefully to the basin. He
    tested the water. It was exactly the temperature his lord liked. He
    had been doing this for the last two hours. Anaxantis never told him
    when he would be back, yet he expected his foot bath to be ready
    when he did.
    This day being his birthday, his lord could stay away for a long
    time still. His friends had probably thrown him a party, so he was
    prepared for a long wait. It was not as if he had anything else to do.
    He sat down on the rug before the fire and put his silver flute to his
    lips. After having played a few traditional ballads, he decided to work
    some more on a little tune he had made himself.
    Now and then he stopped to check if the water was still warm
    enough. His thoughts wandered. His lord had many and grave
    responsibilities.