The Lord Son's Travels Read Online Free PDF Page B

us, those who can
give us the knowledge we seek."
    "Do
you trust him?" his partner demanded.  
    Adrien
nodded emphatically.   "He is
the one who started me on this path, Brendan."
    "He
is loyal..."
    "He
is loyal to Allè-dôn, Brendan, not to my family,"   Adrien finished, aware as he spoke of
the implications of his words.   He
sighed, gazed off to the distance to focus his thoughts.   When he turned again to his companion,
his voice was steady and firm.   "I don't doubt the intentions of my father or my brother," he
said.   He paused, lips pursed.   Brendan nodded for him to
continue.   "But I doubt their
abilities. Especially if these tales from these strangers are true.   I don't claim to be Lord King," he
shrugged.   "But Allè-dôn must
be protected.   Who is there to do
it but us?"
    Brendan
thought of the words he had spoken last night, of the legend his friend had
referenced.   Adrien saw the troubled
expression cross his face and guessed the cause.
    "Our
goal is to seek knowledge, Brendan," he said softly.   "Any changes to this plan we make
together.   Agreed?"   Brendan nodded, his confidence
returning at his words.   He looked
around the tavern again and was surprised to note it was now rather empty.   Only a few drunks were badgering Rene
for another round.   Bendelbert was
at the bar, noisily attempting to whistle in tune and wipe up from the evening's
revels.
    "So,
let's plan on meeting again here tomorrow night after duty," Adrien said,
gathering his satchel and pulling on his cloak.   "I'll speak to our friend if you arrange for our goods
to be ready by the next night."
    Brendan
admitted, "That will be difficult."   They arose from their table and made their way across the
tavern room.   As they passed the
bar, Bendelbert made a motion with his hand for them to join him.
    "We
paid our tab, good man," Brendan declared good-naturedly.   "Tip not high enough?"
    He eyed
the remaining customers, who were busy trying to woo the fair barmaid.   She stood hands on hips, entertained by
their slurred, clumsy attempts.   The barkeep led them out the tavern room doorway through the building entryway
beyond.   Here were a set of rickety
steps that lead to the small cells available to travelers for an evening's shelter.  
    Concerned,
Brendan demanded, "What is it, barkeep?"   Adrien didn't speak, but kept his sword hand by the side of
his thigh, ready to move in an instant.   When he saw the royal reach under his cloak the barkeep chuckled
roughly, like the bark of an old, tired watchdog.
    "Save
it for the road, my heroes," he snapped defiantly.   He folded his arms and waited for their
reply.
    "What..."
Brendan started angrily.   Adrien
touched his arm, motioning for him to remain still.   The barkeep merely kept his place.
    "Mother
always said I had the hearing of an elf." the man continued calmly.
    "There
are no elves," Adrien replied in an equally disinterested tone.   "And I don't know what you think
you heard..."
    "There's
your biggest problem," the old man continued.   He reached into his apron and pulled out a pipe.   "You think you know everything,
don't you?   Well, if knowledge grows
a man, you'll be ten feet tall within a season.   First," he said, tapping out a little smokeweed into
his pipe.   "You'll need a
guide as soon as you leave this border.   I'll grant you, you know your land, but you're a babe in the woods as
soon as you leave Allè-dôn."   He held his pipe to a nearby lamp, and lit it carefully, ignoring the
dumbfounded looks on the warriors in front of him.   "Second, you need to learn to keep a secret.   If I had one man in this tavern with
more than turnips between his ears, you'd have been before the Lord King last
night for treason.   It took me half
a second to figure your plan, and that was because I was mostly thinking what
to buy at market tomorrow.   Third,
you had better learn who your friends are, because you'll need many on this
journey." He