Too Many Princes Read Online Free PDF Page B

Oskar smiled, showing many teeth, while the queen looked as though she smelled something sour. For her part, Therula watched with barely concealed anxiety.
    Lottres shook himself. He also dropped to one knee, and Brastigan followed with a rebellions jerk. The anonymous knife poked him in the ribs as he did so.
    Unferth told them, “ You shall accompany this messenger to Hawkwing House, and do whatever Lady Yriatt requires of you. Do not return until you have her leave. ” As if he didn't even wish to look at them, his gaze shifted to the falcon. “ Is that acceptable to the noble lady? ”
    The great bird nodded. “ It is. ”
    “ Then so be it. ”
    Brastigan swallowed, keeping back angry words. The old man didn't even ask for their agreement, just packed them off like unwanted luggage!
    Unferth was saying, “ Go forth, my sons, for the honor of Crutham. ”
    If the king thought Brastigan was going to mouth some prettiness in agreement, he was mistaken. Lottres did find his tongue. “ It shall be as you say, Father. ”
    He rose, and Brastigan, stiffly, as well. What he really wanted was to spit in the old man's face, but that would give Oskar and his toadies too much satisfaction.
    “ We shall depart at once. ” Brastigan couldn't quite keep the snarl from his tone, so he contented himself with that and a curt bow. Then he stalked from the room as quickly as his long legs could carry him. After him came Lottres, with the men at arms behind.
    They were a good ways out in the courtyard before Brastigan's fury cooled enough that his pace began to lag. Even Lottres didn't try to calm him. They simply concentrated on keeping up.
    Brastigan stopped as quickly as he had started. Lottres regarded him anxiously, with the falcon, like some unnatural growth, on his shoulder. The men fell into military lines. There was an awkward pause as everyone waited to see who would take charge of the situation.
    “ All right, you heard him, ” Brastigan snapped. “ Get your stuff together, if you haven't already. ”
    He knew the squad leader well, for they often trained together. Pikarus was too good a soldier to reveal his thoughts, but some of his squad were less experienced. Their expressions confirmed his suspicion, that King Unferth had planned this eviction well in advance.
    Before he could question them, Pikarus ventured, “ Your highness, I must point out that you are not permitted to carry an unsheathed weapon in the castle. ”
    He was looking at the unidentified dagger, still braced in Brastigan's belt. The dark prince had forgotten about it, but he wasn't about to admit that.
    “ Too late now, ” he sneered.
    Ordinarily he liked Pikarus, but at the moment he didn't like anything at all. What he really wanted was to punch someone, but he knew better. Bare knuckles against armored men would only hurt him, and the king would feel no pain at all. Anyway, the brawl earlier nearly came to a bad end for him. He was in no mood to press his luck. Brastigan swallowed the fire in his chest and consciously diverted himself back to the matter he had been pursuing before King Unferth pronounced his sentence of exile.
    “ I'll get rid of the knife, ” Brastigan told Pikarus. “ We meet at the stables at dawn. ” He spun and stalked off, hoping the crowd would stay behind for once.
    In his wake, Lottres was smoothing ruffled feathers. “ Let me talk to him. ”
    “ Very good, your highness, ” Pikarus said, his bland voice fainter with distance.
    “ Brastigan... ” The younger man puffed, hurrying after him.
    A weird, thin voice advised, “ Let him sulk. It's best he get it out of his system early. ”
    Brastigan whirled with a hot cry: “ Iamnotsulking! ”
    He knew he shouldn't let the king's “ deed of honor ” bother him so much. After all, he should be used to Unferth's rejection by now. It shouldn't have mattered. Yet still, his pride smarted. After all the years of boredom, something interesting was finally