Within the Hollow Crown Read Online Free PDF Page B

breeze.
    “Welcome, my Turin-Sen, my children of the Mountains,” Argos said, his usual greeting. His baritone voice resonated across the cliff face like a cello bowing through an adagio. Even the Moon was jealous of Argos’ ability to enthrall.
    “Were that I could spend the rest of time with you, teaching you all that I know. But time has finally run out, and we must put aside instruction in favor of fealty.
    “The Regent has informed me that the armies are ready, and the supply chains prepared, and the battle plans laid out. The war is about to begin. And to that end, we must serve our country, and be examples for our fellow countrymen.”
    “What part shall we play in the coming conflict?” asked Halmir, the youngest member of the Turin-Sen.
    “You will be my instruments of victory, of course,” Argos replied. “But the details will come later. For our last lesson, we are going to talk about shadows...”
     
     

Chapter 6: Sarah
     
    The most confused person at the wedding of Lady Caroline and Lord Rutherford was Lord Rutherford.
    Harold Rutherford was sure he should have remembered that he was going to be married, but it seemed everyone in court already knew it, and they were smart folks, by golly. Surely, if Michael, Landos, Vye, and Gabriel all thought he was getting married, they must be right.
    Lady Caroline was the niece of Count Ralsean, Deliem’s neighbor to the east. Nieces of Counts, as a general rule, are lucky to marry a Baron or Knight, if they can find one. More often, they end up married to someone with equally tenuous ties to nobility .
    Michael had said in previous breakfast meetings that he thought they should try to develop stronger ties with Count Ralsean. He seemed to be a benevolent ruler of his people. Michael held many meetings with Landos about ways in which they could bolster the alliance.
    When it became clear that Lord Rutherford was out of control and needed to be domesticated, Michael thought this might be the perfect opportunity. Yes, the poor girl would have to live with Harold, but Michael guessed she would end up running the place within a month. And in the meantime, they will have done Count Ralsean a favor and gotten one of his female wards off his hands. And to a Baron, no less.
    Only Lady Vye saw the problem with the wedding. It was not a problem with Lady Caroline; She seemed capable of putting a leash on Rutherford. It was not with Lord Rutherford, although Vye questioned the idea of promoting his propagation in any way. The problem was with Sarah Ralsean.
    Count Ralsean arrived with his entourage. His wife, the Countess Ralsean. His own High Lieutenant. Personal guards, a footman, two servants, and his Great Dane Claudius. His two sons also marched into town with personal staff. But Lady Caroline rode in a carriage at the rear of the procession with her maid of honor, Count Ralsean’s only daughter, Sarah. And Sarah was the problem.
    She was one of those girls, Vye thought. She was the sort of girl that men convinced themselves must be a great person simply because she looked that good. Long, straight blond hair, bright blue eyes, a warm smile, pretty nose, and petite figure. And she had those perky breasts that, while they weren’t very large, always let you know they were there no matter how modestly she dressed. She came across as demure and pleasant. And maybe she was all of those things. But certainly she was given credit for them before she opened her mouth.
    Vye and Landos were waiting in the courtyard, welcoming the guests to Hartstone Castle. It was Landos’ job to make the first greetings, then escort everyone to the Great Hall, where Michael would be waiting with Rutherford. But what it meant was that Landos first saw Sarah by the light of the setting sun.
    “That’s not…” Landos started. “That’s not Lady Caroline, is it?”
    Vye watched the young, blonde waif emerge from the carriage.
    “No,” she said. “Lady Caroline has darker hair. That