Part 28 (1/2)
The Prince of Krondor was the fastest swordsman Willia hi the creature's flank as he sought to close with the nimble monarch
Across the stable floor the bloody dance ht of day It hesitated, turning to snarl at those on its right, and William took a step back Then the creature, now clearly weakened, took another step into the light, seeking to close with Arutha
Williaue, but still he forced himself to hack away at the creature's flanks The demon's sides and back were a s was thickly matted with blood, and they treet faster as the deony to the deered a step, then fell
Without hesitation, Arutha stepped forward and drove his sword deep into the creature's neck where it joined the shoulder He pushed hard, plunging the blade halfway to the crossguard, then pulling it free
With a moan, the creature thrashed, and after a while went still S blood dripped from Arutha's blade, and a small flame erupted at the de the dereen blaze that filled the air with the stench of decaying flesh and burning sulfur
Most of the , but withinonly a blackened outline of its for in the air
The Prince's attending page ran up, ready to do his lord's bidding Arutha opened up the bag on the page's hip and withdread of bandages He wiped off the blade, and where the demon's blood touched the fabric, it blackened and smoked In a conversational tone, Arutha said, ”Tell theoff the demon's blood, lieutenant”
”Sire!” answered William; but every man present had seen the Prince's actions
Then Arutha said, ”Well, I've seen worse roup of soldiers standing ready and said, ”Captain Treggar”
”Sire!” Treggar stepped forward
”Well done, captain Now, pass the word We've got plenty of work ahead of us I want squads in the hills in all directions looking for any assassins eren't caught up in this carnage”
”Yes, Highness,” said Treggar, turning to give instructions
”Lieutenant,” said Arutha
”Highness,” William answered
”I can't fault your bravery, but if I ever see you doing soain I'll have you standing guard over the Princesses' laundry until you retire We had dozens of ht thing to do, lieutenant”
Blushi+ng under the griave him a faint smile ”We all make mistakes We learn fro around, William said, ”I could do without another such as this”
Arutha put his hand on William's shoulder ”I was not yet a year into my rule of Krondor when I faced my first deht Just as this fight will never truly prepare you for the next” Softly, so that William alone could hear, he added, ”You're never ready, Will You just o All your best plans fall apart the eneral is the one who kno to i his voice he said, ”Do you understand, lieutenant?”
”I think I understand, Highness”
”Good Now, let's see e can find inside” As Treggar sent out the horsenaled for a dozen men to accompany William and himself as they searched the fortress
As they walked into the bloody stable, William said, ”James should be here He's the one who explored e, Ja soundly now and he's earned every moment of slu ill-used”
”As my old horsemaster at Crydee used to say, 'ridden hard and put aet'”
Williaon, sire?”
Arutha's eyebrow rose in question
”Father used to tell us stories of his boyhood in Crydee from time to time, and I've heard an supplied a few of the lanced around ”No doubt” He reician could euaranteed to cause the subject the most embarrassain felt as though he would lose the contents of his stoe
Here the dee Arutha whispered, ”Black-hearted murderers they were, but no aze, rather he studied the carnage, as if to fix it in his mind Blood had been splattered over nearly every exposed surface Bodies had been torn asunder Every conceivable organ was on display, drawing clouds of flies as the sick-sweet san to cloy the air
”When we are done here, I want this place scourged by fire,” said the Prince softly
William nodded, and turned to two of the men ”Ride and find whatever wood you can” To two others he said, ”There are jars of oil in roo theh priest had cast aside at the ht to him
A soldier complied and Arutha examined it ”What dark words are written here sohness, may I?” asked William
Arutha handed over the book ”I aic, sire, but I was a student” Williaave Arutha a half-sain embarrassed
William read only a few lines, then he slae, but even so, these writings speak of power” He said, ”It chilled me even to look at the words This is a hness, don't let anyone read it until wards have been placed around it”
Arutha nodded He handed the book to a soldier and said, ”In the saddle-bag on my horse Guard it”
The soldier saluted and carried the book away Looking at Williaht to ician If our new ician was here, ould she say, do you think?”
A spectrum of emotions passed quickly over William's features as he considered a response to the Prince's question He fought the inorance of her competence But at last, as uess, Highness But I know she would be able to tell us much about what has occurred here She” He hesitated, then said, ”She is an exceptional student of the arts and is well-versed in lore”
”Then doubly I wish she were here, today,” said Arutha
They traveled through a hallway to what appeared to be sleeping quarters Men went quickly through the roo with several leather-bound books Arutha ordered these also be carried back to Krondor
They reached the last room at the end of a short hallherein two soldiers were rifling a wooden chest Nearby, another chest sat unopened, and as Arutha entered a soldier said, ”There is a seal upon that one, Highness, and I thought it best not to ta it to Krondor and we'll have an expert exao to Krondor when you have an expert here, Highness?”
They turned to find Ja at the door, hand upon the ja without theh to be here?” asked the Prince
”I'and a weak attempt at bravado ”You didn't expectwhile you were killing it, did you?”
Arutha shtly ”Tell me what you can about that chest”
James dropped to his knees and looked closely at the seal and lock After a few es, iron bands and sides, he said, ”I can tell you it is a very good idea to take it back to Krondor After a priestparticularly nasty will happen when that seal is broken, I'll pick the lock My tools are back in my apartment in the palace, sire”