The Sworn Knight, Robert Ryan [good beach reads .txt] 📗

Faran did not hesitate. “I’ll go with you.”

She smiled at him then, but it was a sad smile. “I don’texpect you to, Faran. Likely, I go to my death, and I’ll not be responsible foryours as well.”

“Nor will you be. You stuck by me all this time, and youcould have left. It was your choice. Now, the choice is mine to make, and youbear no responsibility for it. I’m going with you, and that’s that.”

There was a murmur of approval from the others, and Karestespoke.

“We have all agreed on this. We are all going withyou. The evil in Faladir will spread. It threatens all realms and all lands. Wewill do what we can to help you fulfill the prophecy.”

Ferla seemed humbled by those words, and there was a glimmerof tears in her eyes but she made no move to wipe them away.

“Thank you,” she said. “I have a task to do, and in truthI’ll need your help. But regardless of prophecy, I have no idea how to go aboutthings.”

“Prophecy has a habit of being vague like that,” Karestereplied, “but the way forward will become clearer as we go, and we can begin toplan as we travel.”

Ferla nodded. Then she did something surprising. She drewherself up, and spoke solemnly.

“I may not know yet what to do, or how. But this I swear byall the powers of the universe. I will not rest until the evil is defeated, andfreedom restored to Faladir. In pledge to this, I forfeit my life.”

Not for the first time, Faran thought she looked like aqueen from some old legend, but then his gaze left her and leaped to Kareste.

Kareste struggled to her feet as though something hadsurprised her. She took a few tottering steps, and her eyes rolled upward beforeshe swayed. Kubodin reached her first, but even he was too late to prevent herfalling.

4. A Dilemma of Duty

They all hovered around Kareste, but it was Kubodin whohelped her to sit up.

She seemed disorientated at first, but then she gathered herstaff and stood again, albeit on shaky legs. It was the first time Faran hadever seen her show any weakness, and he could tell that she hated it. Mostpeople would have remained sitting for a while. But she stood, and she refusedto even use the staff as a support, but it was ready to be used if needed.

“What is it, lady?” Asana asked.

She did not answer him, but looked instead at Faran andFerla.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?” Ferla asked.

“I was wrong. Very wrong. A mind just touched mine. It wasonly brief, and the distance was great. But I know that mind.”

Faran looked into her green-brown eyes. They seemed strangeto him.

“You have seen a vision,” he said. It was less a questionthan a statement.

“Yes. The mind touched mine, and then I saw what would be ifthat mind was extinguished into the void.”

“Whose mind?” Ferla asked.

Kubodin gently released her, for he still had an arm aroundher, but it was no longer needed.

Kareste stood taller, but there was a wild mix of sadnessand hope in her gaze.

“Aranloth yet lives. I did not think it possible that heescaped Lindercroft, but he has. I’m sorry for the grief I caused you.”

Faran stepped back in shock. He could not believe this, andyet it was true that they had seen no body.

“How is it possible?” he asked.

He studied her while she answered. She had apologized forthe grief she had caused, but he knew she would not have claimed Aranloth deadunless she was certain that it was so. And her own grief, which she had triedto hide, must have been even deeper than his. She had suffered even more thanhe and Ferla.

“I don’t know. I saw none of the details, yet I saw where heis and how he got there. He was badly injured, both by magic and steel. He shouldhave been dead. But somehow he reached safety, and a place that Lindercroftcould not follow.”

Faran felt a sudden chill. Where could he have gone in sucha condition that the knight could not have followed?

“How badly is he injured, and where did he go?” he asked.

He saw Ferla pale, and he knew she had the same suspicionsthat he had.

“Lindercroft would have followed him anywhere to kill him.Except the one place that would have killed Lindercroft in turn,” Kareste said.“He’s in the Tombs of the Letharn, but getting there nearly destroyed him.”

Ferla spoke softly. “Then we must go and help him.”

There was silence for a few moments, but then Kareste shookher head.

“You have a duty to Faladir, and that cannot wait. Thingswill be moving apace there, for the Morleth Stone is waking and growingstronger the more it’s used. You must continue with your plan.” Karestestraightened, and she was now fully recovered. “I will go to help Aranloth, butin turn I need the help of one other.”

There was silence again, deeper than before.

“I will help you, Kareste,” Asana stated. “Aranloth is myfriend, and there is nothing I would not do for him.”

Kareste gazed at him. “I wish it were that simple, but I mayneed help from someone who possesses magic. Skill with a blade, no matter howexalted, will not protect against the forces of magic that guard the tombs.”

They all looked uncomfortable now, but it was nothingcompared to the turmoil that bubbled up inside Faran.

Kubodin stepped forward. “Then take me. I have magic, ifmagic is needed. But there’s not much that my axe can’t handle.”

“Indeed, not,” Kareste answered. “But your magic is of apeculiar kind. It is not that of the lòhrens, and may not suffice in thetombs.”

The silence returned again. Faran knew what was needed. Hehad been to the tombs before, and he had learned the protective charm and thesecret of holding the harakgar at bay. But fear stilled his mouth, and he couldfind no words. Worse still, how could he abandon Ferla?

The silence grew heavy, but Kareste made no move to breakit. This would be his choice, and Kareste would not coerce him. If need be,