Disciple of War Disciple of War (Art of the Adept #4) - Michael G. Manning Page 0,12

on the topic.”

“I will, when the time is right. Currently we need him to keep Terabinia stable. Overthrowing him while Darrow is waiting for an opportunity to invade would be asking for trouble.”

“It’s never convenient,” growled Arrogan. “It was the same in my day. They all kept finding excuses to keep their elementals. It was never a good time. Don’t make me regret training you, William.”

“It’s the only way I can train Selene!”

“Then too bad!”

“Don’t you want us to be happy?”

“Not if it means unleashing that evil on the world again. Your happiness isn’t worth that.”

“It’s still out there.”

“Then go kill the king as you promised!”

Will paused. “If you won’t teach me, I could ask Lognion.”

“Are you being serious, or are you just trying to piss me off? Think carefully before you answer.”

“Why?”

“Just answer the damned question!” yelled Arrogan.

Will replied through clenched teeth. “I’m dead serious.”

Arrogan’s answer came not in words, but as a surge from the ring as he rushed out to invade Will’s body. Will caught him at the start, and he wrestled with the old man. Arrogan’s will was impossibly strong, stronger than Ethelgren’s had been, and if he had been caught off-guard, Will would almost certainly have lost.

But it was his body. He had the high ground, and his will was just enough to keep his grandfather from taking control. Forcing the old man’s soul back into the ring, he dismissed the limnthal.

The fight was over, for unlike Ethelgren’s relic, the Ring of Vile and Unspeakable Knowledge was tied to his limnthal. If the limnthal wasn’t active, Arrogan wasn’t conscious. Will sighed, feeling a sense of deep regret, then he removed the ring and dropped it into his pocket. The limnthal was too handy to stop using, so it was easier to give up the ring, at least for the time being.

Hopefully, he’ll understand when this is all over.

Since he was already out walking, he turned his steps in the direction of the palace. He’d made up his mind.

***

“My Son, it is always good to see you,” enthused Lognion without taking his eyes from the roses he was trimming.

They were in a small, private garden in the rear courtyard behind the palace. The footman had brought Will straight there after he had requested an audience. He had been surprised to find Selene’s father wearing sturdy work clothes and heavy leather gloves. The monarch appeared to be sincerely working on the garden. “I didn’t expect this,” said Will honestly, ignoring the king’s excessive good humor.

Lognion turned and smiled faintly. “Just because I find it entertaining to torture people doesn’t mean I don’t have other hobbies, William. Try not to be so closed minded. The world is not nearly as simple as you suppose.”

“I just never imagined you as a gardener.”

“I find the exercise profitable for both body and mind, and I rather enjoy bringing order from the natural state of chaos present in growing plants. Leave them to themselves and they run riot, until the weeds choke them out, and then every bit of man-made organization vanishes as the plants begin to compete with one another. My garden is rather like a microcosm of the kingdom. I enjoy bringing order out of the native madness. The only difference is that here, rather than pruning men, I prune branches.

“Sometimes I remove an entire plant.” Lognion pointed to an empty place where something had recently been uprooted. “That spot could be called ‘Arenata’ or ‘Spry.’ Now I will plant something new in its place, and my garden will benefit as something stronger sprouts in that place.” He gave Will a meaningful stare.

Will had no interest in entertaining the evil bastard’s philosophical musings. “I came to ask a favor of you.”

The king stopped what he was doing and removed his gloves. “Oh. This is a rare occasion. You have my full attention.”

“I need to learn the heart-stone enchantment.”

“And why would someone who so reviles the wickedness of that magic suddenly wish to learn it? More importantly, why would I share such an important secret, a secret I have kept to myself throughout my life?”

“When you offered me the link that controlled Selene, I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have freed her,” Will admitted.

Lognion frowned. “You’re telling the truth, yet I’m certain you don’t wish to enslave her. You’re going to have to explain, William.”

“I have more than one reason,” he replied, being careful to stick to the truth. “One reason is that in the future I may wish to travel.