pale skin was almost luminous in the gloaming, and it made the shadowy handprint on her throat even more obvious. Doranei noticed Veil staring at the mark, looking as if the sight of Legana in the twilight was making him feel Azaer’s creeping presence.
It’s not the first time he’s seen her, though, Doranei reflected. I guess some of us are more used to the unnatural. He cleared his throat. ‘You’re to lead us to the king?’
Veil ducked his head. ‘Aye, follow me.’
He led them up the stepped slope towards Moorview Castle. It didn’t look much militarily - a smallish tower set against the southern side of a defensive perimeter wall - but inside there was a newer, highly fortified keep. It stood on a bald outcrop surrounded by thick forest, dominating the landscape. It was, in the eyes of the king and his Brotherhood, a fine place for a last stand. There was one proper road running through the forest to the castle, and a few animal paths used by those who could find them, but for the main it was impassable to large bodies of troops. They crossed a defensive ditch around what had been formal gardens until two legions of Kingsguard had camped on it, and laboured up the last hundred yards to the main gate.
With Veil leading, they were admitted without challenge. The high walls concealed ground that was teeming with uniformed officers, their weapons and finery gleaming despite the advancing gloom. Veil headed for the keep, but before they reached it a black-armoured King’s Man came out, followed by the king’s bodyguard, Coran, and Veil had already moved to Isak’s side as he saw the last man stop in the open doorway.
A slight hush descended upon the scene as the officers and soldiers on the wall all turned to watch as King Emin advanced from the shadows of the doorway, a curious, almost pained smile on his face.
‘So it is true,’ he said softly.
The king was resplendent, although dressed for war - not in all-enclosing plate, but in something more akin to the heavy armour worn by the soldiers of the Kingsguard. His cuirass was green and gold, of such intricacy and artistry only a king would ever consider wearing it to battle. Doranei picked out the angular Elven runes woven into the design: there was magic imbued in the metal.
His greaves were magnificently detailed, with knee-guards of bees in flight; Doranei’s sharp eyes noticed their gilded stings protruded slightly from the metal plate.
‘It is true,’ Mihn said, stepping forward when no one else spoke, ‘but it was not done without consequences.’
The king nodded, looking haunted. ‘Aye, that I cannot doubt,’ he murmured. Abruptly he swept off his feathered hat and bowed low to them, but Doranei realised it was only when he looked at Legana that his welcoming smile reached his eyes.
‘That it was done at all is a miracle,’ the king continued, ‘and one I scarcely know how to begin asking about.’
Mihn held up a hand to stop him. ‘Your Majesty, there will be time for questions another day, and I will answer them - yours is, ah, an inquiring mind, and naturally you will wish to know every details.’ He looked apologetic as he glanced briefly in Isak’s direction. ‘However, there are some memories best not unearthed.’
Isak hadn’t looked up through the whole exchange, but when Mihn turned in his direction he seemed to sense it and he flinched. Hulf started at the unexpected movement and Isak knelt, running a hand down the dog’s back to sooth him. The sight of his abused flesh made more than one man gasp and Isak quickly withdrew his arm.
King Emin gave Mihn a puzzled look, clearly not having expected Isak’s self-effacing bodyguard to be so assertive, but he was right; now was not the time. He walked forward and went down on one knee in front of Isak.
Hulf immediately moved forward and placed himself between the two men. Though not yet fully grown, Hulf was no longer a puppy, and he was piling on muscle every day. His growl was threatening enough to make the King’s Men on either side edge forward. But the king ignored them and reached slowly forward with one hand for Hulf to take his scent.
Isak remained very still while Hulf sniffed at the king’s fingers and quietened.
Emin heard the white-eye’s breathing, shallow and uneven, but still Isak would not look up at him.