Born of Darkness (William King) - William King Page 0,15
shall go to the Cathedral and pray for guidance. In the meantime, rest, recover your strength. I fear we shall have need of it before this matter is settled.”
He made a sign of benediction and left.
***
Kormak was not at all surprised when Prince Taran entered the room. He flashed Rhiana his brilliant smile then looked down at Kormak. “Well,” he said. “At least you’re alive.”
“There is that,” said Kormak.
“I thought Guardians were trained to kill such things, demons, Old Ones, whatever it was.”
“Sometimes we kill them. Sometimes they kill us.”
Taran nodded. “And sometimes they kill and maim almost two-score of men sworn to Imperial service.”
“Perhaps you should mention that to the creature. I am sure it will take into account the fact you find its behaviour objectionable when next it emerges.”
Taran sighed. “I shall take into account the fact you are wounded and in pain, Sir Kormak. I shall also take into account the fact you most likely saved my brother’s life. And the fact that we already owe you a considerable debt of gratitude. But if you speak to me in that disrespectful tone again . . .”
“Bad things happen to nobles who kill Guardians, Prince Taran. The Old Ones regard anyone not under the protection of my order as fair game. You have an Old One loose here in your palace. My order will not aid you if you kill me while I am helping you.”
“Is that what you are doing?”
“It’s what I will be doing once I get out of this bed.”
“I am glad to hear you say that. And I would not have you killed. I have other ways of showing my displeasure.” He glanced at Rhiana and smiled again. There was no warmth at all in his expression. “I have a long memory, Sir Kormak, and a longer reach. You would do well to remember that.”
“I will remember you said it,” Kormak said.
“Good. I do not mind admitting we need your help. There is a shape shifting monster loose in the royal palace and you are best qualified to deal with it.”
He made his way to the door and closed it behind him as he left.
“You don’t go out of your way to make friends, do you?” Rhiana said. She sounded almost admiring.
“His sort annoy me,” Kormak said. The physician looked as if he wanted to cover his ears. Kormak pulled himself out of the bed ignoring the pain in his chest. “Make me a draft of one part morphea to ten parts witchbane to one hundred parts water,” he said. “I want it within the hour.”
The physician’s jaws tightened. He did not like his patients telling him what to do. “You heard what Prince Taran said. He wants me on my feet as soon as possible.”
The physician decided not to argue.
“What do you intend to do,” Rhiana asked.
“There are questions I need to ask and the sooner I start the better.”
***
Kormak entered, the council chamber, a large room deep within the Palace. Guards in immaculate uniform stood at attention outside the doors. Around a massive table of polished oak huddled the most powerful men in the realm of Siderea.
King Aemon leaned over the head of the table, studying a map of the catacombs beneath the palace. On it sat polished rune inscribed stone markers. The map looked newly inked on fresh parchment, a copy of an older document too valuable to be pressed into service in such a way.
“It seems we have a number of reported sightings of the Beast,” Aemon said, touching first one of the stone markers then another. “How likely is it that they are all accurate?”
“Not at all,” Prince Taran said. “People are scared, brother. They jump at their own shadows. Rumours swirl around the palace like clouds around the peak of Mount Zahan.”
“We can hardly blame people for being scared. The creature killed a score of armed men and escaped from the most closely guarded vault in the realm. It nearly killed me and a Guardian of the Order of the Dawn.”
Aemon stood up and turned to gaze at the portrait of his father on the wall. King Varlan did not look much like his sons. He was a big, fleshy man with a red face. His hanging jowls and the pouches beneath his eyes spoke of grosser appetites. His eyes were the same though and something about the shape of the chin reminded Kormak of Aemon and his brother.
Duke Leone pushed his chair back and listened as if