Black Kerthon's Doom Read Free Page A

other holding the side of his head.
     
    Daura took her leave of the High King intending to return to her quarters. On the way through the dim corridor, she met Kaell. She had no opportunity to avoid him, smiling as she had been trained to do, ever a lady of the court. Her practiced smile always bothered Gareth. She and Kaell were alone in the narrow corridor. Not a servant was present. It appeared to Daura that it was not coincidence.
    "Where have you been?" asked Kaell, looking behind her. He moved to block her path.
    "With the High King, if you must know." She tried to walk by but he continued to block her way. His pale face drew close and she could smell the grease in his goatee.
    "Move, Kaell. You have no business with me." Her hand held a dagger, its point an inch from Kaell's abdomen.
    He looked at her and snarled. His countenance was pinched to begin with and his expressions of anger created an image of a ferret, a term used by the peasants to Kaell's everlasting outrage.
    "Soon I shall find out your secrets. I will bring you down from your pedestal. I will. You will bow to me."
    "You are a pig, Kaell. Somehow, you learned magic, but I bet it wasn't honestly. I doubt you can learn at all, dumb as you are. Perhaps you are a puppet for Prosty."
    Kaell's face turned purple. Daura pressed her dagger into his midsection. Kaell coughed turning away and she moved quickly.
    Daura pushed by him and walked away without another word. She heard Kaell muttering to himself, almost arguing with someone although he was now alone and wondered how long she could keep out of his clutches. He was slowly turning Nantitet into his personal playground, bribing several on the High King's staff to support him. Kaell was careful to include his supporters on this trip to Rhath; his insecurity a badge that everyone except himself could see. The High King suspected Daura loyalty to Gareth overrode her loyality to the High King but he had no proof. She had to be careful, one slip and the watchful Kaell would expose her to the High King and she would be thrown into the dungeon. It had been rumored that Kaell had begun an active involvement in the care of prisoners and even used torture. Of course, it was not acknowledged in the court, but outside the direct influence of the Lords, the rumors persisted. And Kaell had done nothing to refute them. He appeared to appreciate the image he was gaining. Or maybe he not only appreciated it, perhaps he promoted it, and that thought depressed Daura. She would have to discover the truth to those rumors. It was not a pleasant thought, but the information could be useful.
    Daura returned to her room, unsure of her next step, other than the scheduled meeting with Gareth's messenger. She would take Parean with her for added protection. It would look like a romantic walk in the woods in case anyone saw them. She did like him. Not too strongly but it did get lonely in her isolated position. And Parean was very considerate in her company.
     
    Prosty sat on a box and scanned through the pages of the old books he had found. His tattered brown cloak pulled tight around him. Kaell had tried often to talk him into wearing finer clothes but he laughed the younger wizard off.
    "What would I do with fine clothes? Clothes are nothing, no reflection of the man they cover. You should look within yourself; I don't think your understanding of people is keen."
    Kaell cursed as always when words escaped him. Prosty shook his head, wondering why he joined up with Kaell. The young wizard was hotheaded and not very sharp in many respects. However, Prosty's ordeal would be over soon. Very soon.
    The leather-bound manuscripts crackled as each page was turned and he cringed at each sound. Occasionally, he would rub his hand over his bald head to wipe the sweat away. It all led to this; his search for Kerthon's magic. Let Kaell play his power games with the High King. Prosty would keep himself above it and continue his quest, the quest