The Warlock Senator (Book 2) Read Free Page B

handle himself well enough without me.” Al chuckled to himself, but noticed Braun’s disapproving gaze. “Just trying to diffuse the tension…” Al straightened his beard and slid down from the bed.
    Braun bristled. “My master is on his way to face the senate tribunal in Drakai Glazei, Lady Lokton is in a fretful state of mourning, and I am too far away from Erik to provide any meaningful service. You will forgive me if I fail to laugh at your joke.”
    Al nodded. “Of course, Braun, of course.” The dwarf stretched his back. “Then what is the plan?”
    “I have left another in charge of protecting House Lokton while I go to free my master from Senator Bracken.”
    “You aim to attack a senator on the open road?” Al inquired.
    “I see little choice in the matter. Do you have another option?”
    A l nodded. “I will go and fetch Lepkin. There is much at stake should he fail to attend.” Al stretched his arms and made fists, bending and extending his sausage like fingers a few times. “Besides, I am well versed in senate protocol. There is a good chance that if I get Lepkin to the tribunal, we can still save Lord Lokton.”
    Braun folded his muscled arms and frowned. “Then go as quickly as you can. I will follow the caravan, but I will stay my hand. Just know that if Lepkin’s injuries prevent him from attending the tribunal, or if my master is sentenced to death, I will lop off every head in the senate that stands between me and Lord Lokton.”
    “Then I must hurry,” Al responded. “Wait as long as you can, Braun. I’ll do my best to get Lepkin to the tribunal.”
    Braun nodded and extended a hand. Al offered his in kind and the two shook hands. “Take care, good dwarf. Cedreau’s spies have been spotted on Lokton land. They are not pleased with their master’s death, and they will strike like a pack of jackals at your heels if you let them.”
    Al nodded. “I can handle myself,” he said with a wink. “I will prepare immediately and try to set out before the sun begins to set this day.”
    “Very well,” Braun replied. “I leave immediately for Drakai Glazei. May the Gods smile upon you.”
     
    *****
     
    “I am sorry, but you cannot go inside with him,” Marlin said as he closed the door to Master Lepkin’s chamber. “It’s nothing personal, but the dark side of your aura could taint the healing process. We mustn’t take any chances.”
    “Of course ,” Lady Dimwater replied softly. Her sky blue eyes bored through the wooden door barring her from her love.
    The longing in Lady Dimwater’s soul was more than obvious. Marlin could tell by the energy swirling through her aura how deeply rooted her feelings were. He patted her shoulder and gently turned her away from the door. “He is making quite a recovery. I don’t think it will take nearly half as long as I originally predicted.”
    “How long will it take?” Lady Dimwater asked. She fought the urge to keep looking over her shoulder at the door as the two walked down the long hallway.
    “I would wager perhaps six or seven days, no more than that.”
    “What of Erik?” She watched as the slight smile on Marlin’s face vanished. “How long will Erik need to recover?” Lady Dimwater pressed.
    “I’m not sure,” Marlin said gravely. “His aura is not very strong right now. That makes it more difficult for me to know.”
    Lady Dimwater stopped and grabbed Marlin’s shoulders, turning him to face her. She looked into his glazed eyes earnestly, trying to search them as she would a normal person’s, but she couldn’t decipher the cloudy orbs. “Will he live?”
    “I am almost certain that he will live.”
    “Then tell me, Marlin, what is wrong?”
    “It is very difficult to put to words.”
    “Try,” she demanded.
    “From what I can tell, the boy’s brain is slipping away. It isn’t as active as it used to be. I don’t know what it means, I only know that his brain is, for lack of a better word,