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.Sir Hugh continued to lean indolently against the wall, watching, waiting fora sign of weakness.Radburn wasn t about to give it to him. Recover or die? he asked. I assure you, last night s fish might have taxedmy system, but it is not about to kill me.I am made of sterner stuff.  Thenwhy are your hands shaking and your face the color of newly milled flour? Ithink you had best retire, Lord Blakely. Sir Hugh finally heaved himself awayfrom the wall.But he didn t go away- I think I shall do that.I shall retirefrom court for a few days until Iknow for certain His Highness is safe from whatever ails me. Radburn smiledto himself at the double entendre.Fitz Chenenoir would never appreciate it. You are going to Kirkenwood! Sir Hugh said through clenched teeth.More perceptive than he thought. Why would I do that? Radburn stalled. Because what ails you is the same thing that ails me.John is dangling landsand titles in front of both of us.As long as we dance to his tune, he willcontinue to hold out that promise.But once we stray, the offers willevaporate as mist in sunshine.You plan to grab Lady Resmiranda and Kirkenwoodwithout waiting for permission.Radburn laughed.He didn t know how else to reply.This man was much tooperceptive.He d have to be eliminated.Soon.But first he had to neutralizewhatever force of light had surged forward. Forget this conversation, he said quietly, holding his palm before SirHugh s eyes.With delicate fingertips he closed the other man s lids. You didnot find me.You know nothing of my whereabouts or my plans. Satisfied thatthe knight had accepted his statement, he withdrew his hand.Hugh stood amoment, eyes closed, then promptly turned on his heel and left the alcove.How long would the suggestion last in the man s mind? Sometimes Sir Hugh FitzChenenoir saw just aGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmllittle too much.That quality made him an admirable warrior and landholder,but Radburn didn t need a warrior or a landholder.He needed a dupe to lie tothe king.Page 116ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThat could be arranged, too.Radburn smiled.With a snap of his fingers he summoned Fantome. Pack twohorses lightly.We ride within the hour.His shadow nodded and slipped away, as silent and forgettable as a ghost.Radburn needed to go toKirkenwood and confront Lady Resmiranda and whatever aid she had managed toconjure.Her training was scattered.Her actions merely instinctive reactions.She was no match for him.For the time being.But first he had a demon to visit; a demon who lived beneath a barrow with adragon guarding its portal.Hugh stopped walking in the midst of the bustle of court life.He had beenabout to do something&What? Something tasted foul in his mouth and his mind.Everything looked alittle hazy and unfocused.He fought to clear the miasma from his mind.Something strange had occurred in the last few moments.What? He scanned theHall for inspiration.The queen and her infant son had replaced the grim-faced lords who attendedthe king at council.John caressed the boy s head in a loving gesture.Hughremembered touching young John the same way.For a moment the king sexpression softened, shedding years of care from his face.Queen Isabellesmiled, displaying a fine set of pointed teeth to go with her sharp features.Her long chin and nose were offset by fine dark eyes slightly almond in shape.When she had come to court eight years ago, barely twelve at the time toJohn s thirty-three, she d been a sallow, shy child who hid behind her nurseand dull clothing.Now at twenty, she had blossomed into an exotic beauty who favored brightcolors and fine jewels.She shifted the burden of young Henry to his father sarms.They made a fine picture of familial bliss.Hugh ached for the time hemight share a similar moment with Ana.At least he still had Johnny.The king had sent Hugh on an errand.He remembered that much.He shook hishead to clear the fuzziness of his thoughts.His ears continued to buzz.Heneeded a cup of wine to remove the acrid taste in his mouth.Like sulfur?Blakely often smelled of sulfur and blood.Hugh shook his head trying toremember if he had encountered the king s sorcerer half brother.Ana wouldknow how to retrieve the memory.He missed her every hour they were separated.But for her own safety he neededto keep the king andBlakely away from Kirkenwood.Blakely wasn t likely to step more than twopaces away from his half brother.So where was he now? Political power lay inhaving the king s ear.Blakely made certain no one else got close enough tothe king to countermand his influential whispers.Strange that the entirecouncil most John s aging contemporaries, two score and more in years, heededthe words of one so voung and untried in battle as Blakely.Blakely couldn tbe more than twenty-one or two. Will you sit at court this evening, YourHighness? Hugh asked to cover his memory lapse.Something to do withBlakely. We have been here two weeks. John yawned hugely.His son, Henry, didlikewise.The momentary likeness between father and son touched Hugh s heart. We expected more disputes and finer hunting [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]