Kaspar.
“None that I’ve ever heard of,” said Tal. Realizing he was beginning to sound like an expert, he quickly added,
“But that doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist, Your Grace. It’s just that my grandfather was trying to impress on me how dangerous they were.”
“I think he succeeded admirably,” said Mikhael.
Talk continued on the topic of hunting as they rode _______________
KING OF FOXES
49
through the city. In less than an hour, they were out of the city proper and into rolling foothills dotted with small estates and farms.
“After noon,” announced the Duke, “we’ll reach the edges of the Royal Hunting Preserve. The King has graciously permitted us to hunt there.”
That answered Tal’s question as to how large game could be situated so close to the city.
“Your Grace,” asked Baron Eugivney, “doesn’t the preserve extend for several hundred miles?”
“We’re not going to hunt all of it,” said Kaspar with a laugh. “Just the interesting bits.”
Their course followed the highway upward. It was the major trading route to the northern provinces, but when it turned westerly, they took a smaller road to the northeast. At midday they paused to take a meal and rest the horses. Tal was impressed at how quickly the servants erected a small pavilion, complete with clever folding chairs made of canvas and wood, so that the Duke and his guests could relax in comfort. They paused to dine in a large rolling meadow, with a few dairy cows grazing at the other end.
Talk turned to the gossip of the court, for the Duke had been away from Roldem almost as long as Tal, Natalia even longer. Both barons made it clear they saw a potentially beneficial match in the Duke’s younger sister, and kept their attentions focused on her. Not only was she clever and beautiful, she was also a stepping-stone to power. Olasko might be a small duchy compared to the vast expanses found in the Isles or Kesh, but it was a very influential one, second in the region only to Roldem.
After the meal, Duke Kaspar said, “Walk with me a bit, young Hawkins.”
Tal nodded and rose from his seat while the Duke _______________
50
RAYMOND E. FEIST
waved the two barons to keep theirs. “Sit, gentlemen.
Keep my sister amused, if you will.”
When they were a few yards away from the pavilion, the Duke said, “So, young Hawkins, have you given any thought to the offer of employment I made to you after the Tournament of Champions?”
“In truth, Your Grace, I have. I am very flattered, honored even, but the fact of the matter is I prefer to be my own man.”
“Interesting,” said the Duke as they reached a stand of trees. “Excuse me a moment while I relieve myself.”
The Duke unceremoniously undid the fastening on his breeches and stood with his back to the squire. After he finished, he said, “Now, that is what I admire about you, Squire.”
“What, Your Grace?”
“Your independence.”
“Sir?”
“Look at those two,” he said, pointing over to where the barons were talking with Natalia. “They hover over my sister as if she were a prize in a festival tournament.
They wish to ingratiate themselves with me through my sister. I am surrounded by sycophants and those seeking favor and it is a rare day when I encounter someone who wishes nothing from me. Those are the men I value the most, because I know with certainty that should they serve me, they will do so to their last breath.” Lowering his voice as they walked back toward the pavilion, he added,
“Those and others like them may find better terms from other masters attractive at the most inopportune times.”
Tal laughed. “So I have heard. I must admit, while I have distant kin in the court in Krondor, my own experience with royal politics is limited. In fact, last night was only my second visit to the palace.”
_______________
KING OF FOXES
51
“You should come to Opardum. While not as grand an edifice as Roldem’s palace, my own
“None that I’ve ever heard of,” said Tal. Realizing he was beginning to sound like an expert, he quickly added,
“But that doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist, Your Grace. It’s just that my grandfather was trying to impress on me how dangerous they were.”
“I think he succeeded admirably,” said Mikhael.
Talk continued on the topic of hunting as they rode _______________
KING OF FOXES
49
through the city. In less than an hour, they were out of the city proper and into rolling foothills dotted with small estates and farms.
“After noon,” announced the Duke, “we’ll reach the edges of the Royal Hunting Preserve. The King has graciously permitted us to hunt there.”
That answered Tal’s question as to how large game could be situated so close to the city.
“Your Grace,” asked Baron Eugivney, “doesn’t the preserve extend for several hundred miles?”
“We’re not going to hunt all of it,” said Kaspar with a laugh. “Just the interesting bits.”
Their course followed the highway upward. It was the major trading route to the northern provinces, but when it turned westerly, they took a smaller road to the northeast. At midday they paused to take a meal and rest the horses. Tal was impressed at how quickly the servants erected a small pavilion, complete with clever folding chairs made of canvas and wood, so that the Duke and his guests could relax in comfort. They paused to dine in a large rolling meadow, with a few dairy cows grazing at the other end.
Talk turned to the gossip of the court, for the Duke had been away from Roldem almost as long as Tal, Natalia even longer. Both barons made it clear they saw a potentially beneficial match in the Duke’s younger sister, and kept their attentions focused on her. Not only was she clever and beautiful, she was also a stepping-stone to power. Olasko might be a small duchy compared to the vast expanses found in the Isles or Kesh, but it was a very influential one, second in the region only to Roldem.
After the meal, Duke Kaspar said, “Walk with me a bit, young Hawkins.”
Tal nodded and rose from his seat while the Duke _______________
50
RAYMOND E. FEIST
waved the two barons to keep theirs. “Sit, gentlemen.
Keep my sister amused, if you will.”
When they were a few yards away from the pavilion, the Duke said, “So, young Hawkins, have you given any thought to the offer of employment I made to you after the Tournament of Champions?”
“In truth, Your Grace, I have. I am very flattered, honored even, but the fact of the matter is I prefer to be my own man.”
“Interesting,” said the Duke as they reached a stand of trees. “Excuse me a moment while I relieve myself.”
The Duke unceremoniously undid the fastening on his breeches and stood with his back to the squire. After he finished, he said, “Now, that is what I admire about you, Squire.”
“What, Your Grace?”
“Your independence.”
“Sir?”
“Look at those two,” he said, pointing over to where the barons were talking with Natalia. “They hover over my sister as if she were a prize in a festival tournament.
They wish to ingratiate themselves with me through my sister. I am surrounded by sycophants and those seeking favor and it is a rare day when I encounter someone who wishes nothing from me. Those are the men I value the most, because I know with certainty that should they serve me, they will do so to their last breath.” Lowering his voice as they walked back toward the pavilion, he added,
“Those and others like them may find better terms from other masters attractive at the most inopportune times.”
Tal laughed. “So I have heard. I must admit, while I have distant kin in the court in Krondor, my own experience with royal politics is limited. In fact, last night was only my second visit to the palace.”
_______________
KING OF FOXES
51
“You should come to Opardum. While not as grand an edifice as Roldem’s palace, my own
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