you had a price, I just didn’t know what it was. I like to know a man’s price before I trust him with my secrets.”
“But now you know my price, you tell me you can’t pay it.” Kel frowned in sullen displeasure. “I want her.”
“Help me take the throne, and I’ll have the magi bring you a slave of your own. There are fae women of every flavor you can imagine. Do this for me, and you can have your pick.”
“Kill the prince…” Kel mused, as if considering the Duke’s offer when all he wanted to do was end the traitor’s life. Soon, he would. But first he needed to find out if the Duke was working alone, or if he had allies.
“Aye. And then who would the king turn to? He’s too old to sire another child before the end. I am his most loyal man. Everyone knows this. It’s why he’s not interfered in this little war of mine. He needs me.” Camford raised his hand and clenched it into a fist. “It could all be mine. But I need her to make it happen. The healers tell me I have very little time left. She can give it to me. Heal me, make me strong again.”
So Camford was dying? Hardly surprising given the man’s obscene appetites. “Who else knows of this plan? And would there be a place for a man like me at your court, if you were king, along with the reward you have offered? Would your cohorts allow it?”
Camford nodded slowly, his face twisted into a feral grin. “This is my plan, and mine alone. But it occurs to me that I have need of your skills, mercenary. Even a common man can have his uses. You’re just the sort of man I need.”
Kel nodded. “And what of the rumors that the king has a grown son, born on the wrong side of the blanket? Couldn’t he claim the throne and ruin your plans?”
“Bah! The king is a cold-blooded man. He barely managed to have a single child by his wife. There is no bastard son, just the idle rumors of a bored court.” Camford was rambling now. The drug had loosened his tongue and made him arrogant. “Kill the prince for me, War Dog. Kill him and I’ll find you a place at my court. You have my word.”
Kel’s lip curled in distain as he leaned in over Camford, trying not to retch at the thick stench of corruption and dreamberry that rose from the Duke like a poisonous cloud. “Nay,” he growled and slid a dagger from the sheath at his belt. “I’ll not kill my half-brother. I’ve been offered a place in the court of Wulfshaven before, traitor. I turned it down then as well.”
The blade was already at Camford’s throat by the time understanding dawned in the Duke’s drug-muddled mind, and by then it was too late. Killing a man in cold blood was not something Kel found easy, but he drew the dagger across the Duke’s throat knowing that he did so to protect the king…and his brother.
As Camford’s blood gushed forth in a crimson fountain, Kel felt a brief stab of pain on his thigh and looked down to see the Duke’s hand pressed against his leg. A burning sensation began to build, travelling up the limb, and Kel finally understood what Camford had done.
Poison.
One of the bastard’s rings held a poisoned needle, and his dying act had been to try and take Kel with him. “I’m not that easy to kill.” He snarled as the light went out of Camford’s eyes and the Duke expired in a final sputter of blood.
Kel slashed off a strip of linen from the blood soaked sheets and tied it high on his thigh, creating a makeshift tourniquet. It wouldn’t do much, but he hoped it would slow the poison down enough he could make his escape.
Precious seconds were lost as he looked for Lily’s ring amongst the many Camford wore. Kel found it at last, grateful for Camford’s garish taste. The amethyst was the only subtle stone in the entire collection. With no time to waste, Kel slipped the ring onto his finger and made for the exit the slaves had used earlier. With any luck, it would be unguarded and he could make it back to his horse before the Duke’s
“But now you know my price, you tell me you can’t pay it.” Kel frowned in sullen displeasure. “I want her.”
“Help me take the throne, and I’ll have the magi bring you a slave of your own. There are fae women of every flavor you can imagine. Do this for me, and you can have your pick.”
“Kill the prince…” Kel mused, as if considering the Duke’s offer when all he wanted to do was end the traitor’s life. Soon, he would. But first he needed to find out if the Duke was working alone, or if he had allies.
“Aye. And then who would the king turn to? He’s too old to sire another child before the end. I am his most loyal man. Everyone knows this. It’s why he’s not interfered in this little war of mine. He needs me.” Camford raised his hand and clenched it into a fist. “It could all be mine. But I need her to make it happen. The healers tell me I have very little time left. She can give it to me. Heal me, make me strong again.”
So Camford was dying? Hardly surprising given the man’s obscene appetites. “Who else knows of this plan? And would there be a place for a man like me at your court, if you were king, along with the reward you have offered? Would your cohorts allow it?”
Camford nodded slowly, his face twisted into a feral grin. “This is my plan, and mine alone. But it occurs to me that I have need of your skills, mercenary. Even a common man can have his uses. You’re just the sort of man I need.”
Kel nodded. “And what of the rumors that the king has a grown son, born on the wrong side of the blanket? Couldn’t he claim the throne and ruin your plans?”
“Bah! The king is a cold-blooded man. He barely managed to have a single child by his wife. There is no bastard son, just the idle rumors of a bored court.” Camford was rambling now. The drug had loosened his tongue and made him arrogant. “Kill the prince for me, War Dog. Kill him and I’ll find you a place at my court. You have my word.”
Kel’s lip curled in distain as he leaned in over Camford, trying not to retch at the thick stench of corruption and dreamberry that rose from the Duke like a poisonous cloud. “Nay,” he growled and slid a dagger from the sheath at his belt. “I’ll not kill my half-brother. I’ve been offered a place in the court of Wulfshaven before, traitor. I turned it down then as well.”
The blade was already at Camford’s throat by the time understanding dawned in the Duke’s drug-muddled mind, and by then it was too late. Killing a man in cold blood was not something Kel found easy, but he drew the dagger across the Duke’s throat knowing that he did so to protect the king…and his brother.
As Camford’s blood gushed forth in a crimson fountain, Kel felt a brief stab of pain on his thigh and looked down to see the Duke’s hand pressed against his leg. A burning sensation began to build, travelling up the limb, and Kel finally understood what Camford had done.
Poison.
One of the bastard’s rings held a poisoned needle, and his dying act had been to try and take Kel with him. “I’m not that easy to kill.” He snarled as the light went out of Camford’s eyes and the Duke expired in a final sputter of blood.
Kel slashed off a strip of linen from the blood soaked sheets and tied it high on his thigh, creating a makeshift tourniquet. It wouldn’t do much, but he hoped it would slow the poison down enough he could make his escape.
Precious seconds were lost as he looked for Lily’s ring amongst the many Camford wore. Kel found it at last, grateful for Camford’s garish taste. The amethyst was the only subtle stone in the entire collection. With no time to waste, Kel slipped the ring onto his finger and made for the exit the slaves had used earlier. With any luck, it would be unguarded and he could make it back to his horse before the Duke’s
Similar Books
