The Riftwar Legacy: The Complete 4-Book Collection. Raymond E. Feist

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СКАЧАТЬ as we were last time, with armies racing to converge on Sethanon, with the moredhel already there.’

      ‘Why Sethanon?’ asked Makala, looking at the map. ‘Why do they believe this Murmandamus is imprisoned there?’

      Arutha glanced at Pug and said, ‘That is where he disappeared. There’s some rumour about the place, and Murmandamus was deluded into thinking that if he seized that city he would cut the Kingdom in half and defeat us.’

      It was a weak lie, and Pug knew it, but Makala said, ‘Often in war decisions are based on bad assumptions. Is there some proof, though, that Murmandamus is indeed dead?’

      ‘Only my word,’ said Arutha. ‘For I was the one who killed him.’

      Makala looked at Arutha and said, ‘And we can pretty safely assume they will not take you at your word, correct?’

      Arutha nodded.

      Pug shook his head in frustration. ‘My daughter and I must leave for a while, but we’ll be back, Arutha. I am more concerned by these mysterious six magicians than all the other news brought by Gorath.’

      ‘Yes,’ said Makala. ‘The mysterious magic-users. We of the Assembly will be glad to aid you, Pug, if we can. Just call on us.’

      Pug asked, ‘Are you coming to Stardock?’

      Makala said, ‘I have some messages to pen to those back on Kelewan. I will join you at Stardock soon.’

      Pug nodded, took an orb out of his robe and placed his arm around his daughter’s waist. He activated the orb, and, with a buzz, the pair vanished.

      Arutha said, ‘Would that the rest of us could flit from place to place with such speed.’

      Makala said, ‘To prevent armies from doing just that is one reason my brotherhood of magicians guards these devices so, Highness. We shall have to be cautious of our part in such matters, though given our Emperor’s disposition –’ he referred to the fact that Ichindar, Emperor of Tsuranuanni, was in favour of close ties with the Kingdom ‘– you can expect aid quickly, should you need it.’

      Arutha gave him thanks, and Makala and Gardan departed. Prince Arutha sat in his chamber late into the night, weighing and judging the warning brought by the renegade moredhel chieftain, and no matter how often he wanted to put it aside as a charade, or nothing more than the jockeying for domination between factions in the moredhel nations, he couldn’t. Another war was coming; he could feel it in his bones.

      Unless his prized agent, a former thief turned courtier, could somehow steal that war out of the very hands of those who sought to unleash it.

      Arutha picked up a bell on his table and rang it. Instantly a page appeared at the door. ‘Highness?’

      ‘Send word to the guard to notify me the moment Seigneur James returns to the palace, whatever the hour.’

      ‘Highness,’ said the page, closing the door as he left to do as he was bid.

      Arutha still didn’t return to his own quarters, for even having made the decision to send Jimmy with Gorath to Romney, he had a thousand other questions to consider, and foremost among them was ‘Who are the Six?’

      

      Gorath was awake as soon as the door began to open. He rose, fists ready, for while unarmed, he was ready to defend himself. He was not confident that no assassin could find his way into the palace. He remembered events from many years ago where the Princess of Krondor almost died at the hands of one employed by Murmandamus.

      Gorath relaxed when he saw his visitor was Squire James. ‘Greetings,’ said the young man.

      ‘Greetings,’ said Gorath. He sat down in a chair next to a window overlooking a garden. ‘Am I to be questioned again?’

      ‘No,’ said James. ‘We’re going on a trip to Romney.’

      Gorath rose. ‘As I have nothing to pack, I am ready.’

      ‘Provisions are prepared, though we will be travelling light.’

      Gorath said, ‘I expected an escort of at least a full company against attack on the road to Romney.’

      James smiled and said, ‘Too much noise and bother.’ He reached into his tunic and pulled out an odd-looking device, an orb with tiny levers on it that could be adjusted by one’s thumb. ‘And we’re not riding.’

      ‘How are we getting there?’ came a voice from behind James.

      James turned to find Owyn standing behind him.

      ‘We are not going. Gorath and I are. You are staying here or heading home to Timons, as pleases you.’

      ‘I can’t stay here,’ said Owyn. ‘I’ve got nothing to do and I’m not in the Prince’s service. And I can’t go back to Timons. What if I’m captured along the way and made to talk?’

      James smiled. ‘What do you know?’

      ‘I know you’re bound for Romney,’ said Owyn.

      ‘How do you know that?’

      ‘I know how to read a map and I overheard enough between Gorath and Locklear to know that’s where I’d be heading next.’

      Owyn hurried on in his pleading, ‘Besides, I’m from the east and know my way around back there. I’ve got cousins in Ran, Cavell and Dolth and have visited Silden and Romney.’

      James shook his head as if remembering something, and said, ‘Never mind. I seem to recall that Locklear and I made a similar brief to someone who didn’t want us along, as well, many years ago. Very well, you can come. It’s better to have you underfoot than out of sight and dead, I guess.’

      James led them to an empty room in another part of the castle, where weapons and travel items were piled. Gorath picked up one sword and said, ‘A lamprey!’

      ‘That’s a bloodsucker, all right,’ said James, ‘but why do you call it that?’

      ‘A name, that’s all,’ said Gorath. ‘My people did not always live in the mountains, human. Once we abided on the shores of the Bitter Sea.’ He admired the curve of the blade and weighed the heft of the hilt in his hand. He put the sword back in its scabbard and said, ‘I will not ask how you came to possess a blade fashioned by my people.’

      James said, ‘As you might expect.’ He pointed to three backpacks. ‘Food and other stores, for we may have to do some travelling, but for the most part I hope we’re able to conduct our business quickly and be out of Romney.’

      ‘Where’s Locky?’ asked Owyn.

      ‘He leaves in an hour on another mission for the Prince. I will meet with him after we’re done in Romney. This isn’t the only iron in the fire, so to speak, though it may be the most important.’

      They picked up their belongings, and Owyn asked, ‘Now what?’

      Again James produced the orb and said, ‘Stand close by. Gorath, place СКАЧАТЬ