Angus Wells - The Kingdoms 02 by The Usurper (v1.1) Page B

Warden.”
                Brannoc laughed cheerfully. “But
with honest gold, now, my friend. ”
                Kedryn heard Tepshen Lahl snort
laughter and began to chuckle himself.
                “Will you accompany us? I’d enjoy
friendly company.”
                “Of course,” Brannoc agreed, taking
his elbow to assist him in the negotiation of the corridors. “You have
something to drink in your chamber? This diplomacy has dried my throat.”
                Bedyr watched them depart, thankful
that his son had two such good friends, though when he turned toward Darr his
face was somber.
                “Come.” The king motioned for Bedyr
to follow him out of the Council Chamber to the rooms set aside for his use.
They were as regal as High Fort could offer, being a military' bastion rather
than a palace, though Darr seemed perfectly at ease within the stone-walled
chambers, the floor of the outer room strewn with rushes, a fire burning in a
simple hearth before which stood two plain chairs, a low table between them carrying
a flask of carved crystal and matching goblets.
                “My bones begin to feel the chill,”
Darr smiled, filling the goblets with rich Galichian wine. “Or is it age?”
                “You are scarce older than I,” Bedyr
replied. “Mayhap kingship puts the chill there.”
                “Mayhap,” Darr agreed. “It is no
easy task guiding this realm of ours, though Kedryn has proven mightily useful
in that matter of late. He grows apace, my friend.”
                “He has matured,” Bedyr nodded,
stretching his booted feet toward the fire, “and it is his future I’d discuss.”
                Darr indicated that he should
continue, sipping the fruity vintage as he listened to Bedyr outline his
earlier conversation with Kedryn, his face growing troubled as he heard of the
young man’s declaration and Bedyr’s desire that Wynett should accompany him to
Estrevan.
                “What would you have me do?” he
asked when Bedyr was finished. “I cannot command Wynett as a father, for such
ties were set aside when she chose to follow Kyrie. And I do not think it a
good idea to speak as a king. If she does accompany you, better it be of her
own free will.”
                “Of course,” Bedyr agreed, “I would
not have it any other way. But as both king and father, might you not suggest ?”
                “Is that the wisest course?” Darr
asked. “By the Lady, old friend, I’d do everything in my power to see Kedryn
happy. Kyrie knows, we owe him enough; but I am uncertain that you see this
clearly. I feel the ties of blood may cloud your vision.”
                “Tepshen Lahl said much the same,”
Bedyr admitted, “but I see Kedryn’s mood shift like the striker of a bell, each
movement wringing his soul. If he continues in this matter, I fear for his
sanity. I fear that if Wynett remains here he may sink into a darkness of the
soul to match his blindness. At least if she went with him to Estrevan he would
have that consolation along the way. ”
                “But when he reached the Sacred City ?” Darr wondered. “What then?”
                “Then the chance of his regaining
his sight becomes more probable,” Bedyr said. “And if he does not—and if Wynett
should then opt to return here—there would at least be the counsels of the city
to shore him up.”
                “You have a point,” the king
allowed, his voice thoughtful. “I shall discuss it with the Sisters of Andurel,
and if they deem it best that Wynett go with you I shall ask her to consider
the possibility. I cannot do more than that, my friend—you know as well as I
the limitations of my authority.”
                “I accept that and I thank you,”
Bedyr nodded.