Shadow of a Dark Queen by Raymond E. Feist Page A

journey.
    He hurried through the businesses clustered around the town square, two- and three-story edifices overhanging the narrow streets, then moved between the modest homes owned by the higher-ranking members of the various crafts and guilds, then the ramshackle houses used by workers, married apprentices, and traders without storefronts.
    Leaving the town proper, he hurried along the east road, past small vegetable gardens where pushcart traders grew their wares to sell in the town market, and the large eastern vineyards. Reaching the point where the baronial road leading to Darkmoor intercepted the main east-west road through Ravensburg, he waited.
    He mulled over what possible reason he could have been asked to meet his father at this relatively remote location, dismissing the most fanciful of all, that his mother’s dream would somehow be realized and his father would acknowledge him.
    His musing was interrupted by the sound of an approaching company of horsemen. Soon he could see them crest a distant hill, a company of riders appearing out of the evening’s gloom to the northeast.As they neared, he could see they were the Baron’s own, leading the same carriage Erik had seen the last time the Baron had paid the town a visit. He felt a tightening in his chest as they neared, and no small apprehension, for his two half brothers could be seen riding beside the carriage. The first riders hurried past, but Stefan and Manfred reined in.
    Stefan shouted, “What! You again?”
    He made a threatening gesture as if to draw his sword, but his younger brother shouted, “Stefan! Keep up! Leave him alone!”
    The younger brother set heels to his mount and moved to keep up with the vanguard, but his older brother hesitated.
    As more soldiers rode past, Stefan shouted, “I warn you now, brother: when I ascend to the Baron’s office, I’ll be nowhere near as tolerant as our father. If I catch a glimpse of you or your mother at any public function, I’ll have you arrested so quickly your shadow will have to search to find you.” Without waiting for a reply, he viciously dug his spurs into his horse’s flank, causing the high-spirited gelding to leap forward into a fast canter, then a gallop, so he could overtake his younger brother.
    Then the main detachment of soldiers approached, followed by the Baron’s carriage. As they passed, the riders moved at a steady canter, but the carriage slowed. When it was almost upon Erik, the curtain of the carriage closest to him was pulled back, and he could glimpse a white face peering through the gloom at him. For a moment, father and son locked gazes, and Erik felt a sudden rush of confused feelings. Then all too suddenly the instant passed, and the carriage rolled away, the driver usingthe reins to urge his team of four ahead, to overtake the escort.
    Erik stood puzzled and angered as the following troop of soldiers approached. He had expected to speak at last to his father, not merely share a momentary glimpse.
    As he turned to leave, the last rider reined in and said, “Erik!”
    He turned to see Owen Greylock dismounting. Forgetting courtesy, Erik vented his anger. “I thought we were friends, Master Greylock, at least as much as rank permitted. But you had me traipse through the town to this place so that Stefan could insult and threaten me, and my father peek out from his warm carriage at me!”
    Greylock said, “Erik, it was your father’s request.”
    Erik put hands on hips and took a deep breath. “So it was his idea to have Stefan as much as tell me to leave the barony?”
    Greylock led his treasured mare to where Erik stood, and put his hand on the younger man’s arm. “No, that was Stefan’s impromptu performance. Your father wished to see you one last time. He’s dying.”
    Erik felt unexpected emotions break to the surface, panic and regret, all viewed somehow at a distance, as if