Storm Holt (The Prophecies of Zanufey Book 3) (33 page)

‘Me too,’ Issa said.
 

‘Oh yes,’ Coronos nodded vigorously. ‘You can expect a meal fit for a king at Castle Carvon. It’s tradition. The King and Queen of Carvon have always prided themselves on lavishly welcoming their guests, and I suspect nothing has changed since King Navarr took the throne.’

They made their way along the Mile of Light towards the City of Rivers, the light of the lanterns and the grandeur of the city seemed to energise Asaph’s weary body, and from the smiles on Coronos’ and Issa’s faces he could tell they felt the same.

Edarna first glimpsed the twin spires of the City of Rivers early in the afternoon.

‘Oooo look, there it is,’ she squealed. ‘I’ve not seen it for, er, well, a few years,’ she trailed off realising her age. She took in the glorious site of the city’s light grey walls shining in the sunlight, and set against a blue sky. The rich forest hugged the city and waterfalls cascaded down the cliff in front of it.
 

Naksu smiled. ‘It always was a particularly handsome city - my favourite, really. Although I don’t relish the thought of meeting the Oracle for some reason.’

‘You and me both,’ Edarna tutted, but nevertheless strode grinning along the winding road. She was more excited about the food she could find within its walls than the actual grandness of the city.
No, I’m more excited about the amount of gold I can make selling dragon scales.
She corrected herself and drummed the lid of her travel chest with a smile. There was no easy way to find a witch these days, not after the Derobing, but a city was filled with everything and all sorts, and she knew that if she asked the right questions she’d find someone who knew a witch. Or, if she managed to find herself a place to set up base, she could advertise around the city and bring the witches to her.

Naksu trotted to keep up with her, her mule following behind. Despite Edarna’s complaints of sore ankles, Naksu had refused to let the witch ride her mule. Edarna thought it rude to deny an old woman an easier mode of travel but the look in the seer’s eye had silenced her. Edarna hadn’t quite forgiven her.

‘What are you grinning about?’ Naksu asked suspiciously.

‘Oh nothing.’ Edarna turned her grin into a frown. ‘I was hoping to meet a fellow witch, maybe.’

‘Sounds like trouble,’ Naksu muttered. Edarna ignored her. ‘Where’s your cat anyway?’

‘Goddess knows.’ Edarna rolled her eyeballs. ‘He’s probably already waiting for us at the city’s front gate.’

Naksu nodded but didn’t seem convinced. ‘Don’t you worry about him?’

‘Not about
him
never. Ungrateful sod,’ Edarna said.

‘Oh,’ Naksu said in surprise. ‘I thought witches cared a lot for their familiars.’

‘It’s give and take,’ Edarna explained, and that was all she said on the matter as they made their way to the capital city of Carvon.

‘WE are guests of King Navarr,’ Coronos said politely to the two guards at the gate. ‘Please tell him Coronos Dragon Rider and his party have arrived, he is expecting us.’
 

One of the guards looked at them wide-eyed, bowed to Coronos and scuttled off through a small door to the left of the main gate.

‘Probably the mention of “Dragon Rider,” ’ Coronos winked back at them.

Moments later the guard scuttled back. ‘He says to take you to the West Gate where it’s quieter and closer to your rooms.’

Coronos nodded, and the guard scuttled up a small track leading them a hundred yards or so to the West Gate. The gate was closed and unguarded apart from the guards walking the ramparts.

‘Thank you, sir,’ Coronos said, and bowed slightly to the guard. The guard unlocked and opened a smaller wooden door within the gate, and let them through. He gave a sharp nod and stood to attention as they entered.

Asaph glanced back into the darkness of the forest. He was reluctant to leave the trees and enter the closed off world of a city. He realised he’d hoped to catch one last glimpse of the pale woman, a realisation that concerned him. He turned away from the forest as the door shut.

Inside the city walls the streets were brightly lit with lanterns, the smooth cobbles gleamed orange in their light. A nearby tavern had its doors open and a barman was trying to eject the last of its drunken patrons for the night. The thought of a drink seemed really appealing to Asaph, perhaps it would help clear his brain fog or at least help him relax. He felt strangely wired, but befuddled at the same time.

‘King Navarr,’ Coronos said, immediately catching his attention. He hadn’t noticed the man that had stepped out of the doorway to their right. He glanced over at Issa, she hadn’t noticed him either.

‘How good it is to see you in the comfort of your home.’ Coronos bowed. Issa and Asaph looked at each other, then copied Coronos, bowing awkwardly in their saddles.

‘I would never have expected the King himself to greet us out on the streets, and especially not this close to midnight,’ Coronos said, smiling as he dismounted. Three stable boys came running over to take their horses. Duskar immediately flicked his head as a boy approached. Both the horse and boy stepped back from each other.

‘Duskar, easy, it’s all right. You get to sleep in a nice stable tonight,’ Issa said, patting his neck. She dismounted. ‘He’s a bit wary of anyone else other than me, he’s had a troubled past,’ she said by way of apology.

‘Haven’t we all,’ Navarr retorted.
 

Everyone laughed. Asaph found himself relaxing under the king’s humorous smiles.

‘Perhaps I’d better take him to the stables myself,’ Issa suggested when Duskar continued to eyeball the boy.

‘As you wish. Let’s all go, we can chat on the way, and the stables are just around the corner,’ Navarr said.

The stable boys led the way. Asaph turned his attention to the King. The man caught his eye and Asaph dropped his gaze feeling nervous, but not before he caught a glimmer of respect there. He wondered at it.

I might have been a king, once.
But that reality was as far away as liberating Drax.
His heritage of a kingdom and the life he might have led was for someone far grander than he. Coronos and Navarr talked about their journey as they entered the castle through a rather unremarkable wooden side door Asaph was unable to concentrate on what they were saying. Instead he found himself drifting in his own world again.

They arrived within Castle Carvon too late to wash and change clothes before eating, and risk waking everyone up, so Navarr had the night kitchen staff set up a table in a smaller room on the ground floor. Only half an hour could have passed since they’d stabled their horses and been shown their rooms, to when they arrived in the dinning room. When they arrived the fire was already ablaze, and the eight-person table had so much laid out on it that not an inch of the tabletop could be seen.

Asaph lunged for the bread, freshly warmed in the oven, and took a hunk of cheese, a brimming bowl of yellow sweet-smelling soup, and two handfuls of grapes.

‘Hungry?’ Issa asked lightly.

‘Mmph,’ he mumbled through a mouth stuffed with food. For some reason he was famished and he began to wonder if he was fighting off a cold. Food, a few glasses of wine, and a decent bed would see him right again, he was sure of it. Coronos and Navarr were deep in conversation about the old king, and what had changed in the Known World since he had died.

Issa took her own bread, soup and glass of red wine and sat down beside him with a sigh. She smiled at him, and for one horrifying moment he felt he had to force a smile back. She looked pretty in the firelight, if a little tired from travel, but now he thought about it, she was not as beautiful as the pale ghost woman he had seen. He felt disturbed by the thought. Issa, to him, had always been the most beautiful women he’d ever seen, so how could that have change? Her smile wavered, as if she sensed his uneasy thoughts.

‘Asaph what’s wrong? You’ve been quiet since Coronos returned,’ she sipped her wine. It had already brought colour into her cheeks in a way he used to find attractive.

‘I’m fine,’ he began defensively, surprising himself. ‘Well, I have a headache, but food is helping. I think I might be coming down with a cold.’

She smiled and relaxed. ‘I thought you were cross with me about deciding to enter the Storm Holt.’

‘You haven’t decided yet have you?’ He suddenly felt cross again. Coronos and Navarr paused their conversation to glance at him. He must have raised his voice. Perhaps tiredness was getting the better of him.

‘Well, not exactly, but I’ve been thinking about it,’ she replied.

‘Well, it’s up to you,’ Asaph said more softly, and the other men continued with their conversation.

‘Ahh, there you are.’ A voice Asaph didn’t know spoke, breaking off what he had been about to say.

‘Freydel,’ Issa gasped and jumped up to meet the man standing in the doorway.

He embraced her like a daughter, and then came to join them at the table. He had a neat trimmed beard and warm hazel eyes. He looked younger than Coronos but older than Navarr. Asaph immediately sensed a powerful magic wielder and his dragon self stirred in response to it. Freydel greeted them all, but refused food, saying he’d already eaten with King Navarr. Instead he filled a glass full with red wine. His smiling gaze rested on Asaph.
 

‘Asaph.’ The wizard reached to shake his hand. ‘In the short time I’ve been with Coronos, he spent his time talking mostly about you.’
 

Asaph shook his hand and smiled back at the man. ‘Only good things I hope.’
 

Freydel laughed, ‘Of course, and I’m sure there is so much more to tell.’

‘How is Arla?’ Issa blurted. ‘Coronos told me she is sick.’

Freydel sighed and worry creased his brow. ‘She’s not getting better as we’d hoped. If anything she has fallen into a fever. Luckily Navarr’s healers are excellent, so she is in the best hands.’

‘I should see her, maybe I can help.’ Issa began to rise, but Freydel put a hand on her shoulder.

‘No, you need to rest too, and besides Arla has just fallen asleep. You can see her in the morning.’
 

Issa relaxed at that, and began to question him about everything that had happened since they’d last seen each other. Asaph was interested to begin with. It was exciting hearing about what a wizard got up to, and how he’d used magic to call the Wizard’s Circle only to become trapped in the astral planes. The Kuapoh talked about the dimension higher than their current one. But as exciting as it was he soon found himself drifting.
 

He poured another glass of wine hoping it would perk him up, and was just thankful that everyone was busy with their own conversations without needing to converse with him. The wine had the opposite effect and made him sleepier, before long he found his eyes beginning to shut of their own accord.

‘I’m sorry,’ Asaph said and stood. ‘I need to sleep, I can barely keep my eyes open.’

He said goodnight and left them chatting. With a sigh of relief he closed the door to his own large, but blessedly quiet room. The four-poster bed was huge and the mahogany desk and wardrobe so big it must have taken ten men to carry them in here. He sat on the lavish velvet-covered bed, and barely got his boots off before he sank back and fell asleep.