Fable: Edge of the World Read Online Free Page B
Author: Christie Golden
anywhere. The monarch couldn’t blame him.
“We must hope he can indeed tell us more,” said Kalin. “Information is our greatest weapon.”
“Well then,” said Timmins, getting to the heart of the matter as was his wont, “where do we go from here? Literally and figuratively.”
“Samarkand,” said Ben. “Isn’t that right?” He looked as distressed of any of them, but on some level, the king knew, Ben was itching for action. He was not a man who accepted peace comfortably.
“Your Majesty,” said Kalin, “you have ever been honorable in your dealings with my people. You have kept your word at every turn. It is because of you that the darkness is no more in Aurora and that we have a fortress filled with soldiers experienced in fighting it. Our ships are many and powerful, and we have some familiarity with Samarkand, more than Your Majesty does at least.”
The king’s heart was sinking. Albion had known almost tenyears of relative peace, and he supposed he should be grateful for it. But the darkness, again? Hadn’t they sacrificed enough to defeat it already? Melancholy settled on him. He wondered if the darkness was something that was eternal, if it would ever be defeated, and if his whole life and that of his descendants would be devoted to doing battle with it and keeping it on the edges of the world.
It was not exactly the most cheerful of thoughts. He felt a cool, moist nose nudging at his hand, and caressed Rex’s silky ears.
“One thing we have learned,” he said quietly, “is that delay only gives the darkness time to gather strength. But Kalin is right. We must learn everything we can and first make sure we are as safe here in Albion as possible. Sabine, do you feel your borders are safe?”
“Safe?” Sabine was practically jumping up and down. “With everything that lad has said, and more to come? Take the cotton out of your ears and listen! They let him live to brag about themselves! Surely things darker than a teenage boy can cross the mountains!”
The king nodded. “Agreed. Timmins, round up some of the veterans from the first war against the darkness and send them back to Mistpeak with Sabine. Sabine, you will be my eyes and ears here when we depart. Kalin, we’ll discuss the Auroran navy’s role in this and start reassembling an army here. Ben, you’ll come with me to Samarkand.”
“Not a chance I’d be anywhere else,” Ben replied.
“Page, I’ll need whatever information your network can supply.” She nodded.
“And what of me?”
The question was asked in a quiet voice, but it froze the kingin place for a minute. He looked at his new wife and realized to his shame that he had completely left her out of the planning. What of Laylah, indeed?
“I can’t take you with me.” That much, at least, he knew.
Her raven brows lifted. “Why not? I am an Auroran. I know firsthand of the darkness.”
“Begging your pardon, my lady,” said Timmins, “everyone here does as well. And everyone else here has taken arms against it.”
Laylah colored. “Instead of sitting and cowering in our homes, you mean.”
It was Timmins’s turn to flush. “I didn’t mean that at all, my lady!”
“Timmins here can be a bit rough,” Ben said quickly, giving the mortified Timmins a sharp look. “But what’s true is that you are a civilian. We’re not. Besides, it’s obvious our good ruler is so smitten with his new queen he’d be too distracted worrying about you.”
“Do not be embarrassed,” Kalin said gently. “We Aurorans know more of the darkness than they, for we have known it longer and more intimately. But they are right. This is war, my child.”
“And Albion needs a leader,” the king said. “With me gone, you shall represent the crown. The people will feel safer with their queen here. Page will stay with you.” Page started to open her mouth to protest but closed it again. She nodded, seeing the wisdom in what he was doing although she did not much
“We must hope he can indeed tell us more,” said Kalin. “Information is our greatest weapon.”
“Well then,” said Timmins, getting to the heart of the matter as was his wont, “where do we go from here? Literally and figuratively.”
“Samarkand,” said Ben. “Isn’t that right?” He looked as distressed of any of them, but on some level, the king knew, Ben was itching for action. He was not a man who accepted peace comfortably.
“Your Majesty,” said Kalin, “you have ever been honorable in your dealings with my people. You have kept your word at every turn. It is because of you that the darkness is no more in Aurora and that we have a fortress filled with soldiers experienced in fighting it. Our ships are many and powerful, and we have some familiarity with Samarkand, more than Your Majesty does at least.”
The king’s heart was sinking. Albion had known almost tenyears of relative peace, and he supposed he should be grateful for it. But the darkness, again? Hadn’t they sacrificed enough to defeat it already? Melancholy settled on him. He wondered if the darkness was something that was eternal, if it would ever be defeated, and if his whole life and that of his descendants would be devoted to doing battle with it and keeping it on the edges of the world.
It was not exactly the most cheerful of thoughts. He felt a cool, moist nose nudging at his hand, and caressed Rex’s silky ears.
“One thing we have learned,” he said quietly, “is that delay only gives the darkness time to gather strength. But Kalin is right. We must learn everything we can and first make sure we are as safe here in Albion as possible. Sabine, do you feel your borders are safe?”
“Safe?” Sabine was practically jumping up and down. “With everything that lad has said, and more to come? Take the cotton out of your ears and listen! They let him live to brag about themselves! Surely things darker than a teenage boy can cross the mountains!”
The king nodded. “Agreed. Timmins, round up some of the veterans from the first war against the darkness and send them back to Mistpeak with Sabine. Sabine, you will be my eyes and ears here when we depart. Kalin, we’ll discuss the Auroran navy’s role in this and start reassembling an army here. Ben, you’ll come with me to Samarkand.”
“Not a chance I’d be anywhere else,” Ben replied.
“Page, I’ll need whatever information your network can supply.” She nodded.
“And what of me?”
The question was asked in a quiet voice, but it froze the kingin place for a minute. He looked at his new wife and realized to his shame that he had completely left her out of the planning. What of Laylah, indeed?
“I can’t take you with me.” That much, at least, he knew.
Her raven brows lifted. “Why not? I am an Auroran. I know firsthand of the darkness.”
“Begging your pardon, my lady,” said Timmins, “everyone here does as well. And everyone else here has taken arms against it.”
Laylah colored. “Instead of sitting and cowering in our homes, you mean.”
It was Timmins’s turn to flush. “I didn’t mean that at all, my lady!”
“Timmins here can be a bit rough,” Ben said quickly, giving the mortified Timmins a sharp look. “But what’s true is that you are a civilian. We’re not. Besides, it’s obvious our good ruler is so smitten with his new queen he’d be too distracted worrying about you.”
“Do not be embarrassed,” Kalin said gently. “We Aurorans know more of the darkness than they, for we have known it longer and more intimately. But they are right. This is war, my child.”
“And Albion needs a leader,” the king said. “With me gone, you shall represent the crown. The people will feel safer with their queen here. Page will stay with you.” Page started to open her mouth to protest but closed it again. She nodded, seeing the wisdom in what he was doing although she did not much