The Invisible Chains - Part 2: Bonds of Fear Read Online Free

ring, so I could try to contact them in his name. Tell them how the
    renunciation was a ruse. But they might have been turned months ago.
    No, that’s too dangerous.”
    Without knowing it he felt the same mixture of mounting panic
    and growing doubt Ehandar had felt months ago creep into his heart.
    “No, no, no. That way lies certain doom. I cannot, I will not give
    in to this. I will not be overwhelmed by terror. I have come too far.
    And I am not a helpless lamb. Should I close my southern border? That
    would be as good as a declaration of independence. No, I am not ready
    for that. I must work the other way around and begin closest to myself.
    With those who have access to me. My friends...”
    He sighed. He found the prospect most distasteful.
    “The first thing I must know is if my most trusted circle is as
    impregnable as I hope it is. As it must be. As repulsive as it is, I must
    continue to set a trap to find out. This afternoon I’ll put the second
    piece in place. If it works, in the worst case I’ll have certainty. In the
    best case, I’ll have fewer doubts. Setting a trap for two people might
    even tell me something about a third.”
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    Andrew Ashling

    Bonds of Fear
    27

    “You can open the door now, Radyamirodyahendo,” Anaxantis
    yelled around noon.
    Moments later he heard the sound of the lock turning.
    “Had any trouble?” he asked, smiling at the page. The boy was
    visibly in need of cheering up.
    “No, my lord, not at all.”
    “Very good. That was a fine job, Radyamirodyahendo.”
    “Thank you, my lord.”
    The boy didn’t smile back, but somehow he managed to appear
    pleased.
    February the fifth was halfway gone, Anaxantis noticed, satisfied.
    He was about to return to the war room, when Bortram came into
    the entrance hall.
    “Ha, there you are. Come out of solitary confinement, have you?
    Could you also come outside for a moment? I have something to
    show you.”
    “Yeah, of course,” Anaxantis said absentmindedly. “What is it?”
    “Well, come out and you’ll see.”
    When he stepped into the inner courtyard he saw all his friends
    were standing there and Hemarchidas was holding the reins of a
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    Andrew Ashling
    magnificent stallion.
    “Happy birthday,” he said. “You didn’t think we would forget, did
    you?”
    “Oh, guys, really...,” Anaxantis replied, embarrassed. “I didn’t
    want to make a fuss.”
    “Nonsense,” Lethoras said. “Go on, say hello to your birthday
    present.” He pointed at the horse.
    “For me?” Anaxantis asked, his eyes lighting up. “Really?”
    He ran to the horse and softly caressed its muzzle.
    “A Cheridonian fourblood, of course,” Hemarchidas said. “A horse
    fit for a king. And quite rare. It’s not every day you see a palomino
    Cheridonian fourblood.”
    “He’s beautiful, just beautiful,” Anaxantis said, enraptured. “You
    guys... you really shouldn’t have...”
    “We all chipped in,” Bortram said. “Strangely enough my family
    came into some money at exactly the right time. Isn’t that fortunate?”
    “Huh?”
    “Don’t mind him,” Marak said, throwing Bortram a nasty look. “We
    got a good deal on him when we told the elders of the tribe he was to
    be your birthday present. You’ve brought them more business in the
    last months, what with equipping the whole Landemere cavalry with
    Cheridonian horses, than they’ve had the last three years.”
    “Can I ride him?” Anaxantis asked, looking at Hemarchidas.
    “He’s yours. You can do—”
    Anaxantis jumped upon the horse, made him turn left and right
    and advance a few steps. He leaned forward and whispered something
    in the horse’s ears and caressed his long neck. The stallion neighed.
    Bonds of Fear
    29
    Another few steps, then he let the horse walk outside the castle gate,
    where he started out with a trot before bolting off into a full gallop.
    Hemarchidas ran after him.
    “Stop, you little fool,” he shouted to the surprise of