The Name Of The Sword (Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

the days. It was easier to not think of the world about her, to forget her surroundings and drift off into near unconsciousness . . .
    She landed on her elbow and the ground slammed into her painfully. She grunted like some farm animal and rolled onto her back, realizing she’d fallen asleep in the saddle and tumbled from her horse. She lay there for a moment, waiting for the pain in her arm to subside. But then Salula’s boot slammed into her ribs, reminding her she must stay on her feet.
    Holding her injured right arm tucked into her side, she’d only gotten to her knees when Salula lifted her the rest of the way. He slammed her back against her horse and slapped her hard. “You’ll not delay me, woman.”
    He slapped her again . . . then again . . . He stopped only when she opened her eyes and tried to look aware and alert.
    “That’s better. If you slow me, I’ll just tie you across the saddle like a sack of grain. You’ll find a day or two like that very uncomfortable.”
    Rhianne managed to stay in the saddle, and by the time they reached the outer gates of the city she’d lost all sense of her surroundings. Only when she heard an unfamiliar Kull voice did she return to the present. It was late afternoon, and two Kulls stood among the armsmen who normally guarded the main gates of Durin. One of them nodded and said, “Captain, the king knew you were coming and asked us to await you here.” The halfman smiled, though on a Kull’s face it looked more like a grimace. “And it’s good to have you back.”
    The two Kulls escorted them through the city to Castle Decouix where Valso awaited them in the courtyard, the little winged snake hovering just above him. The serpent darted toward Rhianne. She’d heard stories of its venom, and flinched as it hovered near her face.
    “Massster,” the snake hissed, hovering so close its forked tongue almost lapped her cheek. “Ssshe smellsss of power.”
    “Yes,” Valso said. “She’s a strong one. But leave her alone for now.”
    The snake zipped through the air, returned to hover over Valso. Rhianne let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She couldn’t find the strength to dismount so she remained in the saddle as Salula slid off his horse, dropped to one knee and lowered his head in front Valso. “I failed to retrieve the blade, Your Majesty.”
    “Come now, Captain,” Valso said cordially, which surprised Rhianne, for she had expected anger from the Decouix king. “Rise. Rise and face me.”
    Salula’s leathers creaked as he stood.
    “Don’t berate yourself, Captain,” Valso said. “You were dealing with magics far beyond your comprehension. What of the Elhiyne?”
    “I did put my dagger in his side,” Salula said. “Deeply. I know that of a certainty.”
    The little snake hissed, “He’sss dead?”
    Salula nodded over his shoulder at Rhianne. “She says he’s dead, says she felt his soul depart the Mortal Plane.”
    Valso looked her way and regarded her. He stepped around Salula and approached her. “Ah, the lovely Lady Rhianne. Such a vision of beauty.”
    He laughed loudly. “But not so beautiful now. Come, my dear.”
    He turned to Salula. “Get her off that horse.”
    Salula gripped her by the waist and dragged her out of the saddle, then stood her up in front of Valso. The Decouix king looked her up and down and walked around her, carefully examining her from all sides, the snake hovering just above him. He stopped in front of her and said, “No, not so beautiful now. My dear, you look like a common peasant—no, worse than a common peasant. And you certainly smell like one.”
    She hated the man, but his words still stung. She wondered if she would ever be beautiful again, though she doubted she could ever be happy again.
    As if reading her thoughts, Valso said, “We’ll have to correct that, won’t we?” He looked at the magical medallion embedded in the center of her forehead. “And we’ll