| The soldier brought his horse close to Rowena's. "My pardon, High Lady,
but I must ask ye why your true name ye kept hidden. On my honor I do so
as duty dictates and not for mere curiosity." Rowena nodded to herself
and smiled at the man. "I understand duty, Konrad, I do not take offense
at your question. And the answer is very simple. My purpose for traveling
to the southlands was personal, of no importance to any but I. But speed
was of the essence since I had to return before the celebrations for the
sacrifice of my brother began. If it were known who I truly was, I feared
I would have been unable to move a mile without drawing crowds of curious
well wishers." Konrad accepted her answer and moved his horse less close
to hers.
Pall then came near and Fred eyed him warily. Pall bowed to Rowena and
with a tender voice said, "I offer you my deepest condolences, my lady.
Your grief must only be equaled by your pride in your brother's great victory.
He was the best of us. I know, for I myself once met Lord Fred." Hearing
this Fred tensed in his saddle. Rowena simply raised an eyebrow. "Tis true,"
Pall continued, "He was visiting a joust at Collinsport. He tasted of my
clam dip he did, and I'd say it gave him some joyful respite from the day's
heat." With another broad smile at Rowena, Pall drew his wagon further
up the road. Rowena eyed Fred and then chuckled.
Pall brought his wagon abreast of Timon's who was speaking his mind
with the Chanticleer. "He was a madman," Timon was saying. "I'm not so
sure," the Chanticleer argued, "his words were like a poet true." Timon
jeered at the bardsman, "Aye, and what more proof do I need?" Timon
then reached into his pocket and pulled out a packet of gambler's cards.
"If it's auguries ye want, I could get more clear a message from the gods
with these cards then from the ramblings of that wretched old fool." Suddenly
his wagon hit a rock, shaking the merchant. The cards fell to the ground
and with a curse Timon pulled his reins and slowed to a stop. As Fred rode
by his eye chanced to fall on the cards. Strangely, the pack had not scattered
across the road and only one had escaped from the deck. Fred's horse then
stumbled and with a grunt Fred steadied the animal and continued forward.
He hoped that his sister had not noticed the momentary shock that had overcome
him. A shock at seeing a simple card for a common game. A card whose face
was of a beautiful woman with cold eyes. A woman known as the Queen of
Clubs.
And then from ahead of them a shout was heard; it was Garrek. To their
chagrin they discovered that as the road curved in a narrow bend the way
had become blocked by fallen rock and trees. Konrad turned to Rowena. "It
will take some time to clear this," he said. Fred dismounted, "Then let
us begin right now."
-
 Fred
ordered the others to help him clear the way.
Go Back
|