Devlin's Justice by Patricia Bray Read Free Book Online Page A

moments to make herself ready. Leaving the sleep chamber, she walked through her office, then into the corridor. As she descended the stairs to the ground floor, the watch bells sounded, indicating that it was two hours before dawn.
    The sentry outside the office saluted as Captain Drakken drew near, then opened the door. As she stepped inside, Lieutenant Ansgar quickly rose to his feet.
    If he was surprised to see his Captain appear in the middle of his shift, Ansgar gave no sign. “Captain, all is well in the city.”
    It was the routine report.
    “And the gate sentries?”
    “They have their orders. They are to report the Chosen One’s arrival at once and offer him any assistance he may require. I will brief the next shift of sentries personally, before they take their posts.”
    “Good.”
    She had visited the Royal Chapel yesterday at noon, where the glowing soul stone gave proof that Devlin was nearing the city. She had done what she could to prepare for his coming. The guards would inform her when he arrived, though it was likely that Devlin would seek out the King first, to report on the success or failure of his quest. Only then would he be free to seek out his friends.
    “I hope this return is calmer than the last,” Drakken mused.
    “Captain?” Lieutenant Ansgar’s voice rose in question.
    “The last time Devlin returned from a quest, his first act was to challenge Duke Gerhard to a duel. Let us hope this time he receives a warmer welcome.”
    “As you say.” Ansgar’s features were once again a blank mask.
    The man had no sense of humor, but that was hardly news. Ansgar was nearly an agemate, having joined the guard only two years after Drakken. A stolid, unimaginative man, his years of experience and faultless service had finally elevated him to the rank of sergeant.
    Left to her own, she would never have chosen him as one of her lieutenants, but then Hemfrid had been killed by his lover, a man who promptly took his own life. And King Olafur, who had never interfered in the Guard before, took the opportunity to select Ansgar for promotion. It was the King’s way of reminding her that she served at his pleasure and that he was the ultimate authority in Kingsholm.
    Drakken, though angry at the usurping of her traditional authority, had not argued against the King’s decision. Seemingly pleased by her acquiescence, the King had thrown her a bone, allowing her to recruit fifty new guards. Placing Ansgar in charge of their recruitment cost her nothing but pride.
    The newly expanded Guard was just one of the changes that Devlin would find when he returned to Kingsholm. She wondered what he would make of the presence of the Selvarat delegation and their new military alliance. Time alone would tell.
     
    Satisfied that she had done all she could for the moment, Captain Drakken left Lieutenant Ansgar and the nearly deserted Guard Hall and began an impromptu tour of inspection. As she emerged from the darkness, the sentries at the first guard tower challenged her, barring her path with lowered spears until she gave the night’s password. Only then did they allow her to step forward into the light. Such diligence pleased her, though she knew better than to praise the guards for merely doing their duty.
    She climbed the steps to the battlements and made the long circuit around the high walls that enclosed the palace compound. It was a good time for a surprise inspection, as the end of a long shift approached, when fatigue and boredom were likely to have taken their toll. But newcomers and veterans alike proved themselves alert and watchful. One guard greeted Drakken by name, rather than waiting for the challenge and response, thus earning herself a week’s stint of extra duties. But that was a minor failing, and overall Drakken was satisfied by what she found.
    The sun had risen by the time she had finished her inspection, and she witnessed the changing of the duty shifts. Then she went down to the courtyard