Fable: Edge of the World by Christie Golden Read Free Book Online

know exactly how it works … only that it does. In this, your will is my Will, as it were.”
    She swallowed hard. “You should take the Seal with you,” she said. “If you are in danger—”
    He frowned. “My soldiers deserve a king who will lead them, not flee from battle. No, my love. It is hard enough for me to leave you behind. Give me the comfort of knowing you are safe in case anything happens here, and I will better be able to do what I must.”
    Laylah nodded. It was bitter, but she understood. The last thing her love needed was to be distracted with worry over her. “I have fine advisors. I am sure all will be well in your absence.”
    “If I have anything to do with it, not a hair on Her Majesty’s crowned head will be harmed,” Jasper declared.
    Laylah smiled fondly at him. “Well then,” she said, “surely no harm will befall me.”
    “At least not your hair,” said the king, then grinned. “Thank you Jasper. I know you’ll look after her.”
    “With my life, Your Majesty. Now, if I am not mistaken, there was a wedding at the castle earlier today, was there not? And usually after a wedding day falls a wedding night. I am not so old that I don’t know what that means. So, with the utmost respect: Shoo, the both of you.”

Chapter Five
    D espite the direness of their mission here, Ben found himself smiling as he and Timmins rode up to the huge double doors that served as the gates to the town of Blackholm. It was midday, and the doors were wide open. The only tracks in the freshly fallen snow were foot- and hoofprints leading in and out. No trampled or bloody snow to warn of anything untoward.
    “You seem to think we’ll receive a warm welcome,” Timmins observed.
    “For once, I believe so, yes. I’ve rather fond memories of my time here.”
    “I’ve read your account,” said Timmins.
    That surprised Ben. “Really?”
    “Mmm,” said Timmins. “I must be fair and say I suspected a tad bit of embellishment.”
    “Well,” said Finn cheerfully, “perhaps a tad. But if I’d
really
been embellishing, I’d have gotten the girl.”
    “The ‘girl’ would have handed your arse to you on a platter if you’d tried anything,” said Timmins.
    Since the “girl” in question was Page, Finn was forced to agree.
    Word had obviously been sent of their coming, for curious onlookers started to gather at the gates. Ben took off his hat, exposing his gold hair, and waved. A cheer went up, and cries of
Finn! Finn! Finn!
filled the air. It was, Ben mused, a damned shame that he didn’t get this sort of reception everywhere.
    Standing waiting to greet them was Russell, the son of the late “Old Henry” and the Lord Mayor of the town. Beside him was Captain Thorpe, a powerfully built man with a bristly red beard that was just starting to show silver threads of gray. Finn remembered them both. Russell had been a timid fellow and a poor shot when they had first met, but the years and the tragedy he had endured had made a fine man out of him. Thorpe had once been with His Majesty’s guards, but had left due to disagreements on policy. Finn had been here six years prior, to help defend the city twice against attacks from hideous Half-breeds, part man and part beast, designed to serve Reaver. Ben’s brother William had been among the Half-breeds, retaining enough of his humanity to kill himself and his increasingly mindless “pack” in order to save the inhabitants of Blackholm.
    And his brother.
    Ben chased away the sorrow. It had not been the outcome he had wanted, but he knew that William had found peace. The years had been good to Blackholm, it seemed, with Russell their mayor and Thorpe, back on the right side of the law, as their protector.
    “The Hero of Blackholm,” said Russell, grinning, pumping Ben’s arm so hard the older man feared it might fall off. “Come back to take up my offer as deputy mayor, I hope?”
    “No such luck, I fear,” Ben said. “Allow me to introduce