Free the Darkness (King's Dark Tidings Book 1) by Kel Kade Read Free Book Online Page A

swirls that looked like melted topaz flowing amongst liquid silver, but it
had an edge finer than he had ever seen. The hand-and-a-half hilt was wrapped
in dark blue silk cord that matched his cloak and the crossguard and pommel
were both silver. The center of the pommel was slightly raised to a point like
a teardrop.
    Rezkin held the blade in awe. He plucked the shortsword from
the rack and found it to be the same as the longsword. These were Sheyalin
blades! He had never thought to see one in his life. Sheyalin had been a Master
Swordsmith who lived and died over two hundred years prior. He had produced the
most exquisite blades ever created and no one had been able to match his
technique or quality in all the years since. The silver-blue swirls were unique
to the Sheyalin blades. These blades were quite literally worth a king’s
ransom.
    All the remaining Sheyalin blades in the Kingdom of Ashai
were property of the crown. As such, the blades could only be bequeathed by the
king, in great honor, to the recipient. Each blade was catalogued and named,
and their bearers’ names were recorded much like the records of a family
bloodline. It was required by law for the blades to be returned to the crown
upon the bearer’s death. Ownership of the blades could never be revoked within
a bearer’s lifetime, even by the king, but neither could it be passed down to the
bearer’s heir. It was a death sentence for any but the rightful bearer to carry
a Sheyalin blade. The few remaining blades were precious and already too many
had been lost or secreted out of the kingdom.
    Only a Swordmaster would dare to carry such a blade, anyway,
for fear of drawing unwanted attention. Anyone returning the blades to the
palace after the bearer’s death would receive a hefty reward. The reward was
meant to encourage people to return the blades, but the unfortunate side effect
was that the sword bearers were often targeted so the killers could claim the
rewards for the weapons. In response to this threat, a long-dead king had
issued a new law stating that anyone who returned a blade and was found guilty
of killing the bearer would receive the worst possible punishment. The murderer
would be tortured endlessly for years without hope of death.
    Rezkin was suddenly wary of carrying these blades. He was
not concerned about thieves, but he did not want to attract the attention of
the Royal Guard or the king. Without the proper papers of ownership, any guards
who recognized the blades would be required to take him before the king. If he
resisted, they would be required to kill him – or at least try .
Rezkin did not want to meet the king. At least, not unless it was required of
him to fulfill his mysterious purpose. He could not just leave the blades here,
though. He would need to hide them.
    Looking back at the scabbards, he noticed a small parchment
tied to the one belonging to the longsword. Rezkin pulled the parchment free
from the sheath. He unrolled the small note and read:
     
    Certificate
of Authority
    By Honor of the Great
King Bordran of Ashai, these two Sheyalin blades, Kingslayer the Longsword and
Bladesunder the Shortsword, are hereby bequeathed to Rezkin (black hair, pale blue eyes,
six-feet three inches) ,
and with them all the rightful authority of a Sword Bearer of Ashai.”
               
    Rezkin was astonished. These blades were meant for him !
The certificate was signed and sealed by the late King Bordran. No date was
given, and his name and description seemed to have been written by a different
hand. Equally strange, no title or surname was provided.
    Even commoners were referred to in legal documents as Master
or Mistress so-and-so . In lieu of a surname, the town of birth, current
residence or the person’s occupation would be used – Master Jarin of
Spokeburrow or Mistress Evana Baker, for example. Rezkin had no occupation and
no idea where he was born. He assumed he was not born at the fortress since
there were no