My Royal Pain Quest (The Lakeland Knight series, #2) by Laura Lond Read Free Book Online Page B

the consequences, yes. But does it mean that the act itself didn’t count? Or do I now have to do six valiant deeds, not three? That is, if the whole thing works.”
    She had no answer to that, and I wasn’t expecting one. We reached the rats’ cave; this time, they paid no attention to us. We walked through without any trouble.
    “You could have used the wish to bring your sparkling friend back to life,” Cassandra said.
    “You think it had not crossed my mind? It had, trust me. But he’d never approve, not at such cost.” I kicked a small rock that happened to be on my way. “Just wait, Triar. You just wait.”
    “It’s not like him to do something like this.”
    “Like or unlike, I’m going to pull his beard out. One hair after another.”
    Cassandra stopped in her tracks.
    “Beard? Triar has no beard.”
    I halted as well. “What are you saying? He must have grown one. How long has it been since you last saw the old crook?”
    “Triar’s not old! I don’t know whether it’s true or not, but he is said to know the secret of eternal youth, so…”
    She didn’t finish, and she did not have to. We ran out of the cave, quickly untied our horses and rushed back to the hermit’s house.
    The door was unlocked this time. I burst in and grabbed the impostor by the back of his shirt collar.
    “Who are you?! And where is the real Triar?!”
    He blinked, shrinking in fear.
    “Wha… How dare you…I am Triar!”
    “Are you, really?” I snatched the sword. “Shall we verify that?”
    I wanted to use the trick I’d just learned from the queen of the Swirgs, but my attention was distracted. Instead of the barely noticeable dim glow, the blade now flickered with orange sparkles. It was still far from the bright shining it used to have, but it was a definite improvement.
    Does this mean that…
    “Ragnar, help!” the impostor cried out.
    “Ragnar? So that’s who’s behind it!” I looked around. “Where is he? Let him show his face, unless he’s too scared!”
    The gormack immediately appeared. He stood in front of me with arms crossed, glowing in dark blue, glaring at me with narrowed eyes.
    “All right, Arkus, you won the first round. Don’t get too happy though, I’m not done with you. And be careful what you say, your protection will not last forever.”
    “Where is the hermit? What have you done with him?”
    He smirked. “I am not obligated to answer your questions, am I?”
    The door opened and Cassandra ran in, followed by a fair-haired man of about thirty.
    “I found Triar, he was locked in the cel…”
    She gasped at the sight of the gormack. The real Triar grabbed her hand and pulled her away. He looked frightened, too.
    I pushed the impostor to Ragnar.
    “Take this puppet of yours and get out.”
    The gormack barely controlled his fury.
    “Beware, Arkus…”
    “Get out if you don’t want to be whacked by a boot again, or by something worse. I think I saw a chamberpot under the bed.”
    Ragnar was gone in a flash. The impostor backed away to the door and took flight. No one pursued him.
    “I have seen many things,” said the real Triar, “but this is the first time I witness someone speaking to a gormack like that. Who are you?”
    “Hasn’t Cassandra told you about me? I am Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle .”
    “Yes, that’s what she said, but I find it hard to believe. I have heard of Lord Arkus, and from what I know, he is not someone who’d seek valiant deeds to help someone else or give up a treasure like the emerald apple.”
    “Let’s just say I am eccentric and unpredictable.”
    “Indeed you are.” Triar walked into the living room, gesturing to Cassandra to follow. “Shall we all dine together? We have a lot to discuss, it appears. I’ll need to know more about you and your quest to try to help you with the remaining two deeds.”
    I stared at him.
    “Did I hear you right? You said the remaining two deeds ?”
    Triar smiled.
    “Don’t you realize you have