Oathbreaker: The Knight's Tale by Colin McComb Read Free Book Online

belched. “Pardon me. I have worked long for the Empire, and I think I have done a passable job of keeping it together. We have built it well toward the future, you and I, and I think it time we began passing the work of maintaining it to a younger generation.”
    “Your Majesty, I—”
    He interrupted me with a curt wave of his hand. “You are no longer a young man either, Glasyin. You have served with distinction and honor these many years, and our armies are in the best shape they have ever been, I believe. This is due to your leadership and your innovations. However, it is time for you to step aside and allow new vision to guide our forces.”
    “Your Majesty—”
    “Your pension is assured, of course, and I have signed an order granting you and your heirs land in perpetuity in honor of the service you have performed for this Empire.”
    “Your Majesty!”
    He looked me in the eye, then, and I saw some of his old fire. “General, your time is through. You are an excellent leader of men, but you are not well loved in the court. I need a commander who is equally adept at the tactics of the court as the strategy of the battlefield. To that end, I have appointed Count-General Beremany as the new leader of our forces, effective immediately.”
    “Your Majesty, he is a capable leader and brilliant strategist, but I do not believe he has the necessary understanding of the common soldier to—”
    “What does the common soldier matter?”
    “A great deal, your Majesty,” I replied hotly, “if you hope to win battles!”
    “Then I’m sure Beremany will learn to understand them better.”
    “I’m sure he’ll be another butcher like Hawkins.”
    “Are you questioning my order, General?”
    “Of course not, your Majesty, but—”
    “Then I suggest you shut your mouth.”
    I did. An attendant came and whispered in the king’s ear.
    He closed his eyes. “I respect you a great deal, Glasyin, more than you imagine. I have relied on you for years to guide me true. I do not do this lightly. There are political matters at stake as well. None of our enemies can mount a credible threat to us at this point. If I thought otherwise, this would be a much harder decision. As it is, our greatest threats come from within the Empire. Do not imagine I have not felt the strain of keeping it together. The appointment of Beremany will appease a certain faction, and when the tension has eased, I will allow you to name his successor. Five to ten years should be enough.”
    I swallowed. “Your Majesty, may I address my troops?”
    “You may. Naturally, I expect you to present this in a positive light. I know you love this land, Glasyin.”
    “Thank you, your Majesty.”
    “I’ll let you make the announcement to the court tomorrow.”
    “Thank you.” I rose.
    “As you leave, please send Beremany in.”
    I bowed slightly, turned, and left the pavilion. Black-haired, black-hearted Jason Beremany stood outside, his handsome face wreathed with satisfaction. He bowed his head, and it was good that he did, for had I seen a smile on his face, I would have slit his throat from ear to ear.

    I found Hargrave and told him to call a general muster of his troops in the morning. He opened his mouth to ask why, saw my face, and left half-running. In my turn, I retreated to a marble bench in the back of the garden. I couldn’t leave the party now, but at the same time, I had no desire to be the object of everyone’s gossip. I was certain Beremany had spread news of his good fortune and my ill before he even entered the pavilion. That scheming little bastard.
    I sat in the dark, listening to the party, plotting, plotting. The revel was winding down when the Count of Ithan threw himself noisily to the marble bench beside me. I knew this pudgy man fairly well, and had even counted myself among the outer reaches of his circle of friends at one point. He was a vivacious, jovial man, but I knew a calculating, cunning mind lay beneath his