Scorpion Mountain by John A. Flanagan Read Free Book Online Page A

unrepentant. “So? I’d speak to Erak that way. And I respect our Oberjarl more than any foreign king. He insulted our ship and that insults all of us. And he accused Erak of trying to break the rules of the treaty.”
    There was a brief silence between them. Crowley took a sip of his coffee and regarded them evenly. “If you ask me, Thorn had every right to say what he did,” he said.
    The three Skandians all looked at him, surprised, and he grinned. “Perhaps not quite as forcefully as he did. But his passion only serves to emphasize his sincerity. You and your crew have just done a great service for this country and it was right to remind Duncan of the fact. He had no call to disparage you or your ship—which Gilan tells me is a remarkable craft.”
    He set his cup down and leaned forward to speak to them in a more confidential tone.
    â€œDuncan is a fair man. But he is a king and kings don’t like to be contradicted. To his credit, that’s why he keeps us Rangers around. We argue with him all the time if we think he’s wrong. You can bet that Gilan is in there now straightening him out.”
    Hal frowned. The thought of the young Ranger “straightening out” the angry monarch was hard to accept.
    â€œHow will he take that?”
    â€œHe’ll listen to reason—eventually. Bear in mind, he’s mad with worry about his daughter. And the uncertainty of the whole thing makes that worry even worse. If he had a clear idea of who’s involved and what they’re planning, it would be a lot easier. But he’s worried and he’s lacking hard intelligence on this Scorpion Mountain place. Just give him time and he’ll come round. He’s a good man at heart.”
    Stig grinned and leaned over to clap Thorn on the shoulder. “So you get back in your box, Thorn, and stop trying to disrupt the treaty.”
    Thorn snorted indignantly. “All very well, Stig, but he insulted you too, you know.”
    â€œAnd I’m big and ugly enough to take exception to that myself, if need be,” Stig told him. “But Crowley’s right, the man obviously has a lot on his mind and he’s got a kingdom to run as well. Let’s give him a little slack, shall we?”
    Hal nodded his thanks to Stig. His tall friend had come a long way in the past year and a half. The old Stig was always willing to flare up at any slight—real or imagined. This measured approach to the situation was something new.
    I suppose we’re all growing up, he thought. Except maybe Thorn.
    They looked up as the door to the inner room opened and Duncan and Gilan emerged. Gilan, slightly behind the King, made a reassuring gesture with his hand. Hal and the others stood, Thorn a little reluctantly. Duncan cleared his throat before speaking.
    â€œGilan has pointed out that I spoke without full knowledge,” he said. “I understand now that your ship, the
Heron,
is not in any way inferior to the wolfships that have been stationed here before. In fact, he tells me it’s possibly superior to them.”
    Thorn grunted noisily. Hal turned to him and raised a warning hand. The gesture wasn’t lost on King Duncan, who eyed the recalcitrant Thorn for a few seconds before continuing.
    â€œSo let me say, I regret any offense I may have caused—to you, your ship and its crew, or to the Oberjarl himself.” He paused again then looked directly at Thorn. “That is not to say that I am apologizing. I regret any offense caused but I am
not
apologizing.”
    Thorn stuck his jaw forward pugnaciously. “That’s just fine, because neither am I!” he said, with equal force.
    Hal raised his eyes to heaven and went to step forward to appease the King. To his surprise, after a few seconds, Duncan began to laugh. It started as a deep chuckle, then spread until his shoulders were shaking uncontrollably. Hal glanced at Crowley, who shrugged his