Sword of Wrath (Kormak Book Eight) by William King Read Free Book Online Page B

voyage.”
    Her earrings bore elder signs. A necklace containing a wraithstone charm hung at her throat. Rings bearing various mystical runes. Sudden wariness settled on Kormak; he was in the presence of a sorceress.
    “Oh, in the name of the Light, don’t look at me like that,” said the woman. “I am not going to try and enchant you. I am the ship’s windcaller.”
    Her manner was imperious; she was clearly used to be being feared and obeyed. Kormak stared back at her. She held his gaze for a long time, just to let him know she could, and then she turned to look at the servant out of politeness, not fear.
    “The cabin arrangements leave a little to be desired, Hugo,” she said. She sounded amused, rather than angry.
    “Admiral’s orders, Mistress Serena. I was told specifically to place Sir Kormak here.”
    “The admiral letting me know he has a pet wolf, is he?”
    Hugo kept his face bland, but his manner managed to show he was affronted. “I am afraid I would not know, madam.”
    She turned and looked back at Kormak. Her smile was a fraction warmer. “Nothing to do with me,” Kormak said.
    “I am sure you will find that there can be a lot of politicking on board these ship’s, Sir Kormak. You would not be the Kormak who saved the life of King Brandane of Taurea on the field of Aeanar, some twenty-odd years ago.”
    “I am.” Kormak made a bow.
    “I would have thought you would be dead by now. Guardians don’t usually live so long.” She did not sound malicious; she sounded thoughtful. Kormak let it pass.
    “I look forward to some interesting chats,” Mistress Serena said. “But now I really must inspect the ship.”
    Kormak stood aside to let her pass. She strode up the stairs with the step of a woman forty years younger. When she was gone, Hugo made a small gesture of apology and said, “Sorry about that, sir.”
    “There is nothing to apologise for. That was one of the friendliest conversations I have had with a wizard in a decade.”
    Hugo looked impressed and then he smiled. “Very good, sir. Your cabin, sir.”
    The cabin was not large, but it had a bunk and a sea-chest bolted to the floor. It even had a small porthole with dimpled panes of leaded glass looking out over the sea. Kormak did not need to stretch his arms to their full length to touch the walls on either side simultaneously. Still, he had stayed in far worse places.
    “Will you require anything else, sir?” Hugo asked.
    “No, thank you,” Kormak replied. He took his pack and dropped it into the sea-chest, then threw himself down on the bed. He was immediately aware of footsteps on the deck above him.
    “Then I’ll be off, sir,” Hugo said. He closed the door softly behind him, leaving Kormak to stare at the ceiling and wonder about his fellow passengers and crew.

    * * *
    K ormak lay on the bunk for a while, listening to the sounds of the ship. Officers shouted. Bosuns relayed commands, and men moved to obey. He heard the creak of anchors and the splash of oars, and then felt the slow rocking of a big ship starting to move.
    Thoughts of his recent battles, of King Aemon’s arrogant humility and Gerd’s death, warred in his head. Guilt pricked him. He could have done more. He should have done more. He had let people die because he was too slow, too weak.
    Restless and unsettled, he picked himself up off the bed, made sure all of his amulets were in place and adjusted his swordbelt till it hung on his waist. He did not expect to have to draw it fast, but if he did, it would be better there in this confined space. He did not want to have to pull it over his head with these low ceilings.
    The fresh sea air smacked him in the face as he emerged onto the deck. He glanced around and saw all of the passengers clustered on the lower deck of the stern. The raised platform above it was reserved for the captain, and those he chose to invite to join him there. Unlike on many other ships, there was a walkway around the sterncastle