The Knight Marshal (The Silk & Steel Saga) by Karen Azinger Read Free Book Online Page A

He’d done it before,
but the town whores always made short work of it. This was different, so very
different. The women found ways to make it last, an eternity of pleasure, a
night of dalliance. Blonde, brunette, and redhead, he sampled a bouquet of
delights. They took turns riding him like a stallion and then he took them like
a bull in heat, bellowing his delight. Three times he reached ecstasy, finally
collapsing in a stupor of pleasure. Sated with sex, he slept entwined with
beauty, like a hero feted in paradise.
    Tap…tap, tap, a noise intruded on
his sleep. Blaine tried to push it away, reluctant to leave dreams of endless
pleasure, but the sound persisted. Tap…tap, tap. He swam awake. The women
snuggled close around him, oblivious to the disturbance. Groggy from sex, his
gaze circled the chamber. Night darkened the room, most of the candles melted
to stubs, but nothing seemed amiss.
    Tap…tap, tap.
    The sound came from the far doors,
but he could have sworn there was nothing out there but a balcony, a sheer drop
overlooking the tiered city.
    Tap…tap, tap.
    Freeing himself from the feminine
tangle, Blaine struggled from bed. The blonde sighed but none of them woke. Blaine grinned, perhaps he’d given as good as he got. He reached for a candle, a small
circle of light against the dark, and padded naked toward the double doors.
    Tap…tap, tap.
    Annoyed at the intrusion, he yanked
the doors open. A cold wind gusted in, snuffing his candle. He blinked against
the dark, but then he saw it. A giant albatross fluttered to the railing. Pale
as death, the great bird stared back at him, its head at eye level, but instead
of a bird, it was a monster. Eyes and mouth of a man! The winged beast
was an abomination, a fiend sprung from hell! 
    “The Mordant sees you, Knight of
the Octagon.”
    Stunned, Blaine staggered back a
step.
    Its voice was a dry rasp. “ The
Mordant marks your soul for you dared to breach his Citadel.”
    Blaine reached for his sword,
shocked to realize he stood naked before the fiend.
     “ Pain will be your future, and
forever will be your service, for he shall twist flesh and meld souls crafting
you into one of the damned.” The great wings flapped as the creature
hovered above the railing. “ Look at me to foresee your fate, to foresee your
doom.”
    “No!” Blaine threw the candle, a
feeble weapon.
    The fiend laughed. “You will be
a man no more!”
    Blaine whirled, desperate for his
sword. Tripping over the trail of clothing, he finally reached the divan.
Sweeping the blue sword from its scabbard, he charged the balcony, but the
fiend was already gone, great wings beating toward the moon-drenched clouds.
Naked, Blaine stood on the balcony, his sword raised to the heavens, his shout
chasing the monstrosity south. “I’ll kill him! I’ll kill him first! ”
    A winter wind beat against him,
snatching at his words. Shivering against the bitter cold, he slammed the doors
shut and set the bar. Shaking, he returned to bed to find the three women
watching him, the fur covers clutched close.
    “Did you see?”
    Pale faces stared back at him. The
redhead gave a grim nod.
    Blaine’s voice was a low growl.
“What was that thing?” 
    “A gorelabe, a messenger of the
Mordant.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “It means our master still lives.”
    “Your master!” Her answer
infuriated him. He yanked the covers from the bed, revealing their nakedness.
“Get out! All of you out!” He brandished his sword and they fled before him,
scampering from the bedchamber with a piteous squeal.
    The door slammed shut and he was
alone.
    Scaring naked women, Blaine shook his head, ashamed of himself, yet he could not let them see his shaking hands.
He climbed into the massive bed, pulling the warm furs close, clutching his
sword. The luxuries of the palace were forgotten, poisoned by nightmares. His
gaze haunted the balcony doors. An albatross melded with a man , he
shuddered at the horror. How could