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

such a twisted creature ever come into
being? How could swords defeat such fell magic? The monster’s threat echoed
through his mind, “ forever will be your service .” Blaine made the hand
sign against evil. “I’ll kill him first.” He clutched his sword, his words full
of defiance, but in his mind a ravening fear took hold.

5
    Katherine
     
    Torchlight played across the frieze of demons, shifting
shadows granting the illusion of life. While the palace slept, Kath escaped the
bonds of duty, fleeing to the demon-carved hallway. Like a restless spirit she
returned desperate for succor. Stone-carved demons leered down at her, as if
they sensed her weakness, but Kath did not care. With urgent fingers, she
sought the hidden key. Eye of varg and claw of balrog, her fingers pressed the
riddle wrought in stone. Tongue of ghoul and skull of lich, she longed to see
him. Tooth of snarg and scale of dragon, she pressed the last stone praying for
her heart’s desire.
    The hidden door whispered open. She
sped past the lich king and down the spiral stairs, torchlight playing across
dark stone. The treasury crypt remained just as she’d found it, gold coins
spewed across the floor, cedar chests stacked along the far wall, a trove of
incalculable wealth, but Kath cared for naught save the winged throne. Silver
sculpted into wings, the elegant throne drew her like a lodestone. Whispering a
prayer to Valin, Kath dared to sit in the regal seat. Her maroon cloak wrapped
close, she held her breath, hoping, praying…but the throne remained dormant.
Gripping the armrests, she willed the throne to life…but the shadows held sway.
The darkness mocked her. Kath slumped against the throne, her hope dwindling to
a whisper. “Come back to me!” but her plea went unanswered.
    For five nights she returned to the
crypt, sitting in the silver throne till her torch sputtered to embers, all to
no avail. On the sixth night, she brought the monk.
    “What is it you want me to see?”
    “Best if I just show you.”
    “Must we do this in the dead of
night?”
    Kath shrugged, taking a torch from
the wall bracket. “The less eyes the better.”
    He gave her an odd look, but said
nothing more, following her through the marble labyrinth. Zith gasped when he
saw the demon-carved hallway, his voice changing from annoyance to a wary
interest. “What is this place?”
    “The Mordant’s secret.” She pressed
the stone riddle and the hidden door whispered open. “This way. Mind the stairs
are steep.” She went first, holding the torch behind her so the monk could see.
He lurched down the steep stairs, still awkward from his missing hand, lost in
their first battle with the gorehounds. Reaching the bottom, Kath stepped
aside, torchlight glittering on gold.
    Zith gasped. “ By the gods!”  He
stepped amongst the coins, turning in all directions, his face full of wonder.
“How did you find this?”
    “Duncan told me.” She watched the
monk’s face. “Bryce told him.”
    His gaze snapped to hers. “My son?”
    She gave him a solemn nod. “I told
you, Bryce still lives. Somehow in that hellish cavern, he spoke to Duncan, whispering the Mordant’s secrets.”
    “Then he still serves the Light.”
Pride leavened with fierce resolve flooded the monk’s face. “We best make use
of it.”
    “Tell me about the throne.” Kath
crossed the crypt to the silver wings. Her fingertips stroked the sculpted
metal, so cool to the touch, but there was no answering light. Hearing the monk
gasp, she turned to see the wonder in his stare.
    “ The Throne of the Star Knights! ”
    “So you know it?”
    “Only by myth and legend. Lost a
thousand years ago, during the War of Wizards,” Zith shook his head. “We
thought it destroyed, melted down for silver.”
    “Do you know what it does?”
    “Does?”
    “What magic it holds?”
    “There are none who know. Its
secrets are lost to the ages.” Zith’s gaze narrowed. “Have you woken the
throne?”
    Kath