[Hurog 01] - Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs Page B

“Ah gods,” I pleaded, involuntary tears rolling down my face.
    â€œShh, shh,” Oreg whispered, patting me anxiously on the hand. He kept his body angled away from me, afraid that I was going to hit him for not rescuing me sooner. His fear and my ability to move again brought me to myself.
    â€œIt’s fine,” I said. “Thank you.” My voice sounded as hoarse as if I had screamed.
    I wiped my face with shaking hands and realized I was on my own bed. I struggled to think. Why had Garranon imprisoned me in a spell and then left me in my room?
    Oreg’s head came up. “They’re coming back. What do you want me to do?”
    â€œNothing,” I said. “Not unless I ask you.”
    I could hear voices outside now. My uncle was very angry.
    â€œDon’t let them see you.”
    I stretched back out on the bed and closed my eyes.
    â€œNot so stiff,” warned Oreg, so I relaxed as well as I could as the door opened.
    â€œMy dear sir,” said Garranon in a bored voice, “Ward is unfit to hold Hurog. To ensure for his proper care, he is to be delivered to the royal asylum in Estian as his father requested. I’ve shown you the king’s writ. You don’t even have to worry about the usual charges for this service. Knowing the state of Hurog’s wealth, I have donated the fee myself.”
    My father had intended to imprison me in the King’s Asylum?
    â€œThat was five years ago,” argued my uncle. “Fenwick feared the damage to Ward was more extensive than it was.”
    â€œThe Hurogmeten just didn’t want to pay the fees,” corrected Garranon dryly, “which I have done. The only thing you can affect now is who holds Hurog. If you help merecover the slave, I will see that you are named lord in Ward’s place.”
    My uncle inhaled deeply in surprise or excitement. There was a long pause. What was taking him so long to accept? Here was his opportunity to have Hurog with no blame to himself.
    Garranon’s voice grew slick and sweet. “The king will listen to me on such a matter, especially since Ward’s younger brother has been missing for over two years. Long enough to presume him dead.”
    â€œYou tie my hands,” said my uncle.
    â€œYou tied your own hands when you allowed the boy to make all the decisions,” replied Garranon calmly. “When we found out the girl was headed here, I thought we might need this. I know your nephew from court. He recites ballads about Seleg by the hour to anyone who will listen.”
    Only to the people who really annoyed me, I thought.
    â€œI knew he would hold to the old ways. He is too . . . innocent to be negotiated out of it. Unlike you and me.”
    A hand came down and rested briefly on my forehead—my uncle’s hand. “Do you torture puppies, too?” he murmured.
    â€œTo protect my brother I would.” Garranon’s voice was hard.
    â€œI will speak to King Jakoven.” Duraugh’s tone held warning. “I am not without influence.”
    I couldn’t see it without opening my eyes, but I heard Garranon’s smile in his voice. “He will not reconsider. I will have that slave.”
    Not if Oreg had anything to say about it, I thought. Unless they took Hurog apart stone by stone, she would be safe.
    â€œMy lord Duraugh,” continued Garranon, “think of it this way. How long would Hurog survive with an idiot to run it?”
    From the sound of my uncle’s voice as he replied, Iknew he was pacing. “And what if I don’t want Hurog? Look at it. It’s just an old keep, smaller than my own. The only reason it’s still standing is sheer Shavig stubbornness. It’s too far north to do much more than to feed itself. This year it’s not even going to do that. The old mines are played out and have been for generations.” He was trying to convince himself, but I heard in his voice