The Invisible Chains - Part 2: Bonds of Fear by Andrew Ashling Page B
Authors: Andrew Ashling
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know?”
“In that case we haven’t got a day, not a moment to lose. What if
that husband of yours sends that fiend after my godson?”
“And my son, you mean?” Emelasuntha laughed. “Sobrathi,
Sobrathi, don’t worry. Damydas has retired some years ago. He might
be dead by now, for all we know.”
The baroness let out a sigh of relief.
“Well, don’t be too at ease. Damydas might be dead or not, as
the case may be, but one thing is certain. The evil of men is eternal.
Tomorrow we set out for Ormidon and if need be we’ll go to the
southern border, but one way or another we’re going to find out
exactly what my husband is planning.”
“Oh no, Emelasuntha. We discussed it last time. There are plenty
of reasons why—”
“Plenty of reasons? My royal ass. If that bloody ogre is sending his
bloody hounds after my son, I will bloody well see to it myself that
nothing comes of it. I’ll strangle the bloody mutts with my bloody
bare hands.”
“Let’s talk about it, dear. The dangers—”
“You’re welcome to talk all you want, in a soon to be empty room,
until you bore the plaster off the walls. I, for one, have some packing
to see to and so do you.”
Emelasuntha smiled charmingly at her friend and mouthed a
kiss. Then she left in a whirlwind of long blond hair, looking excited
and at least fifteen years younger.
Bonds of Fear
103
The exercising that afternoon had been exceptionally strenuous,
and Arranulf, Obyann, and Rahendo were looking forward to a lie
down on their soft beds before the evening meal was served in the
mess barrack. The training fields were near the forest and they still
had a while to go before they got back.
Obyann walked in front of the other two, looking around with
growing wonder.
“It’s almost unbelievable. Just a few weeks ago, on this road you
could see over the fields as far as the eye would reach. Now it looks as
if dozens of little villages are sprouting daily. Hm... those ugly buggers
must be of the Amirathan Militia. Yes, no doubt about it, they all look
a little bit like Ruldo, the walking dick. Man, I can’t wait till Bortram
teaches me how to break his arms. Maybe it’ll work on his legs as well.”
Happy thoughts like this always put Obyann in a good mood, and
he turned around to his friends. They seemed to be bustling with
merriment too. They were speaking softly but excitedly, interspersed
with bursts of laughter, which immediately made him suspicious
and instantly dispelled his own joyful spirit. He realized that they
were still in their training outfit, and without his uniform and mantle
he felt suddenly that some of his body parts were too exposed for
comfort. Too exposed especially to two morons who were giggling
behind his back. Well, he would at once put an end to that little party.
“Landemere,” he barked. “What’s so funny? Were you by any
chance gawking at my ass again?”
104
Andrew Ashling
“What?” Arranulf said, still laughing at something Rahendo had
whispered to him.
“I warn you, Landemere, don’t shit in my turnips, as we say in
Ramaldah.”
“I assure you that it was never my intention to relieve myself
in your root vegetables. And may I compliment you on the colorful
expressions you have in Ramaldah?”
Rahendo made a sound, resembling a pony with a mild cold.
“Just quit gawking at my ass, Landemere,” Obyann snarled, and
walked on.
“Nobody is interested in your bony ass, Ramaldah,” Arranulf
shouted after him. “Nobody at all.”
“Then quit leering at it.”
The chattering and eruptions of laughter behind his back didn’t
stop and after a few minutes he’d had enough. He stopped beside the
road and put his hands on his sides.
“All right, ladies. Change of plans. You walk in front.”
Without paying him much attention the two pages simply walked
on, and when they had passed him, Obyann followed.
“Nulfie,” Rahendo asked with large, round eyes, “why
“In that case we haven’t got a day, not a moment to lose. What if
that husband of yours sends that fiend after my godson?”
“And my son, you mean?” Emelasuntha laughed. “Sobrathi,
Sobrathi, don’t worry. Damydas has retired some years ago. He might
be dead by now, for all we know.”
The baroness let out a sigh of relief.
“Well, don’t be too at ease. Damydas might be dead or not, as
the case may be, but one thing is certain. The evil of men is eternal.
Tomorrow we set out for Ormidon and if need be we’ll go to the
southern border, but one way or another we’re going to find out
exactly what my husband is planning.”
“Oh no, Emelasuntha. We discussed it last time. There are plenty
of reasons why—”
“Plenty of reasons? My royal ass. If that bloody ogre is sending his
bloody hounds after my son, I will bloody well see to it myself that
nothing comes of it. I’ll strangle the bloody mutts with my bloody
bare hands.”
“Let’s talk about it, dear. The dangers—”
“You’re welcome to talk all you want, in a soon to be empty room,
until you bore the plaster off the walls. I, for one, have some packing
to see to and so do you.”
Emelasuntha smiled charmingly at her friend and mouthed a
kiss. Then she left in a whirlwind of long blond hair, looking excited
and at least fifteen years younger.
Bonds of Fear
103
The exercising that afternoon had been exceptionally strenuous,
and Arranulf, Obyann, and Rahendo were looking forward to a lie
down on their soft beds before the evening meal was served in the
mess barrack. The training fields were near the forest and they still
had a while to go before they got back.
Obyann walked in front of the other two, looking around with
growing wonder.
“It’s almost unbelievable. Just a few weeks ago, on this road you
could see over the fields as far as the eye would reach. Now it looks as
if dozens of little villages are sprouting daily. Hm... those ugly buggers
must be of the Amirathan Militia. Yes, no doubt about it, they all look
a little bit like Ruldo, the walking dick. Man, I can’t wait till Bortram
teaches me how to break his arms. Maybe it’ll work on his legs as well.”
Happy thoughts like this always put Obyann in a good mood, and
he turned around to his friends. They seemed to be bustling with
merriment too. They were speaking softly but excitedly, interspersed
with bursts of laughter, which immediately made him suspicious
and instantly dispelled his own joyful spirit. He realized that they
were still in their training outfit, and without his uniform and mantle
he felt suddenly that some of his body parts were too exposed for
comfort. Too exposed especially to two morons who were giggling
behind his back. Well, he would at once put an end to that little party.
“Landemere,” he barked. “What’s so funny? Were you by any
chance gawking at my ass again?”
104
Andrew Ashling
“What?” Arranulf said, still laughing at something Rahendo had
whispered to him.
“I warn you, Landemere, don’t shit in my turnips, as we say in
Ramaldah.”
“I assure you that it was never my intention to relieve myself
in your root vegetables. And may I compliment you on the colorful
expressions you have in Ramaldah?”
Rahendo made a sound, resembling a pony with a mild cold.
“Just quit gawking at my ass, Landemere,” Obyann snarled, and
walked on.
“Nobody is interested in your bony ass, Ramaldah,” Arranulf
shouted after him. “Nobody at all.”
“Then quit leering at it.”
The chattering and eruptions of laughter behind his back didn’t
stop and after a few minutes he’d had enough. He stopped beside the
road and put his hands on his sides.
“All right, ladies. Change of plans. You walk in front.”
Without paying him much attention the two pages simply walked
on, and when they had passed him, Obyann followed.
“Nulfie,” Rahendo asked with large, round eyes, “why
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