Page 45 of The Last Knight

Chapter Fifteen

The air around Gunther tingled, prickling his skin like thousands of miniscule needles. Not painful per se, but to the point that he wanted to remove his clothing and scratch until his skin bled.

He shifted on the throne, barely able to concentrate on the generals who spoke, the entire time shooting him wary looks.

Since the day before, they’d been as tame as puppies, but he knew a deep hatred simmered just beneath the surface.

“Indros, ruler of the Yorian Realm, will arrive before night’s fall,” Joc was stating. “The border guard has informed us that the of the ruler and his mounted warriors have passed into our territory.

Gunther tried to remember what had occurred, if there had been a discussion or preparation for the meeting, but his memories were hazy. He’d come to on the floor behind a piece of furniture, not remembering how he’d come to be there. He remembered very little. His last memory was of punishing the generals for something. Unfortunately, he couldn’t recall what.

It was best not to let them know that particular fact.

“Scribe!” he called out. Why wasn’t the blasted man there? He was always present when the generals, or anyone for that matter, sought to speak to him.

It took longer than usual, by the time Phillippe finally appeared. “I apologize for the delay. I had to collect the necessary items…” the man stopped talking and shuffled to sit at the table and chair next to the throne.

“Can you tell me what was planned for Indros’ next visit?” he asked the man in a low voice. “He arrives shortly.”

Phillippe met his gaze for a moment, as if searching for something, then lowered it and began turning the pages of a thick tome.

“Ah yes, here we are. You were to come up with a reply to his suggestion that you join forces against Esland.”

“Anything else?”

Phillippe spoke in a whisper. “You do not trust him to keep his end of the bargain.”

“True,” Gunther replied.

Suddenly he sensed a movement, not there in a room, but nearby. All was not as it was supposed to be. A sort of shift in the air was present.

He scanned the room, noting only the generals and guards. Then he descended from the throne and walked past the wide windows, to the balcony.

Everything looked to be as it should, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling there was something different. Something tangible and out of place. Once the visit was done, he’d investigate it fully.

The scribe studied Gunther for a moment. “Sire, do you wish for some food to be brought? You haven’t eaten since yesterday.”

The generals exchanged indecipherable looks.

Gunther waved them away. “Leave and return just before Indros arrives. I do not require anything else from you.”

“Master, are we not to discuss how the visit should go?” Kel asked, his voice sounding almost desperate. “You did say you wished for us to come to an agreement about how the army is to be handled.”

Delving into the Torant’s mind was useless, the ward remained intact. A sign of being betrayed, which meant he needed them gone so that he could prepare fully for whatever was to come.

“Leave me. Return in an hour. I need time alone to consider things.”

The generals turned to the guards as if assessing their strength. It didn’t matter what they ordered. Gunther was powerful enough to disintegrate them all with but a slight movement of his fingers.

Finally, they bowed and walked out, followed by four guardsmen.

Gunther looked to his personal guard. “Go away.”

The guards’ eyes rounded. “Master, it is impossible to protect you…”

“Would you really kill your own to protect me?” Gunther interrupted. “I do not believe so. Now do as I say.”

Once alone in the room, Gunther let out a sigh and looked at Phillippe. “What is it you are hiding?”