Inside Karnak’s smile vanished. ‘Where in the devil’s name is he?’ he snapped.
The skeletally thin Galen shrugged. ‘He was in the palace and reportedly told his guards he would be visiting friends. That was the last they saw of him. Later, when his room was searched they found he had taken several changes of clothing and had also stolen gold from Varachek’s vault – some two hundred Raq. Since then there has been no sign.’
‘He was living in fear of Waylander,’ said Asten. ‘Every sound in the night, every banging shutter.’
‘Waylander is a dead man!’ roared Karnak. ‘Could he not trust me with that? By Shemak’s balls, he’s one man. One!’
‘And still alive,’ pointed out Asten.
‘Don’t say it!’ stormed Karnak. ‘I know you advised me against bringing in the Guild, but how in the name of all that’s holy did we arrive at this mess? One girl dies – an accident. And yet it has cost me damn near twenty thousand in gold – money I can ill-afford to lose – and seen my son scurrying away like a frightened rabbit!’
‘There is a troop of lancers hunting him even as we speak, sir,’ said the black-garbed Galen. ‘They will bring him in.’
‘I’ll believe that, old lad, when I see it,’ grunted Karnak.
‘The Guild has proved a disappointment,’ pointed out Asten, quietly.
Karnak grinned. ‘Well, when the war is over I’ll close them down and get the money back. One of the advantages of power.’ The smile faded. ‘Three wives, scores of willing women, and what do I get? Bodalen. What did I do to deserve such a son, eh, Asten?’
Wisely Gan Asten chose not to reply, but Galen stepped in swiftly. ‘He has many talents, sir. He is highly thought of. He is just young and headstrong. I’m sure he didn’t intend the girl to die. It was just sport, young men chasing a filly.’
‘Until she fell and broke her neck,’ grunted Asten, his florid face expressionless.
‘An accident!’ responded Galen, flashing a murderous glance at the general.
‘It wasn’t an accident when they killed her husband.’
‘The man ran at them with a sword. They defended themselves. What else would you expect from Drenai noblemen?’
‘I would not know of the ways of noblemen, Galen. My father was a farmer. But I expect you are correct. When drunken young nobles set off on a quest for rape one should not be surprised when they turn to murder.’
‘Enough of this,’ said Karnak. ‘What’s past is past. I’d cut off my right arm to bring the girl back – but she’s dead. And her former guardian is alive. Neither of you know Waylander. I do. You would not want him hunting you – or your sons.’
‘As you said yourself, sir, he is only one man,’ said Galen, his voice softening, but still sibilant. ‘And Bodalen is not even in the realm.’
Karnak sat down on a canvas-covered stool. ‘I liked Waylander, you know,’ he said quietly. ‘He stood up to me.’ He chuckled. ‘He went into Nadir lands and fought off tribesmen, demonic beasts and the Vagrian Brotherhood. Amazing!’ He glanced up at Galen. ‘But he has to die. I can’t let him slay my son.’
‘You can rely on me, sir,’ answered Galen, bowing deeply.
Karnak swung to Asten. ‘What happened with the witch woman, Hewla?’
‘She would not use her powers against Waylander,’ answered the general.
‘Why?’
‘She didn’t tell me, sir. But she did say she would consider raising a storm against the Ventrian fleet. I told her no.’
‘No?’ raged Karnak, lurching from his seat. ‘No? There’d better be a damn good reason, Asten.’
‘She wanted a hundred children sacrificed. Something about paying the price for demonic assistance.’
Karnak swore. ‘If we lose there’ll be a lot more than a hundred children suffering. More like ten thousand.’
‘You want me to go back to her?’
‘Of course I don’t want you to go back to her! Damn it, why does the enemy always have more power at his command? I’ll wager the Ventrian King wouldn’t think twice about a few scrawny brats.’
‘We could use captured Sathuli children,’ offered Galen. ‘Make a swift raid into the mountains. After all, they have allied with Gothir against us.’