Page 64 of Grave Situation

Haftel sighs, and I glance over to a wistful little smile on her face… and a fair dose of lust. That’s… unsettling. “He doesn’t have any. Not in the guard, anyway. That’s Coryn, Duke Kelter’s youngest son. He’s one of the finest fighters you’ll ever see—absolutely superb. Hasn’t lost a fight or been bested in training for years. People actually come here just for a chance to fight with him and learn from it. Between that and his father’s rank, he’s always mingling with the court.”

I keep my eyes on the blond man—Coryn—as he begins debating something with the sergeant. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but whatever it is has the sergeant throwing up his hands in exasperation as Coryn shakes his head stubbornly and the senior officers look on in amusement. “Do the other guards resent that? Is that why he hasn’t risen through the ranks, even though he’s so good?”

“Resent Coryn?” Her shock is clear, and then she laughs. “Oh, no. Nobody could resent Coryn. He’s the sweetest, kindest,most generous man. Everyone loves him, even the people who want to hate him.”

The stone is still insisting I need to speak with him, but I resist the urge. “I don’t understand, then. He’s an excellent fighter, well-liked, experienced, has rank of his own and could only be of value to the king… why isn’t he already a sergeant at least? And being groomed toward one day being captain of the whole outfit?”

She hesitates, and for a moment, the ambient noise level in the room dips just enough that I can hear what Coryn is saying.

“…telling you, it’s possible! If you flip the world around, the sun would rise in the west!”

“Oh,” I say.

“Yes.” Haftel’s grimace is clear in the single word.

“He’s an idiot.”

“Weeeeeell… that’s a harsh way to put it.”

“He’s a kind, talented fighter who completely lacks intelligence?” I suggest.

“We like to think that the gods were so generous in every other part of his life that they had to compensate somehow.”

I’d laugh, but the stone is still urging me toward the man arguing that… I can’t even bring myself to think it.Really?I send the thought winging toward the source of all creation.That one?

The affirmative is firm, and I sigh. “I need to meet him.”

Haftel’s eyes bug out. “What? Coryn? Are you sure?”

“The stone is.”

“I…” She glances helplessly between me and the big blond. “I suppose it knows what it’s doing.”

“You have more faith in it than I do.”

Haftel brightens suddenly. “Maybe it wants you to be introduced to the duke, or somebody else Coryn knows well. He could be a link to the person you need.”

Let’s hope that’s it and not that the stone has decided the champion is someone so pure of heart and mind that an original thought never polluted his brain.

I chide myself for being mean. The man can’t help it if he’s not intelligent. His other qualities obviously make up for it, anyway.

Following Haftel, I remind myself to be kind… or at least courteous. If I do need his help, insulting him is not a wise choice.

“Gentlemen?” The master speaks at a normal decibel, but the men instantly cease their conversation and turn to face her. Coryn’s face breaks into a happy grin, and he lifts his hand in a little wave.

“Master Haftel,” one of the lieutenants says. “Are you keeping the king in line?”

“Of course.” She chuckles. “Though if you ask him, it’s the other way around. I’d like you all to meet a colleague of mine from the City of Knowledge. This is Talon Silverbright. Mage Silverbright, Lieutenants Legg and Paier, Sergeant Trigg, and Lord Cor?—”

“Not Lord,” Coryn breaks in, his jaw setting stubbornly. “Just Coryn.”

Haftel rolls her eyes. “GuardsmanCoryn Kelter.”

I exchange pleasantries and handshakes with them all, then turn my attention to Coryn. “I understand not wanting the whole lord thing,” I commiserate. “Well, not exactly. My father’s only a baron.” Thank fuck. People still try to call me “Lord Talon” sometimes, but not as much as he must get. “But I didn’t want any part of it.”

He brightens. “Yes! I don’t want to be Lord Coryn and get married and… stuff. I want to fight and ride my horse and be useful to the king!” His face shines with unbridled enthusiasm and idealism.

My heart sinks.

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