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Aranlot: A Short Story

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Brand had many questions for Aranloth, but his first task was the king’s welfare. And the queen’s, for to her he also owed much. He strode toward the bed where they now sat together, and the sight of them holding hands and shivering from the effect of cold, or shock, having just survived a sorcerous attempt on their lives wrenched his heart. They deserved better than this. Yet assassination attempts were not uncommon. This was not the first, nor would it be the last. That the previous Durlindrath, and every Durlin who served him, was dead offered proof enough of that. Brand pulled up a heavy blanket and draped it over them. “Thank you,” Gilhain said. The man still gripped his sword so tightly in one hand that his knuckles were white. The …show more content…

“How did they do it? What were those wraiths?” “They were drùghoth; sendings your people would call them. Something has changed. The sorcerers don’t have the strength for that. Not these ones anyway, and not over that distance. It’s several miles between where they lay siege to the wall and where we stand here.” Brand let out a sigh. “As you say, something has changed. But if there aren’t more sorcerers, then what can it be?” Aranloth stared bleakly into the fire. “I don’t know. But if I don’t discover the reason for their increased strength…” he paused, “or the artifact that they’re now using, then I cannot prevent further attacks. They’ll certainly try again. They nearly succeeded this time.” Brand turned, for the king had left the servants to tend his wife. He no longer looked like a man who had just faced death. There was nothing to be read in his eyes; they held the same sharp intelligence, the same wolfish stare as always. Perhaps he was used to it by now. “Once more you’ve saved me,” he said to Brand. “And my wife this time as well. What reward can I give you?” Brand shrugged. “To serve is reward enough, My King. To defy your enemy, who is also the enemy of my people, is … satisfying

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