Page 56 of Destiny of a King

“It is not,” Hollis hurried to say. “I have no wish to earn the king’s wrath, and no reason to invent such a tale.”

Dravic let silence respond and linger, until he finally asked the only question that mattered.

“Where can I find him?”

The two men exchanged a brief glance.

Hollis answered, “Just beyond the border, my king.”

Dravic waited, the man hesitant to continue.

“Ernach resides…” Hollis drew a cautious breath. “…in Driochmor.”

Chapter Fourteen

The Land That Rules

Driochmor Village

“Where in Driochmor?” Dravic demanded.

Hollis shifted beneath the king’s stare. “Near the border, my king. There is an old settlement beyond the eastern ridge. He keeps to a cottage apart from the others.”

“You will show me.”

Hollis’s eyes widened. “You mean to go there?”

Dravic’s tone cautioned. “You dare question your king?”

Hollis’s face paled. “Forgive me, my king.”

“You have one hour to gather what you need,” Dravic ordered.

“Aye, my king.” Hollis bobbed his head and hurried off, the other man hurrying along after him.

Dravic turned to Skellie. “We will eat now.”

The innkeeper dipped into a quick bow. “Right away, my king.”

Dravic turned to Adira and pointed to the bench at the table.

She sat and he dropped down beside her.

Adira’s gaze drifted from face to face, studying each expression, every movement, searching for meaning in words she could not hear. The old man’s startled expression lingered in her thoughts, as did the unmistakable determination that had settled over the king. Something important had changed. She simply did not know what.

Dravic looked to the two guards. “Are there any more of my guards within riding distance?”

“Possibly four, my king,” one guard answered.

“And Hunters?”

The other guard spoke up. “We passed a few yesterday, six or seven, suspending their search for Drogath spies to help us search for you.”

“One of you will go fetch them and the other will go and fetch more of my warriors.”

The two guards glanced quickly at each other before one spoke.

“That would leave you alone, my king, and the Master of Arms would have our heads if we dared leave you completely alone.”