Joseph smiled ruefully at her observation, and raised his hands palms open to calm her. “You need not fear. This has been discussed at length at the Inner Council and the Reformist Council”
“And?”
“When the Archbishop is found guilty of slave trafficking, we intend to reveal our knowledge of this plot as well. We also, and more importantly, intend to offer a general pardon to those who will swear their loyalty to your father. A good number of those supporting this plot are likely doing so under a degree of duress. You know what fear the Archbishop creates in even his own loyal consorts. With the head of this snake removed, and the book beyond their reach, this plot will collapse like a spring avalanche on Mount Hellion. ”
She nodded, evidently seeing his logic, but there was still unease in her expression, and he wasn’t surprised when she said, “So you’re not taking my dream seriously then?”
“I did not lie to you when I said we had a great number of people around the continent exploring that subject.”
“Joseph, if my brother is linked to the Archbishop, then it is certain the druids know of this conspiracy, and recognise the parallel to the prophecy.”
“Or it’s the other way round. Fren knows of the church’s plans and conjured this dream to scare you. Besides, if this prophecy is true, then I ask you again, why would she show us her hand? Warn us? And as I have said, the book can not be had, so the prophecy can not come to pass even if it was a real premonition.”
“I knew as much, you’re not taking me seriously.”
“On the contrary. However, with what little has been discovered so far we are only reaffirmed in our belief that this dream was the work of Fren and her dark arts and that she was labouring on your brother’s behalf with no other reason than to scare you. And as I said yesterday, your experience with the old witch on the highway was likely intended to provoke the same response, nothing more. The prophecy is almost certainly a lie, and until we have proof of the contrary we will not be moved on it.”
“You said what little you have discovered so far? Meaning you have discovered something?”
He figured she would pick up on that. “Yes, we have. One of the things I am to tell you about. Last evening word arrived from a member of the brotherhood in Corenbald, a Father Gotrum, to be exact. He’s found mention of a child or, more specifically, Children of Light in the diaries of a tale master who lived about two hundred years ago. The man’s name was Damta O’Brook—I hadn’t heard of him myself till now. However, this tale master makes mention of an old manuscript called the Hope of the World, which was written it seems by an elder of the last Kathiusian Council during the Goddian Druid war. According to O’Brook these children are spoken of at some length within this text. Unfortunately, he doesn’t say where he read this manuscript. Neither does he go into detail on what he read. And we certainly have no knowledge of its existence. However, it’s a start, and word is being circulated with all haste.”
“If we capture Fren we could have those answers quicker.”
“Yes, well, as I have already told you that is easier said than done. So far there has been no sign of her anywhere.”
“Not that this changes anything, does it?” Danielle said bitterly.
Joseph shrugged. “It’s clear now that there is such a thing as Children of Light in Druid lore, and it is likely that Fren is just using her knowledge of such things to scare you. It is what I would expect from her. And I know her a great deal better than you do.”
“Yet if Children of Light exist, and I am one of them, then it’s just as possible that Kane could be the next Hand of Maig?”
“If you are one of them. Do not conflate the existence of these children with you being one of them or the truth of your dream…”
“At least I’m not burying my head in the sand.”
She clearly wasn’t listening to him, and Joseph said, “I am sorry that this has you so upset, Dee, but I will not argue with you further. We will find the truth of this, I promise you that. And even if we do not, once the search of Lord Helidon’s estate is done and we have word of these slaves he’s been shipping, this will all be done with anyway. Correct?”
“When is the world ever that simple?”
“Dee, please …”
“Then have it as you will. I just hope for Arkaelyon’s sake you’re right, Joseph. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone for a while.”
Joseph winced as he got to his feet. He could see that she needed some distance. And with the rain easing, this was as good a time as any to get back to the palace, before the next thunderhead rolled across the city.
He had walked as far as the entrance to the pergola when she called after him. Turning, he found her considering him with a calm resolve that he knew all too well.
“Yes, lass?”
“You have said often that a good protector puts the welfare of the realm before the favour of her liege.”
“Yes, I have said as much.”
“Then know this. You have until I return from Amthenium in two weeks. After that, I will not sit by any longer on this matter. Nor will I stop until I have the truth—one way or the other. And you can tell Father as much.”
Maig’s Hand
Book Two
Of
The Arkaelyon Chronicles
PHILLIP HENDERSON
Acclaimed Books
www.Acclaimedbooks.com
Also available from Acclaimed Books Limited
Rachel’s Shoe by Peter Lihou
The Causeway by Peter Lihou
Guernsey by Peter Lihou
Book by Peter Lihou
Book 2 by Peter Lihou
Passage to Redemption by The Crew
A Covert War by Michael Parker
North Slope by Michael Parker
Roselli’s Gold by Michael Parker
Stretch by Brian Black
Last Mission by Everett Coles
1/1 Jihad Britain by Everett Coles
Merlin’s Kin by Everett Coles
The Faces of Immortality by Everett Coles
The Last Free Men by Everett Coles
Venturer by Everett Coles
To Rule the Universe by Everett Coles
The Tourist by Jack Everett & David Coles
Druid’s Bane by Phillip Henderson
Maig’s Hand by Phillip Henderson
The Arkaelyon Trilogy by Phillip Henderson
Coming soon…
Larnius’ Revenge by Phillip Henderson
Book 3 by Peter Lihou
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Druid's Bane 2nd Edition 2012
Phillip Henderson
Druid's Bane Page 44
