Free The Sword and the Flame by Stephen Lawhead

after me if I have not yet returned.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do, Sire?” Toli was frightened by the look in Quentin’s eyes.
    â€œI am going to bring back the prince.” With that, he turned away and strode to where Blazer waited patiently. Snatching up the reins, he swung himself into the saddle, then glanced back once more at the body of the hermit on the ground. “Good-bye, old friend,” he said simply, raising a hand slowly in final salute. Then he was gone.

    â€œWhat can be taking them so long?” wondered Bria aloud. “They should have returned long ago.”
    Esme, sitting next to the queen in the royal pavilion, craned her neck and gazed toward the forest. “I do not see anyone coming. But you know men and their hunting. I would not wonder but that they became caught up in the chase and have forgotten everything else.”
    â€œYou are right. I am certain that is what has happened.” She spoke the words, but in her heart she was far from convinced. Bria turned her eyes once more to the costumed mummers performing before her. The bright disguises glittered in the sun, and the two young princesses giggled at the pantomime, clapping their hands with glee. Bria tried to maintain interest in the performance, but once and again her eyes stole back across the plain toward the forest, watching for the return of Quentin, Durwin, and the others. But she saw no sign of anyone, so at last forced herself to concentrate on the play.
    â€œLook!” Esme whispered urgently. “A rider!”
    The queen raised her eyes and looked where Esme was pointing. She could just make out the form of one rider approaching from across the plain.
    â€œOh! Only one!” An arrow of dread pierced her heart. “Something has happened!”
    â€œWe cannot be certain,” Esme said lightly. “Let us wait until we have heard what he has to say. Perhaps it is only a messenger on his way to tell us the king will be late—which we already know.” She laughed, but there was no happiness in her voice.
    â€œWho is it? Can you see?” Bria stood.
    â€œNo, not yet.”
    They waited. Tension drew taut as a bowstring.
    Queen Bria crumpled the front of her gown in her hands as the rider drew closer.
    â€œIt is Toli!” cried Esme.
    â€œYes, I can see him now!” Bria stepped down from her chair. “Come. I cannot abide here another moment. Stay here with Chloe,” she told her daughters. “I will return in a moment.”
    â€œI will look after them, my lady,” answered Chloe.
    The two women dashed onto the field, scattering the actors, who parted to let them pass and then continued once more with their performance.
    They met Toli at the edge of the festivities. “What is it?” asked the queen, her intuition already answering the worst.
    Toli turned grave eyes on her. He did not look at Esme. Bria felt a thin blade of terror slide under her ribs. “The king—,” she whispered. “Not the king.”
    Toli took the queen’s hand. “My lady, the king is well,” he said softly, searching her eyes, hoping to find further words there.
    â€œYes, continue,” said Bria. She stared steadily back.
    â€œDurwin is dead.”
    â€œHow?” Bria gasped.
    â€œThey were set upon by kidnappers in the forest. He died protecting the prince.”
    â€œAnd the prince? He is safe?” said Esme.
    â€œGone. The prince has been taken—”
    â€œNo!” murmured Bria. The clattering, noisy din around them faded, and she had the sensation of the world blurring before her as she staggered beneath the force of a killing blow.
    â€œWhere is the king?” asked Esme, fighting to keep her voice under control.
    â€œHe was with Durwin when I found him. He has gone after the prince.” He glanced briefly at Esme, as if noticing her for the first time. “I am to fetch a bier and bring Durwin to the