Free The Skeleton King (The Silk & Steel Saga) by Karen Azinger

He fingered his close-shaved beard. “I believe he’ll
empty the north, bringing his full force against us at Raven Pass.”
    A murmur of unease circled the
table.
    “A full assault in winter,” Sir
Gravis shook his head, his voice skeptical, “the Mordant has never been so
bold.”
    Prince Griffin answered. “Winter is
the perfect cloak for trickery. While most men sit by their hearths, polishing
their swords, the Mordant will march in full strength against us.”
    Sir Gravis persisted. “But in the
dead of winter? His supply train will triple in size just to keep his army in
wood for fires, let alone food.”
    “He’ll not bother with a supply
train.” Every stare turned toward the king. “He’ll use the winter as a goad to
his army.”
    Sir Lothar tugged on his mustache,
a frown creasing his face. “Victory or death. They’ll have to punch their way
south or freeze to death in the steppes.”
    The king nodded. “Exactly.”
    “Ruthless, very ruthless,” Lothar
chuckled but the sound held no mirth. “And the Octagon will bear the brunt of
the madness.”
    “As always.”
    “Where will he strike?”
    “Castlegard will never fall, he’ll
not wager an army against mage-stone walls. And all the other trails are too
narrow.” The king’s gaze settled on his second-born son. “I agree with Griffin, he’ll strike at Raven Pass.”
    Ulrich scowled but he did not
argue.
    Sir Gravis leaned forward. “Then
you’ll be wanting our men.”
    “Your men, your spare arms, and
your supplies.” The king swept his hand across the map, his fist coming to rest
on Raven Pass. “We’ll gather our strength at the
pass, leaving skeletal forces everywhere else except Cragnoth Keep.”  
    Sir Lothar frowned. “A dangerous
gamble.”
    “A calculated risk.” Confidence
filled the king’s words, but the marshal saw the worry shadowing his eyes.
“We’ll make our stand at Raven
Pass.”
    Ulrich grinned. “As captain of the
pass, Ipledge to lead that stand to victory.”
    The marshal caught his breath, the
prince presumed too much.
    The king turned toward his oldest
son. “Cragnoth Keep needs a captain. You’ll take command of the Crag while I
lead our forces at Raven
Pass.”
    “But Raven Pass
is mine to command!” Ulrich bristled, his fists clenched. “And besides, the
Crag is insignificant.”
    “The Crag was good enough for your
brother.” The king’s eyes darkened with anger but Ulrich was blind to the
warning.
    “You steal my chance at glory…and
the crown.”
    The other captains pushed back from
the table, gaining a safe distance.
    The king stood, a thunderstorm on
his face. “Every son of mine must serve before he’s given the honor to lead.”
He loomed over his firstborn, his voice brimming with anger. “Have you
forgotten how to serve?”
    Ulrich weathered the king’s stare,
but his voice was sullen. “No, Sire.”
    “Remember your oath. You swore to
serve the maroon.”
    A spark of rebellion kindled in
Ulrich’s eyes. “I swore to fight .”
    “And so you shall. You’ll have your
fill of it.” The king’s voice struck like a slap. “Tell him, Griffin.”
    “The first battle will be fought at
Cragnoth, when the Mordant comes to harvest his deceit.”
    Mollified, Ulrich nodded. “Then
honor of first blood is mine.”
    The king turned his back on his
firstborn, stepping toward the blazing fireplace. “You’ll take command of the
Crag and crush the attack. Then bring the bulk of your men to Raven Pass
to reinforce the wall. If the Mordant turns his full might against us, every
sword will be needed.”
    “And the crown?”
    The king stiffened, his broad
shoulders cloaked in maroon. For half a heartbeat, the marshal thought he’d
turn and strike his son, but the king chose to answer, a touch of weariness in
his voice. “The crown is earned by deeds not bluster. Leadership, strategy,
honor and courage, these are the measures of a king of Castlegard.”
    A hushed stillness settled