Free Harshini by Jennifer Fallon Page A

doubt.”
    She swallowed another oyster. “So, you come from Medalon and the first thing you do is seek out the Assassins’ Guild. Why?”
    “You’re the best source of intelligence in Talabar.”
    “Flattery is not an answer. Just where were you in Medalon exactly?”
    “The northern border.”
    “So how goes the war? Are the Defenders winning? They ought to. They deserve their reputation, by all accounts.”
    “Medalon has surrendered, Teriahna.”
    She made no attempt to hide her shock. “ What ? Why would they surrender?”
    “It’s a long story, and one I have no intention of trying to explain. But the fact is, Medalon has surrendered and is now in the hands of the Kariens.”
    “Gods!” she muttered with concern. “I knew I should have kept some people in the north. Hablet’s not going to be happy when he learns of this. He was hoping the Kariens would keep the Defenders occupied for years.”
    “I’ve other news that’s going to please him even less. Tristan is dead. He was killed in the only major confrontation between the two armies.”
    She shook her head. “Now that’s bad news. He would have made a good king if Hablet could have found a way to legitimise him.”
    “It’s not the worst of it,” he warned.
    “You mean there’s more? I can’t think of anything that would upset Hablet more.”
    “Prince Cratyn is dead too.”
    “I doubt he’ll lose much sleep over that news.” Then she frowned. “So Adrina is a widow now?”
    “Not exactly.”
    “Gods, Brak! Getting anything out of you is like pulling teeth! What do you mean, not exactly ?”
    “She’s remarried,” he said, keeping his voice deliberately emotionless. “To Damin Wolfblade.”
    Teriahna laughed. “Is this your idea of getting even for that comment about the sewage pipes?”
    He didn’t answer. The silence was heavy as Teriahna realised that he was serious.
    “Dear gods! How did that come about?”
    “The demon child ordered it.”
    “The demon child ? Now I know you’re joking.”
    Once again, he let the silence speak for him. The Raven studied him closely for a moment, then pushed her platter away. “This is no joke, is it? There really is a demon child? Who is he?”
    “She. Her name is R’shiel.”
    “That’s a Medalonian name.”
    “That’s right.”
    “The demon child is Medalonian ? Gods! That’s a strange turn of events—an atheist who’s descended from the gods. So, what gives the demon child the right to interfere in something that is likely to destabilise every nation on the continent?”
    “She’s on a mission from the gods—quite literally. I believe her eventual plan is to bring peace to every nation on the continent, not destabilise them.”
    “Then she has an odd way of going about it.”
    “You think so? If what you’ve told me is true, it seems the perfect solution. Hablet has no son, which makes a Wolfblade his heir. That heir is now married to his eldest daughter.”
    “Oh, I agree, it’s a solution none of us would have imagined, but how do you think Hablet is going to take the news? He wants to obliterate the Wolfblade line, not welcome their favourite son into his family.”
    “Well, he’s going to have to get used to the idea. Can you get me into the palace to see him?”
    “Probably, although I don’t suggest you use your real name. Hablet is no more likely to believe Brakandaran the Half-Breed still lives than I did.” Her expression grew serious as she leaned forward and lowered her voice. “You have to understand,Brak: it suits a lot of people to believe the Harshini are gone. They represented a way of life that is long past, and while kings publicly lament their passing, privately they are rather pleased the Harshini aren’t around to act as their conscience any more. Especially kings like Hablet.”
    “Then perhaps,” Brak suggested ominously as he finished the last of his oysters, “it’s time Hablet acquired a conscience.”

CHAPTER 10
    The storm was