Read Fable: Edge of the World for Free Online

“Is this true, or is this child being used by the darkness?”
    Ben looked uncomfortable. “If Sir Walter could be, so could Shan,” he said. It was an unhappy thought. Walter, the most loyal man in the world, had in the end become a tool of the darkness. He had been infected in Aurora and supposedly healed of its taint by the Auroran priestess, Mara, she who had joined the king and Laylah just this day. Walter had fooled them all for over a year. The king never knew if Walter had truly returned then, only to have the darkness overtake him later, or ifthe darkness had remained in Walter during the last several months of preparation for war. That uncertainty had haunted the king since Walter’s death—by the king’s own sword.
    And now, they were considering believing someone he didn’t even know—someone who was not from Albion, and who had a strangely convenient story about—
    “No,” said Kalin, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “This was how the darkness worked. Poisoning one’s mind to arouse fear and suspicion.”
    “That’s true enough, but what happened with Walter is also true,” Ben said. “What if we go haring off after the darkness over in Samarkand, and it’s actually waiting to jump on Albion?”
    “And what if the boy is right?” said Sabine, thumping his staff. “How nice of the darkness to let us know it had sent the poor lad as a messenger. It already told us it’s contacted him! It’s probably hoping we’ll get all afraid and kill the child!”
    “I don’t like any of this, Majesty,” Timmins said. “It’s too suspicious. We could send a small scouting party to Samarkand to check out Shan’s story before committing resources.”
    The king looked at his friends, then made his decision. “That would be wisdom, Jack, if I did not feel in my bones that time is truly of the essence. I agree with Sabine and Kalin. Turning us against one another—killing the messenger—is exactly what it would want. I’m not my brother. We have laws in Albion. Someone is innocent until proven guilty. If Shan betrays us, or if we find proof that there is darkness within him, rest assured that I will deal with him.”
    Both Ben and Timmins looked unhappy but nodded. He was the king, after all.
    “Sounds like we’ve got our work cut out for us, then,” Ben said.
    “Indeed we do,” the king said. “But no more work tonight. I can hear that the celebration is still in full swing downstairs. My lovely bride and I, however, will be retiring.”
    “Of course,” Ben said with a straight face. “Our rulers need their rest.”
    “Absolutely,” said the king. “A great deal of rest. Very, er,
restful
rest. And lots of it.”
    Laylah blushed, but she was smiling. Ben clapped his friend on the back, bowed to the new queen, and headed downstairs. The others followed, Page pausing to hug Laylah quickly before departing.
    The king turned to his new queen. “I’m so sorry,” he said.
    “For what? For immediately responding to a threat to innocent people? For doing what you need to do to protect your kingdom?” She shook her head. “No, beloved. It is clear where you need to be and what you need to be doing.”
    He pulled her into his arms. “Later, yes. But for now, this is all I need to be doing.” He kissed her, sweetly but passionately. She slipped her arms around his neck, her lips soft and yielding. They were both breathing quickly when she pulled back.
    “No,” she said. Surprised, he looked at her.
    “No?”
    “No,” she repeated, then added, her voice soft and low, “That is most definitely not
all
you need to be doing.”
    For answer, he swept her up in his arms and went with all due haste to their bedchamber.

Chapter Four
    “L ove, wake up.”
    Laylah blinked sleepily, for a moment uncertain where she was. Memory of the night before rushed back to her and she smiled, turning over to look up at her husband’s face.
    “It is still dark outside,” she murmured, stroking his