Read Oathbreaker: The Knight's Tale for Free Online Page A

unaware of such things, and the spy network I had built was not experienced enough to deal with the many wiles of the court. As I excused myself from the company of the Dowager Duchess of Garand, I found young Viscount DeBow at my elbow. He was a slim fellow, blond, short, favoring clothing of plain browns. He was also a member of the Vukovi, which, to my knowledge, required none of the military’s services at this time.
    “Your Excellency,” he said, “may I have a moment of your time?”
    “Of course, Viscount.” I bowed. “How may I serve you?” He engaged me immediately in a conversation of little import, gossip and the like. I thought at first that he was attempting to gain a favor for a relative in the military, or that he had suggestions as to the deployment of troops in some skirmish or another. I paid him rote responses and took little heed of his prattle until he said, “General Glasyin, do you love the Empire?”
    I gave him my full attention. A small smile danced behind his lips. I replied evenly, “I would give my life for it.” He bowed and excused himself. As he left, I replayed the conversation quickly through my mind. Was he a spy from some cabal? Had my enemies on the council convinced Fannon that I required a loyalty check? Had I said or done anything that might throw my love of and duty to the land into doubt, even after all these years? What about my service to the king? I have been in the Imperial court for decades now, and this callow youth had just warned me I was being watched. But under whose direction? I could go to no one if I wanted to see how this played out. If I wished to expose potential corruption, I could not speak to the king’s advisors, for that would reveal my loyalties immediately. I resolved to be more careful with my words in the future, that I might discover the truth. I said nothing to my men, which I bitterly regret now.
    I did not have long to wait. Within a few days, at another gathering in the court in which the courtiers discussed the wildfire uprisings and the small peasant revolts, the Baroness of Imlay, a vassal of House Deng, caught me alone as I filled my drink. I thought she might wish to talk about this “self-rule” that some of the western teachers and ecclesiasts were preaching, but instead she engaged me in a meaningless conversation on military history, focusing mainly on our victories and the glories our armies and diplomats had won. As she spoke, I began to get the uncomfortable sense that while these might be her words, the sentiment in her speech had been planted in order to draw me out. When she began to contrast the Empire of old with the Empire of the modern day and spoke of decay and rebirth, I knew for certain.
    “Baroness, do you suggest that our Empire has stagnated, that we are past the ability to reach for glory?”
    “No, General, but I do suggest that, just as a man weakens if he does not constantly exercise himself, so too could the body politic lose strength if it remains inert. As this body loses strength, its enemies must see its enervation as opportunity.”
    “So instead of saying we are past the point of no return,” I replied, “you suggest that we waste away through lack of ambition.”
    “I do,” she said, “and in the end, apathy leads to death. We must surely do something. Would you not agree that weakness left untreated leads to death?”
    “I cannot disagree.”
    “And therefore, as with the body, the Empire must again exercise itself if it is not to fall prey to debilitating illness?”
    “I concede the point.”
    “Then all that is required of us is to begin the process of motion. And where else does this process begin in the body but in the brain?”
    “And you suggest that we motivate the brain to begin the exercise anew?” I said. “Surely you understand that the king is not eager to embark on any new ventures, not with his new child consuming his attention, nor with the tax situation being what it is.