Read The Invisible Chains - Part 2: Bonds of Fear for Free Online Page B

than the main road. Now that everybody had departed
    he could use it without being detected.
    When he arrived at the gate of the castle, he dismounted.
    “Not a word to anyone,” he said to the guard.
    He handed over the reins of his horse to Ambrick, who had come
    running out of the guard house as he saw the prince arrive.
    “You know what to do?” Anaxantis asked.
    “Yes, my lord. Arranulf has shown us only this afternoon.”
    “Excellent. And not a word to anyone. Understood?”
    “Yes, my lord.”
    He went to the war room, lighted some candles and sat down.
    Some ten minutes later Marak entered with a big smile.
    “We did it, Anaxantis, we did it. Damn, they’re fine archers. It
    was easier than I thought it would be and it was exactly like you
    predicted. The pigeon was clearly visible in the sky and it was
    obviously descending towards its home.”

    Bonds of Fear
    47
    “You’re a damn fine teacher, Marak, that’s why they’re damn fine
    archers,” Anaxantis smiled. “Also, we were extremely lucky. Take
    some wine if you’re thirsty, but first... the capsule?”
    “Ah, yes. I almost forgot.”
    He took a small object out of his pouch and handed it over. The
    capsule was wrapped in a piece of parchment which was closed with
    a tiny seal. It was undisturbed.
    “It’s not foolproof, but if you were involved in foul play, you would
    have managed to miss all three pigeons somehow or you would have
    tampered with the capsule. As it is, you did none of those things and
    you came straight back. Gods in the heavens, I hate this.”
    He unwrapped the capsule, opened it and unfolded a small piece
    of parchment. He read it and read it again, then held it in the flame
    of a candle. Burning, he let it fall in an empty cup, and when it was
    totally consumed, he pulverized the ashes with his fingers.
    “Well?” Marak asked expectantly. “Do we know who the informer
    is?”
    “I had prepared myself for a few possible outcomes,” Anaxantis
    said pensively.
    “But?”
    “But not for this one.”

    48
    Andrew Ashling
    Chapter 2:
    Living Letter

    “Damn it, Anaxantis, I could swear you’d rather talk to that horse
    than to me,” Hemarchidas grumbled, but he couldn’t help laughing.
    Anaxantis caressed his horse a last time and then turned to his
    friend.
    “All right, I’ll talk to you.” He smiled. “So, who’s a pretty boy
    then, who’s a pretty boy and who’s going to get a nice, juicy carrot?
    Satisfied?”
    “I could take that in so many ways.” Hemarchidas laughed out
    loud. “All of them bad, by the way.”
    They sat down under a tree. Anaxantis tore a flat bread in two
    and handed over one half to his companion. Hemarchidas had
    already unpacked cheese and cold cuts. He poured some olive oil in a
    low bowl and dipped a piece of his bread in it. The Cheridonians had
    picked up that particular culinary habit a long time ago when they’d
    wandered through the territories of the independent city states.
    “I’m surprised,” Anaxantis said, after he had drunk some watered
    down wine, “that you still haven’t asked me about last night.”
    “As if. I reckoned that the fastest way to get you to talk was by not
    asking.”
    Bonds of Fear
    49
    “Hm. You’re beginning to know me a little bit too well.”
    “I won’t ask, but I’ll gladly listen if you’re ready to tell it all to the
    last detail.”
    Which was exactly what Anaxantis did.
    “It was a success, I understand.”
    “Yes and no,” Anaxantis said, and took a bite of his bread.
    “Oh come on, don’t beat around the bush. Did you learn who the
    informer is?”
    “In one word? No.”
    “No?”
    “No. The message went something like this. ‘Dem, in your last
    report you were worried about possible measures he might take to
    prevent you from exerting the supreme authority over the army I
    gave you. Your fears are groundless. My man in his entourage tells
    me he isn’t aware that I gave you such powers. He expects to