Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale - Colin McComb

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anks of the Knights Faithful, valuable recruits, and the Houses of the Empire paid well for their services. The Knights Elite were answerable only to the king and those he chose to speak for him, performing the tasks necessary to maintain the Empire, but the other orders traveled among the Houses, every two years delivered by dirigible to those who had asked for their aid. They returned to Terona at the end of their term for training in the rugged terrain to the north of the city, and as long as the Houses paid their leases, the Houses retained the services of highly trained and most deadly warriors. The knights’ loyalty was to the Empire first, to their brotherhood second, and to their adopted Houses last, so when no external threats materialized, they fought against one another in the many internecine battles between Houses great and small. This mattered little to the young men and women who sought the slots. The knighthood’s regimen had driven ordinary ambition and emotion from them. They struggled now against one another, a competition among near-equals, for their place in legend. They believed that if they could achieve Elite, their struggles would be against the heroes of the past. For now, though, they trained, they studied, they marched hard miles under the blazing sun and under the torrential mountain rains. They fought in muddy trenches, across fields strewn with mountains of dirt and shreds of metal. They trained with swords and spears, bows and siege engines, and other, more esoteric devices created by the Archmagus and his acolytes. They spent a month alone in the wilderness, living off nothing but their wits. Through it all, they were observed by a cadre of Knights Elite, to whom the duty of training this raw flesh would fall. Pelagir’s witness, Lieutenant Caltash, took a special interest in his charge and set him a variety of tests to gauge the boy’s reactions. Caltash liked what he found. He liked it very much indeed. At the end of the fourth year, one of ten. This letter went to the Knight Assessors, who oversaw the training and advancement of the young candidates: By order of the Commander of Knights Assembled, On this, the third day of the month of the Eagle, of the year Crystal, of the cycle Strength, commonly known as the 581 st Clasping Year, let it be known that Pelagir Amons has surpassed our expectations. Let it be known that he has been judged and found worthy. Let him be borne away to Devilsfoot on this night. Let him be delivered to the tower of Colin McComb Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale 39
the Archmagus, where he shall undergo his final excruciations. Let him receive a blood weapon of his choosing. Let him be admitted into the sacred brotherhood of the Knights Elite. Let him give the remaining portion of his life in service to the Empire. To this I set my seal. Sir Ellionn Carderas, Commander of the Knights Assembled, Duke of the Eastern Protectorate, Earl of Farassi, Viscount of Hanging Bay, Baron of Suthersford The walls of the King’s Forest loomed ahead of him, tall trees planted firmly across hundreds of rolling acres. Pelagir pulled back on the reins and dismounted, sliding from the saddle in a single fluid motion. From his pouch he extracted a flask of milk and set it to the child’s lips. She drank thirstily, burped once, and fell asleep. Pelagir laid a blanket on the ground, set her gently on it, and set about making the modifications to his steed that would help him hide his trail. Inside the wood the King’s Foresters patrolled. If he wasn’t careful, their snares could undo him. He bent to his work. Colin McComb Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale 40
Page 2 and 3: This book is a work of fiction. Eve
Page 4 and 5: Prologue He rode, his proud face bl
Page 6 and 7: His father was one of the Knights F
Page 8 and 9: “You were knocked unconscious by
Page 10 and 11: The General’s Tale I write this l
Page 12 and 13: I have led men in the Imperial armi
Page 14 and 15: though I have a good idea who order
Page 16 and 17: I will not recount here the full pa
Page 18 and 19: When the 4,000 knights (a mixture o
Page 20 and 21: populace turn away from its externa
Page 22 and 23: Most of the nobles with whom I met
Page 24 and 25: histories, we set off a feud betwee
Page 26 and 27: I gave him my full attention. A sma
Page 28 and 29: a gesture toward my leg: I had band
Page 30 and 31: I found Hargrave and told him to ca
Page 32 and 33: to you. It’s a poor strategist wh
Page 34 and 35: “Glasyin, I would hold you in the
Page 36 and 37: “How did they turn you?” He fro
Page 38 and 39: Interlude: Out of the City Pelagir
Page 40 and 41: at his side and his pet wizard at h
Page 44 and 45: The Forester’s Tale Cold steel pr
Page 46 and 47: It was midafternoon. We had been ru
Page 48 and 49: His hard mouth quirks slightly. “
Page 50 and 51: Like the other recruits, Pelagir wa
Page 52 and 53: The new knights were healing quickl
Page 54 and 55: Caltash said, would develop a uniqu
Page 56 and 57: The Taverner’s Tale One account o
Page 58 and 59: Only the man moved way too fast for
Page 60 and 61: ought before you knew who I might b
Page 62 and 63: The Sailor’s Tale The errant knig
Page 64 and 65: “Out of the way,” Pol snarled,
Page 66 and 67: he said or maybe he was playing a b
Page 68 and 69: The Ocarina’s sailors began to st
Page 70 and 71: Tell no one of what you have seen h
Page 72 and 73: “In a safe place, with trusted co
Page 74 and 75: “She will be taught of duty, hono
Page 76 and 77: Winter, CY 585 The Shepherd’s Tal
Page 78 and 79: Magi might have some stern question
Page 80 and 81: around long enough for me to know w
Page 82 and 83: life I’d chosen slipping away in
Page 84 and 85: “I know this is a shock,” I sai
Page 86 and 87: “No, I suppose they wouldn’t fo
Page 88 and 89: “You claimed the king as your fri
Page 90 and 91: “Though he does not know it yet,
Page 92 and 93:
“Without reserve. He has been cru
Page 94 and 95:
“I can’t tell you that.” He l
Page 96 and 97:
can be refugees looking for a new h
Page 98 and 99:
Glasyin studied him, stroking the b
Page 100 and 101:
Dedication This book is dedicated t
Page 102:
About the Author Colin McComb was b
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Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale - Colin McComb

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