The Tattered Banner (Society of the Sword Volume 1) (59 page)

Soren walked quickly down the jetty and hopped into the wherry.

‘Pull away now, quick as you can,’ he said to the boatman. He sat down in the small boat and looked nervously around him. Each stroke away from the shore was one closer to safety. He looked into the bilge and saw an oddly shaped bundle, wrapped in a familiar blue material. He reached for it and gasped with surprise when he realised it was his belek cloak. It was wrapped around his Telastrian sword and dagger. His heart jumped and he looked up and around. Standing on the now distant dock stood a tall man. He was dressed in black and was completely bald, and had only moments before been standing out of sight, unseen but watching.

The ship’s sails dropped from their booms as soon as the passenger clambered aboard. Emeric watched it sail away until it dropped under the horizon and disappeared from sight. He smiled a wry smile and ran a hand over his bald head as he made his way back to the Palace, and back to the service that he so rarely broke faith with.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

D
uncan is a writer of fantasy novels and short stories. He has a Masters Degree in History and when not writing he enjoys reading history, particularly the medieval and renaissance periods.

He doesn’t live anywhere particularly exotic, and when not writing, he enjoys cycling, skiing and windsurfing.

duncanmhamilton.com