Such was simply not the case.
People were basically good at heart. Sometimes the evil side of them came to the surface, but that was just a part of being human.
But despite all these thoughts, the mage continued to practice his craft on behalf of the Kingpriest in the hopes that the Kingpriest would eventually realize the damage his edict was doing to the people of
Istar. Once that happened, surely he would revoke the edict and life would return to something resembling normalcy.
In the meantime, he continued to read minds.
Up ahead in the middle of the street a mother was scolding her child for dropping a bag of fruit onto the ground.
This, after the child had assured his mother that he would not let the bag touch the ground until they reached home.
The mage read the mind of the mother. There were no evil thoughts there, just a proper reprimand and instruction so that a similar incident wouldn't be happening again any time soon. She finished her talk with a single slap on the boy's behind, sort of as an exclamation mark to her impromptu lecture.
And then the mage read the mind of the child. To his surprise, the young boy's mind was full of evil thoughts toward his mother.
I hate you… And I'm going to hurt you like you hurt me… Then you'll be sorry.
Evil thoughts to be sure.
But they were the thoughts of a child, an innocent who understood nothing about what he thought or did.
What then, would constitute suitable punishment for such thoughts?
If the mage reported the boy to the Kingpriest, the lad might be sentenced to death. That had been the punishment prescribed to adults who'd had similar thoughts.
But, to execute a child?
The thought made the mage sick to his stomach.
He watched the mother and child continue on down the street as if the incident had already been forgotten.
He read both their minds once more.
There was love there. Strong love. All the boy's evil thoughts were gone.
His evil thoughts had been… harmless.
The mage stood in the middle of the street thinking about what he should do. By order of the Kingpriest, he was bound to report all the evil thoughts he had read. But, he couldn't bring himself to report the boy and have him taken from his mother, a woman who obviously loved him more than anything else in the world.
The Edict of Thought Control was unworkable.
The realization left the mage with only one option. He decided he would take it.
He turned his back on the mother and child, and began walking west.
When he reached the outskirts of the city, he turned south, headed for Silvanesti.
To start a new life.
Chapter 13
'No matter how many times I've seen it,' said Caradoc, 'each time I lay my eyes upon it after some time away, I'm always in awe of its beauty.'
'Indeed,' said Soth. 'It is a beautiful sight.'
Ahead on the eastern horizon, the deep red outline of Dargaard Keep stood out like a single perfect rose. After ten days at the Knights'
Meeting in Palanthas (Soth attended six of those days) and an uneventful journey home, the knights were all eager to return to the keep and relate what they'd learned to their fellow knights.
But for Soth, there were other reasons which made him look forward to his return. For one there was his wife.
Dear, sweet Korinne. After such a long time away, perhaps she had some news for him. Even though Soth had vowed not to speak of such matters until she truly was with child, he couldn't stop himself from considering the possibility.
To have a son… Or perhaps even a daughter. He would teach her to fight, make her strong, the first female Knight of Solamnia.
He shook his head, realizing his dreams were getting the better of him.
And then there was Isolde. She would be fully healed by now, her stunning beauty completely restored. There was no real reason for him to contact her-she was merely just another person in the keep now, one of many-but nevertheless, he wanted desperately to see her, to speak to her, perhaps even to… touch her.
'The elf-maid you brought back to the keep,' Caradoc said idly.
Mention of the maid startled Soth, bringing him back to the plains. Even though he was sure Caradoc's speaking of Isolde had been a coincidence, the uncanniness of it made Soth shiver. 'You mean Isolde?'
'Is that her name?'
'Yes.'
'Well, Is-olde,' Caradoc had some trouble pronouncing the name, 'is certainly a beautiful woman, elf or otherwise.' 'Yes,' said Soth, his voice noncommittal. 'That she is.'
'Might make a man a fine lover.'
Soth turned to look at Caradoc. His seneschal was staring blankly out over the horizon, obviously speaking of Isolde with a sort of wistfulness that he might speak about a well-made sword or a fine bottle of wine.
Soth turned his gaze forward and tried to match Caradoc's pensive sort of look with a similar expression of his own. 'That she would,' he said, trying to say the words musingly.
When the knights entered the keep they were greeted by dozens of people, most of whom were family and friends.
Soth dismounted and was quickly greeted by Lady Korinne who had come to see him dressed in some of her finest red and purple robes.
Despite his mind being clouded with other thoughts, Soth had missed
Korinne deeply, and when they came together he took her up in his arms and kissed her passionately on the mouth.
'Did you miss me?' Korinne asked.
'Of course.'
'And I you.'
Soth smiled. 'Then perhaps we should get away from here.'
'I thought you might never ask.'
Soth gave the reins of his mount to a squire and walked arm-in-arm with
Lady Korinne into the tower leading to their chambers. When they arrived, Korinne opened the door and Soth picked her up and carried her inside, closing the door behind him with a backward kick of his foot.
He carried her over to the bed and laid her down upon it. As Soth began to undress, he noticed something different about Korinne's smile. It was as if she were trying to contain herself, holding back some great secret that was mere seconds from bursting from her lips.
'What?' asked Soth. 'What is it?'
'I'm glad to see you,' answered Korinne. 'Is that so wrong?' Already her smile was starting to wane.
'Well, from the look on your face I thought you might have something to tell me.'
'Like what?'
'That you're with child, of course.'
'Oh.'
There was a long silence between them.
