Elantris - Brandon Sanderson [86]
Raoden nodded. Then, after a moment, he asked, “Why are you showing me this?”
Karata paused. “Because I want to join with you. I once served your father, despite what I thought of him. Now I will serve his son because of what I think of him. Will you accept my loyalty?”
“With honor, Karata.”
She nodded, turning back to the children with a sigh. “I don’t have much left in me, Lord Raoden,” she whispered. “I’ve worried what would happen to my children when I am lost. This dream you have, this crazy idea of an Elantris where we grow food and we ignore our pain … I want to see you try to create it. I don’t think you can, but I think you will make something better of us in the process.”
“Thank you,” Raoden said, realizing that he had just accepted a monumental responsibility. Karata had lived for over a year under the burden he was just beginning to feel. She was tired; he could see it in her eyes. Now, if the time came, she could rest. She had passed her weight on to him.
“Thank you,” Karata said, looking at the children.
“Tell me, Karata,” Raoden said after a moment of thought. “Would you really have broken my people’s limbs?”
Karata didn’t respond at first. “You tell me, my prince. What would you have done if I’d tried to kill your father tonight?”
“Questions both better left unanswered.”
Karata nodded, her tired eyes bearing a calm wisdom.
_______
Raoden smiled as he recognized the large figure standing outside of the chapel, waiting for him to return. Galladon’s concerned face was illuminated by the tiny flame of his lantern.
“A light to guide me home, my friend?” Raoden asked from the darkness as he approached.
“Sule!” Galladon cried. “By Doloken, you’re not dead?”
“Of course I am,” Raoden said with a laugh, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “We all are—at least, that’s what you seem to be fond of telling me.”
Galladon grinned. “Where’s the woman?”
“I walked her home, as any gentleman would,” Raoden said, entering the chapel. Inside, Mareshe and the others were rousing.
“Lord Spirit has returned!” Saolin said with enthusiasm.
“Here, Saolin, a gift,” Raoden said, pulling the sword out from under his rags and tossing it to the soldier.
“What is this, my lord?” Saolin asked.
“That spear is amazing considering what you had to work with,” Raoden said, “but I think you ought to have something a little more sturdy if you intend to do any real fighting.”
Saolin pulled the blade free of its scabbard. The sword, nothing special on the outside, was a wondrous work of beauty within the confines of Elantris. “Not a spot of rust on her,” Saolin said with amazement. “And it is engraved with the symbol of Iadon’s own personal guard!”
“Then the king is dead?” Mareshe asked eagerly.
“Nothing of the sort,” Raoden said dismissively. “Our mission was of a personal nature, Mareshe, and it did not involve killing—though the guard who owned that sword is probably fairly angry.”
“I’ll bet,” Galladon said with a snort. “Then we don’t have to worry about Karata anymore?”
“No,” Raoden said with a smile. “As a matter of fact, her gang will be joining with us.”
There were a few mutters of surprise at the announcement, and Raoden paused before continuing. “Tomorrow we’re going to visit the palace sector. Karata has something there I want you all to see—something everyone in Elantris should see.”
“What is that, sule?” Galladon asked.
“Proof that the hunger can be defeated.”
CHAPTER 14
Sarene had about as much talent for needlepoint as she did for painting. Not that she let it stop her from trying—no matter how much she worked to become a part of what were traditionally considered masculine activities, Sarene felt an intense need to prove that she could be as feminine and ladylike as anyone else. It wasn’t her fault that she just wasn’t any good at it.
She held up her embroidering hoop. It