Read Online A Balance Broken (Dragonsoul Saga) by J.T. Hartke - Free Book Online Page A

toward the orcs gathered in front of him. “Much as we have this one chair at Blackstone for the chieftain of the Boar, we shall have seven when we build a new fortress at Dragonsclaw.”
    He heaved himself up, shifting the ancient scimitar of his family that rested on his hip. The representatives of the Wolf Clan fingered their own weapons. “No one is more aware of the long standing feud between Wolf and Boar than you and I, Fargon.”
    The grizzled captain of the Wolves scowled at him. Slar remembered that face laughing with him many years ago. “You were fostered with my father to seal the peace after our last clanwar. You and I have hunted Boar lands together.”
    “You made a wife of my cousin,” Fargon grumbled in reply.
    “And no one misses Naleena more than I!” Slar snapped, more harshly than he intended. “Her death haunts me still, and her son chooses to live among your people.”
    Fargon lifted a black eyebrow. “He is your son, too.”
    Slar snorted and waved a hand. “My sons are warriors of the Boar Clan. One has captured Victor status to honor his people.”
    Fargon remained silent, but his lips curled to show a fang. Instead, the orc wrapped in a black wolf pelt spoke.
    “This discussion is not to the point.” The shaman lifted a finger. “This is about the honor of the Wolf Clan. We insist that we not be lackeys to the Boar, unlike the sad Rams.” He shot a glance at the one Ram in attendance.
    Balthor kept his silence, though rage scudded across his face.
    Slar folded his hands behind his back and addressed the room. “The place of the Wolf Clan in this alliance shall be the same as it is for Boar and Ram, for Bear and Snake and all the others once they join. This is the time we have awaited, my fellows. Galdreth has returned to us from the Elder Days.” He brought his hands forward into fists. “Do you not understand that this is our opportunity to wipe away all the old clan rivalries? It is our chance to take our rightful place in this land—to drive the humans back into the sea from whence they came.”
    Fargon’s pink eyes fixed on Slar, reminding him of his long dead wife. His heart twinged at the memory of her. He had thought those feelings long since buried. Those eyes also remind me of Nalan’s, though I have not seen him in ten years. If only he had chosen the warrior’s path instead of…
    Those thoughts were not for now, and Slar drove them from his mind. He slapped his hands together. “Many of the Boar Clan, under the leadership of my son Grindar, have already begun the journey to Dragonsclaw, while more Boar warriors muster for Chieftain Lagdred. The Ram Clan gathers at Dragonsclaw as well. Galdreth commands that you do the same.” Slar did not favor this approach, but felt forced to use it. “Do not forget that our ancient master has returned. Has Galdreth not appeared before Chieftain Valgrar?”
    Fargon nodded. “The spirit has shown itself to my uncle. That is the only reason we stand here now.” The warrior watched him in silence. Slar was about to renew his argument when Fargon finally continued. “I will return to Craghold. Chieftain Valgrar shall have the final say, but we cannot ignore Galdreth’s return.” He moved to walk away before he paused and met Slar’s gaze squarely. “Even if Valgrar decides not to come, I will meet you at Dragonsclaw. Not because of the return of some ancient spirit that I do not understand, but because of your words, which I grasp quite well.” He nodded again, this time with a bit of a bow. “I will greet you again before Midsummer…Warchief.”
    The Wolf Clan delegation ushered themselves from Blackstone’s great hall, Fargon the last to leave. He tapped his fist to his heart in silent farewell before the doors closed behind him.
    “Will he bring his clan?” Ortax asked once the bar slammed down.
    “It is not the Wolves that I worry about.” Slar’s eyes remained upon the exit through which Fargon and his men had