Read Online A Crown Of War (Book 4) by Michael Ploof - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael Ploof
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women.
“ What is it called?” Aurora asked, raising the glass.
“ This drink is Kronosh. It is as old as my people.”
“ It is the strongest I have found,” said Aurora, studying her glass in the light.
“ And likely the strongest you will ever find. I would have offered something sweeter, but this seemed to be what you wanted,” said Veolindra. “But enough of spirits; you had asked about my death knights,” she said with a devilish grin.
The door melted open once again, and a soldier walked inside to stand before them both. He stood, heavily clad in silver plate mail, with a sash of purple over one shoulder. At his hip sat a long, thick sword sheath, and upon his helmet a plume of brilliant silver feathers, that of the silverhawk. He came to attention with a click of the heels and took off his helmet to address his mistress. Aurora expected the same milky white eyes as the lich Azzeal’s; instead she found green, glowing orbs set deep in a sunken face.
“ Mistress,” he said in many voices, one deep and gravely, another unnaturally high but faint, and yet another, cold and menacing.
“ They are much more useful in this form. Not long ago, the soldiers, and then captains and generals, began to ask too many questions. The humans became suspicious, and we would have soon lost control. Lord Eadon saw to the work himself. He is yet a master of arts unknown; his work is marvelous,” said Veolindra. Aurora could only nod, disturbed by necromancy.
“ Does anything of the person they once were survive?” Aurora asked quietly.
“ Sometimes. Depends on how much fire they held in their hearts,” replied Veolindra with a grin. “Their most primal emotions live on, scattered memories. Rarely do they rebel against their bondage, and, when they do, they are made example of.”
“ What is your name?” Aurora asked the death knight.
“ Seven, of ten.”
She turned from the death knight to Veolindra, confused.
“ Seven of ten. Each of the ten command one thousand. I dictate to the ten, and they down to the others. They will do anything I say. Watch,” she said, and pointed a long black fingernail at the knight’s dagger.
“ General Seven, remove your left glove and stab yourself in the hand.”
Seven took off his glove, unsheathed his curved dagger, and buried it to the hilt through his hand. He stood unflinching and held out his hand; no blood fell to the ringed carpet at his feet.
“ They feel not pain, they know not fear,” said Veolindra.
“ Leave us!” she ordered Seven.
The death knight commander saluted Veolindra and left them. Aurora was glad; she was no more comfortable around the death knight than the lich.
Veolindra seemed to sense her unease. “They take some getting used to.”
“ Indeed,” said Aurora. “Though I am anxious to see them in battle.”
The lich lord smiled at that. “Soon, my friend.”
Chapter Eleven
General Mick Reeves
Krentz did what she could for the Eldonians. They had sent their women and children into the heart of the Burning Mountains and built defenses. Krentz laid wards inside the mountain, rather than out, as the dark elves would find any magical workings suspicious. Dirk would have stayed to help them defend, if not for Krentz’s determination to move against her father. She would not be swayed, and Dirk let the argument go.
They left the next morning and flew north from Eldon Island toward the shores of Eldalon. The wind had picked up throughout the night, and now large waves distorted the waters below. Upon Fyrfrost, they would be all but invisible to anyone below. The channel between Eldon and Eldalon was quiet, with not a fishing boat nor Eldalonian naval vessel to be seen. This did not sit well with Dirk. Emptiness permeated the air, lending a foreboding quality to the blustering wind. The capital city of Kell-Torey had fallen, and the land was without a king. Dirk knew nothing but murder and mayhem awaited him in the
“ What is it called?” Aurora asked, raising the glass.
“ This drink is Kronosh. It is as old as my people.”
“ It is the strongest I have found,” said Aurora, studying her glass in the light.
“ And likely the strongest you will ever find. I would have offered something sweeter, but this seemed to be what you wanted,” said Veolindra. “But enough of spirits; you had asked about my death knights,” she said with a devilish grin.
The door melted open once again, and a soldier walked inside to stand before them both. He stood, heavily clad in silver plate mail, with a sash of purple over one shoulder. At his hip sat a long, thick sword sheath, and upon his helmet a plume of brilliant silver feathers, that of the silverhawk. He came to attention with a click of the heels and took off his helmet to address his mistress. Aurora expected the same milky white eyes as the lich Azzeal’s; instead she found green, glowing orbs set deep in a sunken face.
“ Mistress,” he said in many voices, one deep and gravely, another unnaturally high but faint, and yet another, cold and menacing.
“ They are much more useful in this form. Not long ago, the soldiers, and then captains and generals, began to ask too many questions. The humans became suspicious, and we would have soon lost control. Lord Eadon saw to the work himself. He is yet a master of arts unknown; his work is marvelous,” said Veolindra. Aurora could only nod, disturbed by necromancy.
“ Does anything of the person they once were survive?” Aurora asked quietly.
“ Sometimes. Depends on how much fire they held in their hearts,” replied Veolindra with a grin. “Their most primal emotions live on, scattered memories. Rarely do they rebel against their bondage, and, when they do, they are made example of.”
“ What is your name?” Aurora asked the death knight.
“ Seven, of ten.”
She turned from the death knight to Veolindra, confused.
“ Seven of ten. Each of the ten command one thousand. I dictate to the ten, and they down to the others. They will do anything I say. Watch,” she said, and pointed a long black fingernail at the knight’s dagger.
“ General Seven, remove your left glove and stab yourself in the hand.”
Seven took off his glove, unsheathed his curved dagger, and buried it to the hilt through his hand. He stood unflinching and held out his hand; no blood fell to the ringed carpet at his feet.
“ They feel not pain, they know not fear,” said Veolindra.
“ Leave us!” she ordered Seven.
The death knight commander saluted Veolindra and left them. Aurora was glad; she was no more comfortable around the death knight than the lich.
Veolindra seemed to sense her unease. “They take some getting used to.”
“ Indeed,” said Aurora. “Though I am anxious to see them in battle.”
The lich lord smiled at that. “Soon, my friend.”
Chapter Eleven
General Mick Reeves
Krentz did what she could for the Eldonians. They had sent their women and children into the heart of the Burning Mountains and built defenses. Krentz laid wards inside the mountain, rather than out, as the dark elves would find any magical workings suspicious. Dirk would have stayed to help them defend, if not for Krentz’s determination to move against her father. She would not be swayed, and Dirk let the argument go.
They left the next morning and flew north from Eldon Island toward the shores of Eldalon. The wind had picked up throughout the night, and now large waves distorted the waters below. Upon Fyrfrost, they would be all but invisible to anyone below. The channel between Eldon and Eldalon was quiet, with not a fishing boat nor Eldalonian naval vessel to be seen. This did not sit well with Dirk. Emptiness permeated the air, lending a foreboding quality to the blustering wind. The capital city of Kell-Torey had fallen, and the land was without a king. Dirk knew nothing but murder and mayhem awaited him in the
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