Read Online A Dark Tide (Book of One) by Jordan Baker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jordan Baker
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talking to herself. "The dragons of old were fearsome creatures, terrible with their fire, but I have gained their power and the flames will not harm me so easily."
Draxis was not sure what Calexis meant, and her eyes seemed far away, as though remembering something from the distant past, but he noticed a flicker of hesitation in her eyes when she spoke of the dragons and the power of their fire. She now had the power of the god, the same power Cerric had used to kill a dragon with his bare hands, but there still remained a hint of fear, subtle yet noticeable to Draxis' heightened senses. He was irritated that she did not seem particularly interested in the conquest of Elvanar, for he was eager to demonstrate his prowess on the battlefield, but he decided that it was not as urgent as he had thought. He would kill many and he would become more powerful. That was all that mattered, though it was curious that she was afraid of dragon fire, and he set that knowledge aside, in case it might someday be useful.
"Under my command, your army will become the most powerful that this world has ever known," Draxis said.
"That would please me well," Calexis said, and her expression turned dark. "When you have conquered the elves, make sure there is nothing left of their accursed forest, not one leaf or blade of grass. Turn it to ash and poison the ground so it will never grow again."
"As you command," Draxis said, a little surprised at her malevolence. "I will take my leave."
"Yes, Draxis," Calexis said, almost ignoring him as she moved away in an odd direction, distracted, as though she could hear a sound and was trying to figure out where it was coming from. Draxis nodded, realizing that she was no longer even aware of him, and he began making his way out of the cavern.
Calexis felt the distant reverberations slowly moving toward her and the power of the shadow grew excited, hungering for that which was no longer hidden, that which the god had coveted for many years. The anxious feeling of impatience aroused her and she almost purred with pleasure at the thought of finally grasping that for which she had waited impatiently. So focused was she on her prize that she did not notice the scorn in Draxis' eyes when he left.
*****
In his dragon form, Borrican emerged from the darkness of the cavern with a growl, his mood matching the dark grey storm clouds that covered the sky. He was frustrated by his latest experience with the elder dragons, so much so that he did not even bother to hide his displeasure, letting his anger flow around him. So what if the dragons knew of his irritation, and so what it the elders took offense at his irreverence. It made no difference to him what the elder dragons thought, and so many of the other dragons already wanted to fight him anyway, eager to prove themselves more powerful than the dragon of the Akandra, so it mattered little if they took his anger as a challenge.
While he had no interest in such rivalries, from the large plateau outside the cavern, Borrican could see several dragons circling the sky in the distance, waiting for the opportunity to challenge him. He had no qualms about obliging them, even though it just added to his annoyance, for he had more important things on his mind, like reclaiming Kandara and fighting the power of this dark god, who was wreaking havoc across the land. Unfortunately the dragons were consumed by their petty rivalries and the elders did not seem to want to get involved in the problems of the world, which meant that he and Ariana were pretty much on their own. Borrican was just about to leap into the air to bring her the news when Vale's mother, Vana appeared behind him, her great dragon form stepping out into the dull light of the stormy day.
"Borrican," she said. "Wait a moment, if you will."
"What is it, Vana? Have the elders reconsidered?"
"No," she said. "But they won't stop you from honoring your oath, and they won't prevent any dragons who might
Draxis was not sure what Calexis meant, and her eyes seemed far away, as though remembering something from the distant past, but he noticed a flicker of hesitation in her eyes when she spoke of the dragons and the power of their fire. She now had the power of the god, the same power Cerric had used to kill a dragon with his bare hands, but there still remained a hint of fear, subtle yet noticeable to Draxis' heightened senses. He was irritated that she did not seem particularly interested in the conquest of Elvanar, for he was eager to demonstrate his prowess on the battlefield, but he decided that it was not as urgent as he had thought. He would kill many and he would become more powerful. That was all that mattered, though it was curious that she was afraid of dragon fire, and he set that knowledge aside, in case it might someday be useful.
"Under my command, your army will become the most powerful that this world has ever known," Draxis said.
"That would please me well," Calexis said, and her expression turned dark. "When you have conquered the elves, make sure there is nothing left of their accursed forest, not one leaf or blade of grass. Turn it to ash and poison the ground so it will never grow again."
"As you command," Draxis said, a little surprised at her malevolence. "I will take my leave."
"Yes, Draxis," Calexis said, almost ignoring him as she moved away in an odd direction, distracted, as though she could hear a sound and was trying to figure out where it was coming from. Draxis nodded, realizing that she was no longer even aware of him, and he began making his way out of the cavern.
Calexis felt the distant reverberations slowly moving toward her and the power of the shadow grew excited, hungering for that which was no longer hidden, that which the god had coveted for many years. The anxious feeling of impatience aroused her and she almost purred with pleasure at the thought of finally grasping that for which she had waited impatiently. So focused was she on her prize that she did not notice the scorn in Draxis' eyes when he left.
*****
In his dragon form, Borrican emerged from the darkness of the cavern with a growl, his mood matching the dark grey storm clouds that covered the sky. He was frustrated by his latest experience with the elder dragons, so much so that he did not even bother to hide his displeasure, letting his anger flow around him. So what if the dragons knew of his irritation, and so what it the elders took offense at his irreverence. It made no difference to him what the elder dragons thought, and so many of the other dragons already wanted to fight him anyway, eager to prove themselves more powerful than the dragon of the Akandra, so it mattered little if they took his anger as a challenge.
While he had no interest in such rivalries, from the large plateau outside the cavern, Borrican could see several dragons circling the sky in the distance, waiting for the opportunity to challenge him. He had no qualms about obliging them, even though it just added to his annoyance, for he had more important things on his mind, like reclaiming Kandara and fighting the power of this dark god, who was wreaking havoc across the land. Unfortunately the dragons were consumed by their petty rivalries and the elders did not seem to want to get involved in the problems of the world, which meant that he and Ariana were pretty much on their own. Borrican was just about to leap into the air to bring her the news when Vale's mother, Vana appeared behind him, her great dragon form stepping out into the dull light of the stormy day.
"Borrican," she said. "Wait a moment, if you will."
"What is it, Vana? Have the elders reconsidered?"
"No," she said. "But they won't stop you from honoring your oath, and they won't prevent any dragons who might
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