Read Online Cathexis: Necromancer's Dagger by Philip Blood - Free Book Online Page B

sat unmoving in
a chair while staring off into
nothing. The Tchulian mercenary Major Harland Von Dracek sat at the
nearby table conversing with a nobleman, the third conspirator of
their group. That man gestured toward CAracusS by waving an arm
wearing an embroidered sleeve with lace trim.
    “So Major, you had no trouble sneaking
CAracusS and his victim into the palace?”
    “One of Jatar’s guards actually helped us
carry the man in after I explained that he was drunk from
celebrating; it was almost too easy,” Von Dracek reported.
    “That’s because the duel between Tysol and
Jatar was a spectacular diversion. Congratulations are in order
Major; it’s just too bad you didn’t get to watch after all the time
you spent preparing Tysol for his performance. Elizabeth’s
attention was riveted on Jatar when Tysol surprised almost everyone
by pulling a concealed dagger. I had to contain myself lest I laugh
out loud when I saw Tysol stab him, it was wonderful. That lout is such a good puppet, I only
regret that I didn’t get to see Jatar kill him, it would have
brought tears of joy to my eyes,” he raised a lace cuffed sleeve
and used his forefinger to wipe away an imaginary tear as he
reminisced with glee.
    Von Dracek looked at him sternly as he said,
“Weren’t you worried that Jatar was mortally wounded? Tysol could
have killed him, and that wasn’t supposed to happen. His death
would have put a serious crimp in our plan!”
    The nobleman took no notice of the Tchulian
merc’s tone. “Oh by G’lan’s enormous nose, I could see instantly that he was not so seriously
wounded that he would die, it just added to the whole drama of the
hilarious affair! I would pay to see him stabbed again, what fun!”
the man exclaimed. "He was in little danger, with his wife watching
over him there was more than simple fate at work. It would have
taken a miracle of chance for that
dagger to strike that ring.”
    “To business!” the mercenary major
exclaimed, “Are you sure that Jatar will not ignore the message and
go with his wife to the church anyway?”
    The nobleman shrugged as he answered, “As
sure as anything is with something as complicated as this plot, but
some chances have to be taken. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to make
sure that doesn’t happen,” he said with a casual flip of his hand
as if to wave aside the worries.
    “I don’t like leaving anything to chance,
but it’s too late at this point to change anything. I’ll begin
awakening the necromancer so that he will be fully recovered soon
after Lady Ardellen’s departure,” the Tchulian decided.
    “Then I’ll make my departure, I find
CAracusS a bit of a bore really,” he said, knowing that the
necromancer could hear him, but not yet respond. “Well I must get
back to the fun, acting is such an underrated endeavor, and I find
myself becoming quite the master over the years. Now I’m on to my
next performance in the Great Hall!”
    Von Dracek frowned as he watched the pompous
noble leave; the man was starting to seriously annoy the sardonic
Tchulian merc, he was taking far too much pleasure in this
business. To the Major this was serious, something he had worked
toward for many years. He didn’t enjoy what they had to do to
Jatar, or the child, but some things had to be done to achieve
important goals, and the destruction of the Kirnath was a goal that
drove Von Dracek’s every waking moment.
     
    The great assembly hall in the palace of
Lindankar was filled to overflowing. Most of those assembled were
high ranking nobles here to witness the confirmation of their
future sovereign in this ancient ceremony of their land. Jatar and
Elizabeth sat on two throne chairs that were placed on a raised
dais at one end of the spacious hall. Michael's crib was placed on
the right side of the ruler's thrones where Elizabeth could keep an
eye on their son. The future heir was sitting up and looking out at
the many faces of the watching crowd with the