Read Online Chains of a Dark Goddess by David Alastair Hayden - Free Book Online Page B

way, everything you hold dear will suffer the fate of that rose.”

    ~~~

    Breskaro stayed with Orisala at the Temple of the Rose for three days. When she slept, he practiced his incantations in the garden outside her room. The devotees, acolytes, and priests avoided Breskaro and did not trouble him in any way. Artorio would appear each day, briefly, to ask if everything was satisfactory.
    On the evening of the third day, Breskaro said a tearful goodbye to Orisala. Then he went to speak with Nalsyrra. She was out in the moonlit gardens, playing with her child, Zyr. 
    “Strangely, these last few days were happy to me. Or at least I remember this as happiness. My soul may be dead to flowers, sun, and sky, but it is not dead when it comes to Orisala.”
    “We love our children dearly,” Nalsyrra said in her sibilant tones. “And you fought your way back to life for her.”
    “I feel I must go now.”
    “That is wise. You have much to do. The Fourth Crusade is gathering. According to the Star Spirits, the Issalian forces will begin marching in eight weeks, in Winter. Once they have word of you, they won’t wait for Spring.”
    “What state is Mûlkra in?”
    “Plagued by internecine warfare, assassinations, corruption, poverty, lawlessness. The usual. But it has grown worse than normal the last few years. Jackals devouring a carcass.”
    “And somehow I must rally these people to follow me, after I’ve recovered the artifact? That won’t leave me much time.”
    “Once you meet your benefactor, Harmulkot’s ghost will join you. With her direction, presence, and power, you should be able to unite the Mûlkrans.” 
    “Her ghost ! Is Harmulkot that weak?”
    “Are you surprised? A goddess can be no stronger than her nation. Harmulkot has been neglected by her people for a long time. The Seshallans have eradicated her worshipers throughout this region for two centuries now. And she made many mistakes along the way. Key among them was falling to a curse that bound her to her qavra, unable to be reborn, trapped in her current ghostly form. There is little left of her, but I believe it is enough to accomplish everything you must and to restore Orisala.”
    “For that I only need the Akythiri Mechanism and her knowledge?”
    Nodding, Nalsyrra drew her grimoire from her pack. “You will need this, the Grimoire of Therunsaya. It has all that I taught you and much more.”
    “You don’t need it?”
    “I know that book by heart. I have other, more obscure grimoires stashed in safe places. You have a good mind and an incredibly strong will. I think, given enough time, you could learn and use almost every spell in this grimoire. But since you lack the time, I advise you to avoid the rituals and all the spells that must be scribed and prepared in advance.”
    Nalsyrra reached into her pack and pulled out a small copper rod studded on each end with a crystal.
    “This is the part to fix the mechanism. You will find one like it attached to the device. Simply pry that one loose and replace it with this one.”
    Breskaro took the part, which was warm and seemed as if it were vibrating subtly, wrapped it up, and placed it within a saddlebag. 
    “What will you do now? Head back your Mountains of the Stars?”
    “Not yet. It is peaceful here and the Star Spirits do not currently require anything of me.”
    “You could help me,” Breskaro said eagerly. “My chances would be far greater with you along.”
    “I like you, Breskaro, and if I could help you, I would. But I cannot. It is forbidden for me to help any more than the Star Spirits have dictated. However, I can help you indirectly. I will stay here and see that the temple is safe and that your daughter is protected.”
    “I am grateful to you for that. But I will personally see to it that the Resbani don’t come here again.”

Chapter 12

    Avida emerged from behind a thick bank of clouds and illuminated fourteen crosses on a low, barren hillside. Tied to them were