Read Online Dark Vengeance by Ed Greenwood - Free Book Online Page A

Lolonmae held up a hand to silence her, and then inclined that hand toward Ithmeira, bidding her to say on.
    She obeyed. “Wipe Talonnorn away, however, or reduce it to a few Talonar huddling in ruins, and all the other cities across the Wild Dark, far and near, of Olone or the Holy Ice, will begin to see Ouvahlor as a greater threat than boastful Talonnorn ever was. For do we not have the great Klarandarr, and mighty Coldheart, and apparent peace between both?”
    â€œOh,
come!
” Semmeira burst out, unable to contain herself longer. “You raise the prospect that city after city will send their armies far, across great stretches of dangerous Wild Dark, against us? Or even ally, combining their forces against us? These are the fears of drunken younglings, who babble endlessly of the Hairy Ones coming down from the Blindingbright with sword and fury, unless we cease taking slaves! Or warn that taming darkwings will awaken the wrath of the dragons, who will claw aside the very Rock itself to tear the Dark asunder and let in the Brightness that they may devour us! You raise wild tales told to children, that have never befallen and never will! We cannot flourish—cannot even
live,
as free Niflghar know ‘life’—if we fear such impossible ‘may-haps’!Aside from long-ago legends, have you
ever
known Niflghar cities to muster together, against another city?”
    Ithmeira shrugged. “And if Nifl only ever did just and only what they have done before, why are we not wearing the robes Ouvahlans wore when our city was founded? And still eating only guth-worms, that turn our stomachs today? How could our city have been founded at all, if Nifl had not dared to venture far through the monster-haunted Dark, to reaches never seen by Niflghar before? Semmeira, you seek not to assail your desired plans and beliefs with the same swords you thrust at mine!”
    â€œI would be delighted never again to thrust a sword at anyone’s
plan,
” Exalted Daughter of the Ice Semmeira said bitingly. “
I
want to be thrusting swords at the foes of Ouvahlor—before they put
their
swords through us! While we stand about doing nothing, but talking and talking and
talking
!”
    â€œSo before we all become truly enfeebled crones,” Lolonmae asked her mildly, “talking until our teeth fall out and you become utterly deranged through drowning in the seething spittle of your own impatience, what do
you
want to do right now, Semmeira? If you could do anything at all, what would it be?”
    â€œCommand our army—and attack Talonnorn just as fast as we can get there!”
    Lolonmae nodded.
    â€œEvery third or fourth rampant in that army thinks he should be leading it,” she pointed out. “So with so many commanders to choose from, why you?”
    â€œI—I—” Semmeira struggled for a reason, seeming for a moment like a trapped beast in a cage, looking around wildly, her hair swirling. Then her eyes flashed fire, and she said triumphantly, “On your orders, Holy Lolonmae, I have watched Jalandral Evendoom more closely than anyone else in all Ouvahlor! I know him and his preparations! Even more than the Watchers, I know exactly where and how to strike!”
    â€œMore than the Watchers?” the Revered Mother repeated, in gentle disbelief.
    â€œMore than the Watchers!” Semmeira thundered, striking her fist against the nearest pillar. “May the Ever-Ice bear witness!”
    â€œOh, it does,” Lolonmae said mildly. “It always does. Well, then, Exalted Daughter Semmeira, hear my will. I have no power to command the army nor name its commander, for there are those in Ouvahlor who respect Coldheart but fall short of trusting us. Wisely.”
    She rose from her throne of ice, releasing a small flood of water, and added, “I have, however, been entrusted with a few of the most untried swords of Ouvahlor—the younglings, who