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

have never fought before—who are intended to serve as a guard for we Anointed, when we venture into battle. A way, I doubt not, to free the most capable warriors of our city from having to wait upon priestesses they fear rather than do their best work, in battle—and to give them some chance of surviving, by putting them beyond reach of any truly foolish orders we may give. These untried few, Semmeira, I can put under your command.”
    â€œTo lead into death and disaster, when I need so many more to bring down Talonnorn?” The most ambitious priestess of Coldheart did not trouble to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
    â€œTo lead in a
successful
attack, bold-for-blood Anointed,” the Revered Mother replied reprovingly, “on the Ravager trademoot of Glowstone. Wherein you and our untried swords can taste battle and learn, and do Ouvahlor great service thereby. It is agreed by all of us who debate and decide what swords our city shall swing, and against whom, that Glowstone must be retaken before we assault the City of Spires.”
    â€œYes?” Semmeira was afire with excitement now, but wary of a snare in this bright offer. “Retaken why?”
    â€œTo serve as a way-base for attacking Talonnorn, so our forces can advance on the Talonar cavern from Ouvahlor in one direction and Glowstone in the other. Anyone trying to flee Talonnorn will be caught between us, and slaughtered.”
    â€œYes!” Semmeira agreed excitedly, and then cocked her head in open suspicion and asked, “But why does it need ‘retaking’ atall? Didn’t we conquer it with ease when last we struck at Talonnorn? Is some sort of peril hiding in Glowstone?”
    Lolonmae tossed aside her robes and gestured to Ithmeira, who caught up a dipper of water from the icy pool and delicately drenched the Revered Mother from her throat downward.
    â€œN-no,” Lolonmae told Semmeira, starting to shiver. “When we took Glowstone, most of the Ravagers there knew its tunnels much better than our rampants, and fought their ways out into the Wild Dark and escaped—only to creep right back to Glowstone the moment our forces returned home. As to why they returned: unlike Talonnorn, Ouvahlor has no interest in conquering cavern after monster-roamed cavern of the Wild Dark, and making ourselves known targets for all in doing so.”
    Whatever else she might have been going to say was lost in a sharp gasp of pain as Ithmeira finished casting the spell that turned the water still running down Lolonmae abruptly into a hard casing of ice.
    A deep blue glow in the ice under their feet brightened and started to rise; the Ever-Ice was responding to Lolonmae’s yielding of herself.
    Semmeira stood watching it impatiently, almost dancing in her eagerness. “When can I make ready?” she snapped, courtesy forgotten in her excitement.
    â€œNow,” the Revered Mother replied, managing a smile. “Yet mind you return here, to me, before you depart Coldheart. The Ice desires your surrender.”
    â€œOf course!” Exalted Daughter Semmeira almost shouted, ere she darted from the chamber. “The Ever-Ice be with me, in everything I do!”
    â€œIndeed,” Lolonmae murmured. “For all our sakes.”
    â€œRevered Mother,” Ithmeira murmured, running reverent hands up the slick, cold ice she had caused to coat the body of her superior, “is this wise?”
    â€œOf course not,” the ranking priestess of Coldheart replied, stiffening as the cold blue light of the Ice reached her ice-locked feetand started to ascend through her body, causing it to glow. “Semmeira and wisdom never consort together in comfort. Yet better she be out heroically roaming the Dark than skulking around Ouvahlor stirring up dissent with her impatient mutterings about the Revered Mother being an indecisive coward unworthy of the Ever-Ice, and Coldheart a fraud that has fallen away from