Read Online Diablo III: Storm of Light by Nate Kenyon - Free Book Online
Authors: Nate Kenyon
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beat faster as he walked toward the chamber exit .
“Where are you going?” Auriel called. “The rules of the Council forbid anyone to leave while we are in session.”
Tyrael paused under the arch. “I can no longer sit with you as archangel of Wisdom,” he said. “You must respect my choice to shed my wings, or I will not remain. And if the stone stays here, Sanctuary is lost, and the High Heavens along with it. I fear you will choose a path that cannot be undone.”
Outside the chamber, Balzael was waiting for Tyrael, weapon drawn. The strapping guard blocked his way, his armor infused with a golden glow, two others stepping up behind him. “You insult the Council,” he said. “It is against the laws—”
“Get out of my way, Luminarei,” Tyrael said. “Or do you mean to use that sword?”
“An angel without wings,” said Balzael. “You are like a bird with clipped feathers that cannot fly. Perhaps we should put you in a cage.”
Tyrael drew El’druin . How dare you insult me, the one who commanded you for so many years? he thought. The anger that he had held back rose up in him like a hungry flame .
“That would be the last thing you tried to do,” he said .
Balzael raised his weapon in a fighting stance. Tyrael swung El’druinin a mighty arc, bringing all his rage through the blow, the sword clashing against the Luminarei’s own and driving the angel backward and down to his knees. The anger felt like a cleansing fire, consuming him from within, and yet its very presence muted El’druin’s power. Tyrael raised the weapon once more, his muscles quivering, but the Luminarei guard moved blindingly fast, rolling sideways and up again, his sword at the ready .
“Enough!” Imperius suddenly stood at the archway, his fiery wings raised and crackling like lightning around his armored visage .
“Sir,” Balzael said. “He has chosen to leave the Council in session! He should be thrown into the Ring—”
“Let him go,” Imperius said. “Look at his bones, his flesh. He is weakened by his mortal status and unable to fulfill his duties.”
“You are wrong,” Tyrael said. “I am stronger in spirit now than I have ever been, Imperius.”
“Then why have you not yet turned to Chalad’ar? Are you afraid of what you might find within it? Or will it be too much for a mortal to bear?”
“My choices are my own and do not need to be explained.”
“And once again, you have chosen to stand with Sanctuary,” Imperius said. “If the Council votes to destroy it and eliminate the threat it holds for the Heavens once and for all, will you remain with the world of men and perish with them?”
Tyrael looked at Balzael, who had yet to lower his sword, and at Imperius, who stood under the arch as if blocking his return. He slid El’druin back into its sheath, his rage suddenly gone . Even I am being influenced by the foul, black pitch flowing across our realm, he thought . I must find a way to stop this.
“If that is the will of the Council, then so be it,” he said .
Then Tyrael turned and left them standing there, aware that he had taken the next step down a road to an end he could not foresee .
Chapter Five
A Meeting of Thieves
Tyrael pushed away the memory of the Council’s debate and looked at the ragged group of humans gathered around him. Their faces held varying degrees of skepticism and awe. Jacob had likely sensed the sword El’druin from a distance, and the necromancer Zayl had almost surely felt him coming long before he had made himself known. They would accept his presence and what he had to say, if for different reasons.
The others he was not so certain about. The monk had shown impressive strength and valor in battle against Belial’s servants in Gea Kul, and his heart was pure. But the monk also followed his own path, and the possibilities that came with that were dangerous at best. His two companions from the Horadric cell at Gea Kul were valuable for their
“Where are you going?” Auriel called. “The rules of the Council forbid anyone to leave while we are in session.”
Tyrael paused under the arch. “I can no longer sit with you as archangel of Wisdom,” he said. “You must respect my choice to shed my wings, or I will not remain. And if the stone stays here, Sanctuary is lost, and the High Heavens along with it. I fear you will choose a path that cannot be undone.”
Outside the chamber, Balzael was waiting for Tyrael, weapon drawn. The strapping guard blocked his way, his armor infused with a golden glow, two others stepping up behind him. “You insult the Council,” he said. “It is against the laws—”
“Get out of my way, Luminarei,” Tyrael said. “Or do you mean to use that sword?”
“An angel without wings,” said Balzael. “You are like a bird with clipped feathers that cannot fly. Perhaps we should put you in a cage.”
Tyrael drew El’druin . How dare you insult me, the one who commanded you for so many years? he thought. The anger that he had held back rose up in him like a hungry flame .
“That would be the last thing you tried to do,” he said .
Balzael raised his weapon in a fighting stance. Tyrael swung El’druinin a mighty arc, bringing all his rage through the blow, the sword clashing against the Luminarei’s own and driving the angel backward and down to his knees. The anger felt like a cleansing fire, consuming him from within, and yet its very presence muted El’druin’s power. Tyrael raised the weapon once more, his muscles quivering, but the Luminarei guard moved blindingly fast, rolling sideways and up again, his sword at the ready .
“Enough!” Imperius suddenly stood at the archway, his fiery wings raised and crackling like lightning around his armored visage .
“Sir,” Balzael said. “He has chosen to leave the Council in session! He should be thrown into the Ring—”
“Let him go,” Imperius said. “Look at his bones, his flesh. He is weakened by his mortal status and unable to fulfill his duties.”
“You are wrong,” Tyrael said. “I am stronger in spirit now than I have ever been, Imperius.”
“Then why have you not yet turned to Chalad’ar? Are you afraid of what you might find within it? Or will it be too much for a mortal to bear?”
“My choices are my own and do not need to be explained.”
“And once again, you have chosen to stand with Sanctuary,” Imperius said. “If the Council votes to destroy it and eliminate the threat it holds for the Heavens once and for all, will you remain with the world of men and perish with them?”
Tyrael looked at Balzael, who had yet to lower his sword, and at Imperius, who stood under the arch as if blocking his return. He slid El’druin back into its sheath, his rage suddenly gone . Even I am being influenced by the foul, black pitch flowing across our realm, he thought . I must find a way to stop this.
“If that is the will of the Council, then so be it,” he said .
Then Tyrael turned and left them standing there, aware that he had taken the next step down a road to an end he could not foresee .
Chapter Five
A Meeting of Thieves
Tyrael pushed away the memory of the Council’s debate and looked at the ragged group of humans gathered around him. Their faces held varying degrees of skepticism and awe. Jacob had likely sensed the sword El’druin from a distance, and the necromancer Zayl had almost surely felt him coming long before he had made himself known. They would accept his presence and what he had to say, if for different reasons.
The others he was not so certain about. The monk had shown impressive strength and valor in battle against Belial’s servants in Gea Kul, and his heart was pure. But the monk also followed his own path, and the possibilities that came with that were dangerous at best. His two companions from the Horadric cell at Gea Kul were valuable for their
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