Read Online Dragon Choir by Benjamin Descovich - Free Book Online Page A

shake of a belt pouch
was sufficient to reveal about a hand and a half remained. That
would serve for the moment. The redeemer pressed another pouch and
tucked his fingers in; both treasures were still there. Pulling
them out one by one, he felt the energetic potential tingle up his
palm. An incisor and a molar; they’d be a godsend if there was an
emergency. He’d not waste them on the blackstone. Bones of the
faithful just weren’t as clear over these distances, though blessed
or not, they would have to do for now.
    Removing his
cowl, Uighara lay back in a hammock, enjoying the gentle lull of
the ocean. His shoulders and neck ached from the day’s mental
exertions, there were so many details to arrange, so many powers to
appease; pawns to manipulate.
    Considering
the logistics of it all, only a few problems had arisen, all
solvable of course. The greatest of all the Lord’s work would be
done; things were falling into place nicely. The young upstart
Commodore had a whiff of pirate and wouldn’t let up the chase until
he knew the location of the lair. He was no different from his
nit-picking father, always seeking proof to the detriment of faith.
He wouldn’t take Uighara’s word for it, as obvious as it was.
    Uighara’s
father was the same, so powerful, yet so weak. He couldn’t grasp
what he had and would surely let another opportunity slip away. The
fool had no idea.
    The tide of
sleep came in and Uighara drifted to the deep rest of the
exhausted.
    ***
    A
milk faced undanae with black saucer eyes and a pointed grin stood
by the door. He bent sideways like a waning moon, his head tilted,
eyes devouring all light.
    “ How nice to have a nap, yes?”
    “ Zarkas,” announced Uighara with a boy’s voice steeped in
innocence long faded. He rocked on a wooden painted horse in his
childhood home. The walls were decorated with endearing pastel
murals, the floor warmed with colourful rugs.
    “ Why do I always find you as a boy, hmm?”
    Uighara
grasped his lucidity and refurnished the dream. He weaved his
surroundings into a spacious stone walled chamber with blazing
hearth, ornate tapestries, redwood furniture and gilded finery.
    “ More to my taste, certainly,” Zarkas enjoyed a wry smile,
deepening the dark wells of his dimpled cheeks. “Though, I must say
the horse is a little small for you now.”
    Flustered and
ashamed, Uighara dismounted from the wooden horse. He willed it
gone, but it would not be undone. Dreaming an axe into his hands,
he hacked it to pieces, throwing them to the fire. The angels of
the Lord knew his every weakness.
    “ Why do you call?” Uighara dusted his hands off then warmed
them by the fire, watching the lacquer crack and blister the head
of the horse. “Everything is in order.”
    “ That perhaps, is your problem. Shall order bring the return
of our Lord?”
    “ It is just an expression, our plans proceed without
complication.”
    “ Humans make little sense.”
    “ The barges are built and armed, our net is ready. I have
already told you this. What do you want?”
    “ When, is the question. When do I want?”
    “ We await our reserve supply of reagent to be loaded. Once it
is stockpiled and secure at Lord’s Landing we will proceed to
engage the pirates.”
    “ Do you have the armada?”
    “ No, not yet, the Lord’s High Admiral will not rally the
armada without proof. I will extrac—”
    “ You dally when you need speed. The Lord will be
displeased.”
    “ Everything will be in its place.”
    “ Time is short. If you are incapable, then I will find
another. Perhaps the High Priest would have made a better
choice.”
    Uighara
sneered. “That old dolt barely understands the process, let alone
the ritual. You need me Zarkas. You know you do.”
    There was no
reply. Zarkas was gone and the room had transformed back to that of
his childhood; his horse burned in the fire, a crippled mess of
charred limbs and broken