Read Online Embers of an Age (Blood War Trilogy) by Tim Marquitz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tim Marquitz
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drew two strange blades: one black as night, the other the color of ice. She bore a large number of O’hra Uthul recognized as being Sha’ree made. Given their nature, he had a clear idea as to where she might have procured them.
“Greetings, traveler,” Uthul spoke, his hands raised as he examined the woman standing a short distance before him.
The short crop of her hair stood on top of her head as fierce gray eyes took the measure of him. Though Uthul was not one to judge the looks of a woman not of his race, he had difficulty thinking of her as what the Lathahns might call attractive . Her jaw was squared and jutted out slightly, her forehead, cheeks, and what he could see of her neck , was pocked and scarred as though it might once have only just escaped a fire. She was built powerful for a woman; not short, but thick-limbed in a way that spoke of a physically difficult life. Her feet were set perfectly, her hips dropped only slightly, as she stared at Uthul. There was no doubt she knew well how to wield the blades she hefted so easily.
She said nothing in reply, so Uthul went on, bowing slightly. “I mean you no harm.” She looked to his O’hra, and then back to his face. Her stance turned more defensive. “No, no, child.” He waved his hands and took a short step back. “I know well you have seen more of my kind and where you have acqu ired your O’hra…your vestments… and hold no ill will toward you. Please, I would speak with you a moment. I am Uthul of the Sha’ree.”
The woman stared for a moment, her eyes narrowed, and then seemed to settle somewhat. The points of her swords dropped, but stayed defensive. “Go on, say your piece,” she said.
Uthul smiled. Her voice was melodic and charming, so at odds with her appearance. “Where does your journey take you?”
Again, she remained quiet a moment before speaking, as though questioning how much she wished to say. “I travel north, to my homeland of Ryell.”
“Ryell?” The name slid easy from his tongue, but his memory could find no purchase for it. “Do you hail from Lathah?”
“I know of no place named Lathah. My home is north of the Languid Sea that borders the great hills of stone,” she explained, pointing with the bluish sword.
Uthul followed the motion with his eyes, a sickening uncertainty knotting his stomach. For all his many years upon Ree , he had seen no other beings save for those that resided in Ahreele. It had always been his understanding that only lifeless waters existed beyond the shores. Ree had never spoken of anything outside of the boundaries he knew, and for an instant he questioned the limitations of his goddess. Had more lands, more beings, sprung to life as Ree faded into the darkness of her being? Was she blind to their existence in her growing stupor? He looked back to the woman but could sense no falsehood in her manner. The revelation filled Uthul with dread.
“How did you come to be here?”
“My crew and I set sail to collect my peoples’ rations before the true winter set in.” She sighed, sorrow dimming her eyes. “A fierce storm came in fast and knocked us from our course, pulling us far from our shores before its grip lessened. We’d only just begun to regain control when the water began to boil and sucked us further south before tearing my ship apart. I only just survived.”
Uthul stared at the woman, unable to believe there was life beyond Ahreele. “I am sorry for your losses.” He drew a few steps closer to look at her, doing his best to keep her at ease. “Forgive my curiosity, but I have lived upon Ree’s flesh for longer than I can put into words, and I have never known there to be life beyond the dead waters.”
“Who is this Ree you speak of?”
A wide grin broke across Uthul’s face. “She is the earth you walk upon, the air you breathe, the trees you b urn to stay warm during winter—”
Braelyn’s eyes narrowed. “ This is y our faith?” The question was filled
“Greetings, traveler,” Uthul spoke, his hands raised as he examined the woman standing a short distance before him.
The short crop of her hair stood on top of her head as fierce gray eyes took the measure of him. Though Uthul was not one to judge the looks of a woman not of his race, he had difficulty thinking of her as what the Lathahns might call attractive . Her jaw was squared and jutted out slightly, her forehead, cheeks, and what he could see of her neck , was pocked and scarred as though it might once have only just escaped a fire. She was built powerful for a woman; not short, but thick-limbed in a way that spoke of a physically difficult life. Her feet were set perfectly, her hips dropped only slightly, as she stared at Uthul. There was no doubt she knew well how to wield the blades she hefted so easily.
She said nothing in reply, so Uthul went on, bowing slightly. “I mean you no harm.” She looked to his O’hra, and then back to his face. Her stance turned more defensive. “No, no, child.” He waved his hands and took a short step back. “I know well you have seen more of my kind and where you have acqu ired your O’hra…your vestments… and hold no ill will toward you. Please, I would speak with you a moment. I am Uthul of the Sha’ree.”
The woman stared for a moment, her eyes narrowed, and then seemed to settle somewhat. The points of her swords dropped, but stayed defensive. “Go on, say your piece,” she said.
Uthul smiled. Her voice was melodic and charming, so at odds with her appearance. “Where does your journey take you?”
Again, she remained quiet a moment before speaking, as though questioning how much she wished to say. “I travel north, to my homeland of Ryell.”
“Ryell?” The name slid easy from his tongue, but his memory could find no purchase for it. “Do you hail from Lathah?”
“I know of no place named Lathah. My home is north of the Languid Sea that borders the great hills of stone,” she explained, pointing with the bluish sword.
Uthul followed the motion with his eyes, a sickening uncertainty knotting his stomach. For all his many years upon Ree , he had seen no other beings save for those that resided in Ahreele. It had always been his understanding that only lifeless waters existed beyond the shores. Ree had never spoken of anything outside of the boundaries he knew, and for an instant he questioned the limitations of his goddess. Had more lands, more beings, sprung to life as Ree faded into the darkness of her being? Was she blind to their existence in her growing stupor? He looked back to the woman but could sense no falsehood in her manner. The revelation filled Uthul with dread.
“How did you come to be here?”
“My crew and I set sail to collect my peoples’ rations before the true winter set in.” She sighed, sorrow dimming her eyes. “A fierce storm came in fast and knocked us from our course, pulling us far from our shores before its grip lessened. We’d only just begun to regain control when the water began to boil and sucked us further south before tearing my ship apart. I only just survived.”
Uthul stared at the woman, unable to believe there was life beyond Ahreele. “I am sorry for your losses.” He drew a few steps closer to look at her, doing his best to keep her at ease. “Forgive my curiosity, but I have lived upon Ree’s flesh for longer than I can put into words, and I have never known there to be life beyond the dead waters.”
“Who is this Ree you speak of?”
A wide grin broke across Uthul’s face. “She is the earth you walk upon, the air you breathe, the trees you b urn to stay warm during winter—”
Braelyn’s eyes narrowed. “ This is y our faith?” The question was filled
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