Read Online Firestorm (The Sword of Light Trilogy Book 2) by Aaron Hodges - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Aaron Hodges
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of the Earth could fall to Archon, what chance did they have? And if by some miracle they managed to defeat Archon, how many of them would survive the battle? How many souls would perish? Who of their company would live to see the dawn of a new peace?
It would be so easy to turn now and run, to find some hole in which the dark tendrils of the north would not find them. But she knew they could not. There was too much at stake, and if Archon conquered, the darkness would find them wherever they hid.
No, there was no choice but to fight.
Slowly the sobs subsided as she regained her composure. They lay there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Here in Jurrien’s temple she felt safe, even if she now counted the Storm God amongst her adversaries. The darkness felt almost comforting with Eric beside her, as if it could hide them from the world without. But she knew it could not last, that morning would soon bring the light of day. Nor would the safety of the temple. If they remained, Archon would find them.
Only one option offered them hope. Get Enala to the Sword of Light, before all hell broke loose.
Inken closed her eyes and breathed in Eric’s familiar scent. Whatever the future may bring, they still had this moment, right here, right now.
She resolved not to waste it.
Five
“You lied to me,” Enala stood in the entrance to the lounge, arms folded across her chest.
They had been talking before she entered, but they broke off now, staring up at the two of them in the doorway. Silence settled like autumn leaves as Enala looked around the room, eyes lingering on each of them. Inken, Eric, Caelin, and Michael; she knew their names, though she had not spoken to half of them.
She and Gabriel had stayed up half the night talking. He had told her of the past he now remembered, of the storm which had destroyed Oaksville and killed his family. At first she had not believed him when he claimed Eric had brought the storm. She may not have spoken to the young man, but she could not believe he was a killer. But Gabriel was insistent, unwavering in his belief.
Now Enala wanted answers. Inken had said she could trust them, that they cared about her. But if Gabriel was right…
Eric shifted in his seat, looking like he was about to speak, but Inken beat him to it. “No, we didn’t. I know you trust Gabriel, that he saved your life in Chole. But there is more than one side to this story.”
Enala glanced at Gabriel. He stood staring at Eric, his face blank, unreadable.
She looked back to Inken. “Tell me then.”
Inken nodded. She glanced at the others. “Enala and I are going for a walk. Don’t eat all the food,” Enala caught the warning glance Inken shot Caelin as she stood.
Caelin raised his hands in surrender. “Don’t look at me. I was thinking I’d get some exercise before breakfast anyway,” he looked at the others. “Perhaps Gabriel and Eric will join me. You too, Michael, if you’re interested?”
Enala picked her way across the room and joined Inken as she walked out into the cool morning air.
“I’m quite alright thank you, Caelin,” she caught Michael’s words as the door swung shut behind her.
Inken led the way across the grass and into the gardens surrounding the temple grounds. White frost crunched beneath their boots as they made their way through an archway hung with winter roses. Mist billowed from their mouths with every breath, but the sun had just peeked over the rooftops of the nearest buildings. As its rays reached them, warmth spread through Enala’s limbs. The rich scent of roses hung in the air.
“I first met Eric and Alastair in the desert of Chole. I was dying; my horse had fled and I was unarmed and badly injured. If Eric had not spotted me, I would be dead,” they left the grass and stepped onto a gravel path leading through the gardens.
“What does that prove? That he has a soft spot for you?”
Inken scowled and Enala felt her cheeks grow hot. “Perhaps
It would be so easy to turn now and run, to find some hole in which the dark tendrils of the north would not find them. But she knew they could not. There was too much at stake, and if Archon conquered, the darkness would find them wherever they hid.
No, there was no choice but to fight.
Slowly the sobs subsided as she regained her composure. They lay there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Here in Jurrien’s temple she felt safe, even if she now counted the Storm God amongst her adversaries. The darkness felt almost comforting with Eric beside her, as if it could hide them from the world without. But she knew it could not last, that morning would soon bring the light of day. Nor would the safety of the temple. If they remained, Archon would find them.
Only one option offered them hope. Get Enala to the Sword of Light, before all hell broke loose.
Inken closed her eyes and breathed in Eric’s familiar scent. Whatever the future may bring, they still had this moment, right here, right now.
She resolved not to waste it.
Five
“You lied to me,” Enala stood in the entrance to the lounge, arms folded across her chest.
They had been talking before she entered, but they broke off now, staring up at the two of them in the doorway. Silence settled like autumn leaves as Enala looked around the room, eyes lingering on each of them. Inken, Eric, Caelin, and Michael; she knew their names, though she had not spoken to half of them.
She and Gabriel had stayed up half the night talking. He had told her of the past he now remembered, of the storm which had destroyed Oaksville and killed his family. At first she had not believed him when he claimed Eric had brought the storm. She may not have spoken to the young man, but she could not believe he was a killer. But Gabriel was insistent, unwavering in his belief.
Now Enala wanted answers. Inken had said she could trust them, that they cared about her. But if Gabriel was right…
Eric shifted in his seat, looking like he was about to speak, but Inken beat him to it. “No, we didn’t. I know you trust Gabriel, that he saved your life in Chole. But there is more than one side to this story.”
Enala glanced at Gabriel. He stood staring at Eric, his face blank, unreadable.
She looked back to Inken. “Tell me then.”
Inken nodded. She glanced at the others. “Enala and I are going for a walk. Don’t eat all the food,” Enala caught the warning glance Inken shot Caelin as she stood.
Caelin raised his hands in surrender. “Don’t look at me. I was thinking I’d get some exercise before breakfast anyway,” he looked at the others. “Perhaps Gabriel and Eric will join me. You too, Michael, if you’re interested?”
Enala picked her way across the room and joined Inken as she walked out into the cool morning air.
“I’m quite alright thank you, Caelin,” she caught Michael’s words as the door swung shut behind her.
Inken led the way across the grass and into the gardens surrounding the temple grounds. White frost crunched beneath their boots as they made their way through an archway hung with winter roses. Mist billowed from their mouths with every breath, but the sun had just peeked over the rooftops of the nearest buildings. As its rays reached them, warmth spread through Enala’s limbs. The rich scent of roses hung in the air.
“I first met Eric and Alastair in the desert of Chole. I was dying; my horse had fled and I was unarmed and badly injured. If Eric had not spotted me, I would be dead,” they left the grass and stepped onto a gravel path leading through the gardens.
“What does that prove? That he has a soft spot for you?”
Inken scowled and Enala felt her cheeks grow hot. “Perhaps
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