Read Online Forged In Death, Book 1 of The Death Wizard Chronicles by Jim Melvin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jim Melvin
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her dignified entrance, she immediately bowed her head, as if uncomfortable.
As soon as the blond woman appeared, Sōbhana jealously observed Torg resist the restraints for the first time since being strapped to the wagon by the Kojin. Her king looked up at the woman, who appeared to return his gaze. Suddenly, pale beams of light leapt from both their eyes and collided in midair. No one but Sōbhana seemed to notice, except for Bhayatupa, who snorted in amusement, and the golden-haired soldier, who looked at the woman—and then Torg—with what appeared to be a mixture of surprise and anger.
A thunderous roar from the crowd shattered the blond woman’s reverie. She seemed startled and stumbled sideways. The soldier caught her and held her up.
Then Invictus came through the door, and Sōbhana’s jealousy was swept away. The young sorcerer commanded her full attention, and his presence rendered all her emotions impotent. She watched him walk to the edge of the balcony and raise his arms toward the sun.
Morning ended. Noon took its place. Invictus bathed in the glory of light.
Physically, the young sorcerer was not as impressive as she’d expected. He was smaller and less muscular than a Tugar, and less graceful in his manner. His yellow hair was shoulder-length, his face boyishly handsome despite being a century old, and he wore long golden robes that glimmered in the sunlight. In Sōbhana’s opinion, he was not as beautiful as Torg—or most any Tugar male.
Nonetheless she sagged to her knees. There was no hope. Invictus’ might was irrefutable. From where she stood, she could barely tolerate the power that emanated from the Sun God’s body. It felt as if she stood too close to the open door of an immense furnace. Torg, whom she’d long believed to be the most powerful being on Triken, was puny in comparison. This alarming apparition dwarfed even Bhayatupa.
Sōbhana turned to Torg for guidance. His face was far away, but she still could interpret his expression. His eyes were closed, but he grimaced, apparently feeling the same despair as she. Her king was outmatched. And if The Torgon was outmatched, so was everyone, and everything, else.
“I will speak to you now,” Invictus said to the throng. “Say yes, if you hear my words.”
“ YES !”
Of everyone in attendance, only a few, including Torg, did not respond. Mala leaned over the rail of the wagon and slapped the Death-Knower’s face even harder than he’d done earlier. “Did you not hear our king? Are you deaf, little worm?”
From above, Invictus spoke again. A hidden magic amplified his voice, so that it was clearly audible throughout the entire valley. “General Mala, please be more polite. The Torgon is our guest. He does not know our customs.”
Mala’s chain glowed, spitting globules of acidic liquid. Then the Chain Man stepped aside. “As you command, my king.”
“Yes,” Invictus said. “As I command.”
“ YES! ” the crowd chanted.
“Now, where was I? Oh . . . as I was saying, I have some things to tell you all. Can you hear me?”
“ YES! ”
This time Sōbhana unexpectedly shouted along with the obedient crowd. It felt as if the word had been torn from her throat, bringing tears to her eyes. Torg remained silent. Mala continued to glare at the wizard but did not strike him again.
“As you can see, The Torgon is our prisoner.”
“ YES! ”
Sōbhana resisted the sorcerer’s will, but it took all of her strength.
“He has been brought before me to stand trial.”
“ YES! ”
“I will interrogate him now.”
“ YES! YES! ”
“ Torgon , you have conspired with others to corrupt the free peoples of Triken. I accuse you of treason. What is your plea?”
When Torg responded, Sōbhana was surprised that his voice also could be heard throughout the valley. “May I tell you some things?”
“ YES! ” the crowd shouted.
Mala lunged at Torg with murder in his eyes. But the sorcerer waved his hand—just
As soon as the blond woman appeared, Sōbhana jealously observed Torg resist the restraints for the first time since being strapped to the wagon by the Kojin. Her king looked up at the woman, who appeared to return his gaze. Suddenly, pale beams of light leapt from both their eyes and collided in midair. No one but Sōbhana seemed to notice, except for Bhayatupa, who snorted in amusement, and the golden-haired soldier, who looked at the woman—and then Torg—with what appeared to be a mixture of surprise and anger.
A thunderous roar from the crowd shattered the blond woman’s reverie. She seemed startled and stumbled sideways. The soldier caught her and held her up.
Then Invictus came through the door, and Sōbhana’s jealousy was swept away. The young sorcerer commanded her full attention, and his presence rendered all her emotions impotent. She watched him walk to the edge of the balcony and raise his arms toward the sun.
Morning ended. Noon took its place. Invictus bathed in the glory of light.
Physically, the young sorcerer was not as impressive as she’d expected. He was smaller and less muscular than a Tugar, and less graceful in his manner. His yellow hair was shoulder-length, his face boyishly handsome despite being a century old, and he wore long golden robes that glimmered in the sunlight. In Sōbhana’s opinion, he was not as beautiful as Torg—or most any Tugar male.
Nonetheless she sagged to her knees. There was no hope. Invictus’ might was irrefutable. From where she stood, she could barely tolerate the power that emanated from the Sun God’s body. It felt as if she stood too close to the open door of an immense furnace. Torg, whom she’d long believed to be the most powerful being on Triken, was puny in comparison. This alarming apparition dwarfed even Bhayatupa.
Sōbhana turned to Torg for guidance. His face was far away, but she still could interpret his expression. His eyes were closed, but he grimaced, apparently feeling the same despair as she. Her king was outmatched. And if The Torgon was outmatched, so was everyone, and everything, else.
“I will speak to you now,” Invictus said to the throng. “Say yes, if you hear my words.”
“ YES !”
Of everyone in attendance, only a few, including Torg, did not respond. Mala leaned over the rail of the wagon and slapped the Death-Knower’s face even harder than he’d done earlier. “Did you not hear our king? Are you deaf, little worm?”
From above, Invictus spoke again. A hidden magic amplified his voice, so that it was clearly audible throughout the entire valley. “General Mala, please be more polite. The Torgon is our guest. He does not know our customs.”
Mala’s chain glowed, spitting globules of acidic liquid. Then the Chain Man stepped aside. “As you command, my king.”
“Yes,” Invictus said. “As I command.”
“ YES! ” the crowd chanted.
“Now, where was I? Oh . . . as I was saying, I have some things to tell you all. Can you hear me?”
“ YES! ”
This time Sōbhana unexpectedly shouted along with the obedient crowd. It felt as if the word had been torn from her throat, bringing tears to her eyes. Torg remained silent. Mala continued to glare at the wizard but did not strike him again.
“As you can see, The Torgon is our prisoner.”
“ YES! ”
Sōbhana resisted the sorcerer’s will, but it took all of her strength.
“He has been brought before me to stand trial.”
“ YES! ”
“I will interrogate him now.”
“ YES! YES! ”
“ Torgon , you have conspired with others to corrupt the free peoples of Triken. I accuse you of treason. What is your plea?”
When Torg responded, Sōbhana was surprised that his voice also could be heard throughout the valley. “May I tell you some things?”
“ YES! ” the crowd shouted.
Mala lunged at Torg with murder in his eyes. But the sorcerer waved his hand—just
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