Read Online Forged In Flame (In Her Name: The First Empress, Book 2) by Michael R. Hicks - Free Book Online Page B

the power you need to change the Way itself. If what I believe is true, there will come a time when nothing, not even the combined might of the priesthoods, will stand against your will. But for that to ever happen, you must believe.”
    “Why must I? Because all the other prophecies of Anuir-Ruhal’te have come to pass, and so must this one?” She shook her head. “Ancient inscriptions on a pillar of stone are not enough for me. And even if I did believe, how will that stop the Dark Queen or the priesthoods, should she sway them with her guile, from sending me to the funeral pyre?”
    “I will not let that happen.”
    “But you cannot prevent it!” She put her hands on his broad chest, her palms on the cyan rune of the Desh-Ka that even without the light of the moon seemed to glow in the darkness. “As powerful as you are, my priest, you cannot stand against the other priesthoods or Syr-Nagath’s armies.”
    “I would whisk you away to safety, just as I brought you here.”
    “For how long? And what is the point? Even those who believe in the prophecy will not follow a warrior who does not stand and fight. I cannot unite our people if I run and cower in fear.” She wrapped her arms around him, and he pulled her close. “All I would ask of you is that when the time comes, do not let her take me. Even if you must plunge your sword into my breast, do not let the Dark Queen have my soul.”
    “On my life and my honor,” he said softly, “it will be as you say.”
    ***
    The next morning, Li’an-Salir had them dine with her for the first meal of the day in her private chambers. It was a time of reminiscing of long ago adventures, and the mistress of the city and Ayan-Dar even managed to make Keel-Tath smile with the tales of their exploits, some of which, Keel-Tath suspected, might even have been true. There was no mention of the Dark Queen or the war. 
    When they finished, Li’an-Salir took them on a grand tour of the harbor, showing the young warrior the source of the ancient kingdom’s prosperity. 
    “These ships!” Keel-Tath exclaimed as they walked along the piers. “Some are huge! How can they float upon the water and not sink?”
    “If you place an empty dish, even if it is made of metal, into water, does it sink?”
    Keel-Tath thought about that. “No, mistress. Not if it is right-side up.”
    “With the ships, it is the same. They are large and heavy, but they rest upon the water in the exact same way as the dish.”
    “These ones, what are they for? They are so much larger than the others.” There were seven vessels in the harbor that were much alike, but enormous even compared to the other large ships. She measured one of them by pacing the distance as they walked, and was stunned to find that it was over five hundred paces long. All of the ships carried sails, some with square rigging, while others, smaller and far more sleek, had triangular sails. The hulls were painted in bright greens and reds, with large runes along the prow and stern proclaiming they hailed from Ku’ar-Amir.
    “These ships hunt the larger creatures of the deep for their meat and oil. Come, look and see.”
    She led her two guests to a shelter along the pier that was as long as one of the ships and nearly as wide. Keel-Tath, unable to help herself, recoiled from the smell. 
    Li’an-Salir laughed. “Yes, it takes some getting used to. But here, look.” 
    Keel-Tath’s mouth dropped open in wonder. An enormous creature took up most of the space under the shelter, and an army of robed ones were busy carving it up. Blood ran in torrents into sluices set into the pier that channeled it away. Not a drop, she saw, fell into the water of the harbor, for that would attract unwanted attention.
    The head of the thing was not dissimilar from that of a genoth , a terrible dragon that inhabited the Great Wastelands, although it was far, far larger. This creature could have quite easily swallowed the largest genoth that ever