Read Online Influence by Stuart Johnstone - Free Book Online Page B

abandoned his church for
the promise of the deep.
    Your task
is simple Dryonas, you will recover this crystal for me and find me at the rain
citadel south of Athynian. You will use your wealth, resources or, if you
prefer, your own two hands to do this and I will exchange crystal for kin.”
    “But, how
do you even know any of this is true. What if it’s naught but lies, or this
crystal cannot be found or has been destroyed?” The mage reaches into the neck
of his robes and produces a thong with a small gem on the end. He snaps it off
and throws it to the king who stares at the tiny piece of crystal… so
beautiful, he thinks.
    “That was
amongst the priests abandoned belongings along with these maps and assorted
writings,” The mage pulls a leather binder from his waist belt and throws this to
the King also. The mage walks to the King’s stepdaughter and takes her by the
wrist. The Queen screams but is silenced by Dryonas’ embrace. The mage mounts
the neck of the dragon pulling his captive up in front of him. “Two moon cycles
from this day Dryonas, if you have not brought what I seek to the citadel I
will return her to you, in small charred pieces.” In an almighty whoosh the
dragon takes to the air not encumbered in the slightest by its two riders and
is lost to the eye in moments.
    A muted
silence falls across the courtyard. The King is distraught. “Inside all of you…
please. Go back to you duties. Gaynar, Timenus, to me please.” The king
gestures to Timenus, a tall elf dressed in scarlet robes – the court mage, and
to Gaynar, a female dwarf the King’s Man at Arms.’
     
    Vic handed
a sheet of paper each to Robe and Lizzie. Lizzie, who was quite enjoying the
little story, was suddenly brought out of her drowsy passive state remembering
that this thing required some kind of interaction from her. She studied the
piece of paper she was given. “Character sheet” headlined a long list of
details apparently painting a picture of a persona she would be required to
manifest - Gaynar, a level 8 dwarf warrior.
    ‘Dwarf?
Right, thanks for that Vic.’
    ‘Nothing
personal Liz, and trust me being a dwarf is going to come in handy,’ said Vic
trying to reassure her.
    ‘Yeah? My
mum used to tell me something similar. I’m still waiting.’
    Lizzie had
been a little nervous when she had arrived at the house earlier. It was her
first visit to the boy’s home and she wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a
large, detached and unkempt place at the edge of town. Undoubtedly the house
was worth a fortune but the paint work was flaking, front lawn knee height and
when Mr Adams had opened the door a smell of damp hit her in the back of her
throat. Lizzie had given Mr Adams a warm smile and explained she was there at
the invite of his sons. He was a tall, burly man and sported a thick beard that
appeared more to do with lethargy than it did with choice.
     Without
saying a word he had turned leaving Lizzie alone on the doorstep and
disappeared down the dark hallway. A full two minutes passed before Mrs Adams,
a small mousy woman, wearing a long thick house coat which, by the look of her
drawn sunken cheeks, hid a tiny frail frame underneath, appeared. She gave
Lizzie a bored glance and told her the boys were upstairs before, herself,
disappearing down the hall leaving Lizzie to find both the stairs and the boys.
She found them in what was surely Vic’s room judging by the overflowing piles
of magazines and shelves displaying tiny metal fantasy characters. He had set
up a wallpaper pasting board in the centre of the room and Lizzie found a
garden chair and a can of Coke waiting for her. Vic could barely contain his
excitement on her arrival, he had no doubt expected a no show from her. Lizzie
had lied, telling Vic that she only had a few hours due to a fictional essay
she had to finish giving her an ”out” if she felt she needed one. While Vic had
hurried around Lizzie, Robe seemed unaware she had arrived at all,