Read Online Moonlight(Pact Arcanum 3) by Arshad Ahsanuddin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Arshad Ahsanuddin
Ads: Link
away.
Rory knelt beside him. He picked up the chalice and bled off power from the Grace, channeling it into the crystal until it glowed brightly. Then he slammed it against the floor with his full strength. The crystal shattered, and the light of the released magic coalesced in the air before settling into Nick’s chest. Pulling Nick into his arms, Rory drove his fangs into the Daywalker’s neck and began to feed deeply, until Nick’s heart raced desperately, on the verge of giving out. When Rory drew back, the room froze, and there was silence.
Nick stood in spirit from the floor, unsurprised to look down on his own body, and waited. A pure white light suffused the room, the light that he had dreamt of so many times before, of what lay beyond the Gates of Morning.
A voice thundered in his mind. “Ask and ye shall receive.”
“I wish to speak to an agent of the White Wind,” said Nick.
“Then speak, Nicholas Magister Luscian. The Gates of Morning have opened to hear your petition. Ask and ye shall receive.”
“I want to know the nature of the child that grows in the womb of Layla Magister Curallorn, and I want to know your purpose in bringing it into existence.”
“That knowledge will be costly. Are you willing to pay the price required?”
“Name it.”
“Service.”
“What kind of service?”
“This child is a harbinger of things to come. You will stand as its teacher and guardian, its protector against all enemies, right or wrong, until such time as it chooses to release you. Say yes, and we will tell you all that you wish to know.”
“You want me to be its champion?” Nick asked, incredulous. “It’s Toby’s child. I would have protected it anyway.”
“Even so. The child will live beyond the span of years allotted to the father. You will be the father’s voice in its life, after the true father has gone to his reward.”
Nick swallowed in sudden fear. “Wait, are you saying that something is going to happen to Toby?”
“That question is beyond the scope of your petition, Nicholas Magister Luscian. You have no claim on that information.”
“Then I’m changing my damn petition!”
“Accurate knowledge of future events is forbidden to beings of your level of reality. If you pursue this petition, you will not be allowed to return to your plane.”
Nick scowled. “If I ask what happens to Toby, you’ll kill me?”
“Yes.”
Nick hesitated. “If I die here, will I be able to change Toby’s fate?”
“No.”
“What about if I go back? Will I be able to change it then?”
“The future is infinitely mutable. Your free will remains intact, as does his. Whether your brother survives what is coming will depend on his choices, as well as yours.”
“Then answer my original questions.”
“You may make only one petition and no other. Are you prepared to pay the price?”
“Yes.”
“The pact is made.”
Nick shuddered at the music of the voice, the notes reverberating against the memory of the Light that he carried within himself.
“Your brother’s offspring is the beginning of a new race, one that will lead the Children of Magic once the Red Wind is defeated. It is the first child of a union between the Sentinel Gift and the power you know as the Grace. It will be the future of your people once the Great Work is complete, and the Children of Darkness and the Children of Twilight cease to be.”
Nick remembered Faith’s words from the week before. “Is that why Daywalkers can’t create new scions?”
“Yes. The Red Wind is parasitic, creating life from death. The children of the White Wind may create life from life, but only when they meet as equals, together.”
“What about after the Red Wind is gone and the Gift becomes dormant?”
“The Grace and the full Gift will create life, whether or not the Gift is kindled.”
“We thought the Sentinels would cease to exist once the Nightwalkers were gone.”
“Once the Children of Darkness are removed
Rory knelt beside him. He picked up the chalice and bled off power from the Grace, channeling it into the crystal until it glowed brightly. Then he slammed it against the floor with his full strength. The crystal shattered, and the light of the released magic coalesced in the air before settling into Nick’s chest. Pulling Nick into his arms, Rory drove his fangs into the Daywalker’s neck and began to feed deeply, until Nick’s heart raced desperately, on the verge of giving out. When Rory drew back, the room froze, and there was silence.
Nick stood in spirit from the floor, unsurprised to look down on his own body, and waited. A pure white light suffused the room, the light that he had dreamt of so many times before, of what lay beyond the Gates of Morning.
A voice thundered in his mind. “Ask and ye shall receive.”
“I wish to speak to an agent of the White Wind,” said Nick.
“Then speak, Nicholas Magister Luscian. The Gates of Morning have opened to hear your petition. Ask and ye shall receive.”
“I want to know the nature of the child that grows in the womb of Layla Magister Curallorn, and I want to know your purpose in bringing it into existence.”
“That knowledge will be costly. Are you willing to pay the price required?”
“Name it.”
“Service.”
“What kind of service?”
“This child is a harbinger of things to come. You will stand as its teacher and guardian, its protector against all enemies, right or wrong, until such time as it chooses to release you. Say yes, and we will tell you all that you wish to know.”
“You want me to be its champion?” Nick asked, incredulous. “It’s Toby’s child. I would have protected it anyway.”
“Even so. The child will live beyond the span of years allotted to the father. You will be the father’s voice in its life, after the true father has gone to his reward.”
Nick swallowed in sudden fear. “Wait, are you saying that something is going to happen to Toby?”
“That question is beyond the scope of your petition, Nicholas Magister Luscian. You have no claim on that information.”
“Then I’m changing my damn petition!”
“Accurate knowledge of future events is forbidden to beings of your level of reality. If you pursue this petition, you will not be allowed to return to your plane.”
Nick scowled. “If I ask what happens to Toby, you’ll kill me?”
“Yes.”
Nick hesitated. “If I die here, will I be able to change Toby’s fate?”
“No.”
“What about if I go back? Will I be able to change it then?”
“The future is infinitely mutable. Your free will remains intact, as does his. Whether your brother survives what is coming will depend on his choices, as well as yours.”
“Then answer my original questions.”
“You may make only one petition and no other. Are you prepared to pay the price?”
“Yes.”
“The pact is made.”
Nick shuddered at the music of the voice, the notes reverberating against the memory of the Light that he carried within himself.
“Your brother’s offspring is the beginning of a new race, one that will lead the Children of Magic once the Red Wind is defeated. It is the first child of a union between the Sentinel Gift and the power you know as the Grace. It will be the future of your people once the Great Work is complete, and the Children of Darkness and the Children of Twilight cease to be.”
Nick remembered Faith’s words from the week before. “Is that why Daywalkers can’t create new scions?”
“Yes. The Red Wind is parasitic, creating life from death. The children of the White Wind may create life from life, but only when they meet as equals, together.”
“What about after the Red Wind is gone and the Gift becomes dormant?”
“The Grace and the full Gift will create life, whether or not the Gift is kindled.”
“We thought the Sentinels would cease to exist once the Nightwalkers were gone.”
“Once the Children of Darkness are removed
Similar Books
