Read Online Myrkron (Volume Two of The Chronicles of the Myrkron) by Timothy Woods - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Timothy Woods
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better to die fighting than to live as a slave. He has not lost so much as you think. He still has his wife, his freedom, and his men. Ataum could have made no other choice. Rydon backed him into a corner. If he had stayed, he would still have been a slave, even if we defeated Mortow. Only his enslavement would be of a different sort."
Merric shook his head. "I just don’t know, Micah. I feel as if I am walking everyone down a path that leads to a cliff. If we are not careful, we will stumble and fall off the edge. I don’t know what to do," Merric said putting his head in his heads.
" Do you want advice, Merric, or platitudes?"
" I want advice, damn it!" Merric shouted angrily.
Micah smiled again. "Then listen well, old friend. That fire you feel right this moment, that anger, use it. Burn away the feelings of self-pity and remorse, and then think. Ask yourself what needs to be done right now. What is of the utmost importance?"
Merric started to open his mouth to reply but Micah stopped him.
" I told you to forget about Michael and Mieka for now. They are beyond your reach."
Merric closed his mout h and considered for a moment. "I guess getting reinforcements to The Slot should be the first thing. Michael promised Commander Salic he would bring him more men."
" Aye, they do need more men, but their need is not as great as it was earlier today. I took a group of fifty Avari to join them. While I was there, I learned that a large group of ogres had joined them as well. Ogres lead by a Chieftain named Karg."
" A hundred or so ogres will help, but they will still need reinforcements," Merric said, his mind now clearly back on track.
" Try more like two thousand ogres." Micah grinned at the opened mouth expression on Merric’s face. "Karg has joined many tribes together under his leadership. They have joined our cause."
" Micah, this is wonderful news. I have never in my life seen ogre tribes join together willingly. This Karg must be either very strong or very smart."
" I would have to say both. He is as big as any ogre I have ever seen; and, after talking to him for a bit, I was impressed with his strategies and motivations. I could tell he was one that likes to be in charge, but he also seemed to have his people’s best interest in mind. I spoke to his brother, Mardak, who, by the way, is a shaman."
" That is a rare thing among his kind if he is truly gifted," Merric said in mild surprise.
" He is. Just how gifted remains to be seen, but he is much more than a totem shaking herbalist. They both displayed a level of honor that I found comforting. I have no doubt they are sincere," Micah informed Merric.
" If you trust them, then that is good enough for me. I should get myself to Castle Brannin and see to getting some more men to The Slot. They lost a great many there today. Then I would have a chance to meet this new Chieftain."
" I think that is an excellent…" Micah shot to his feet, his face turned grave. Merric was instantly on his feet as well.
" What is it, Micah?"
" Colonel Bastise is here. I must go. Something is wrong," Micah replied scowling. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver flask. He hurriedly took a drink from it and shoved it back into his pocket.
" What's wrong Micah?" Merric asked troubled.
" I will return when I can." Micah’s eyes continued to stare off into the distance as he spoke, " Tranfero ut meus visum ," and vanished from the room.
Merric stared at the spot where Micah had been standing. "Good luck, old friend." Merric turned and rang the small bell on his desk. He began to pace, waiting for the student on duty to arrive.
Micah materialized outside the ring of stone that stood watch over the portal. Not for the first time , he wondered if it led anywhere besides back to Earth. He dismissed the thought and scanned the night for other living beings. He
Merric shook his head. "I just don’t know, Micah. I feel as if I am walking everyone down a path that leads to a cliff. If we are not careful, we will stumble and fall off the edge. I don’t know what to do," Merric said putting his head in his heads.
" Do you want advice, Merric, or platitudes?"
" I want advice, damn it!" Merric shouted angrily.
Micah smiled again. "Then listen well, old friend. That fire you feel right this moment, that anger, use it. Burn away the feelings of self-pity and remorse, and then think. Ask yourself what needs to be done right now. What is of the utmost importance?"
Merric started to open his mouth to reply but Micah stopped him.
" I told you to forget about Michael and Mieka for now. They are beyond your reach."
Merric closed his mout h and considered for a moment. "I guess getting reinforcements to The Slot should be the first thing. Michael promised Commander Salic he would bring him more men."
" Aye, they do need more men, but their need is not as great as it was earlier today. I took a group of fifty Avari to join them. While I was there, I learned that a large group of ogres had joined them as well. Ogres lead by a Chieftain named Karg."
" A hundred or so ogres will help, but they will still need reinforcements," Merric said, his mind now clearly back on track.
" Try more like two thousand ogres." Micah grinned at the opened mouth expression on Merric’s face. "Karg has joined many tribes together under his leadership. They have joined our cause."
" Micah, this is wonderful news. I have never in my life seen ogre tribes join together willingly. This Karg must be either very strong or very smart."
" I would have to say both. He is as big as any ogre I have ever seen; and, after talking to him for a bit, I was impressed with his strategies and motivations. I could tell he was one that likes to be in charge, but he also seemed to have his people’s best interest in mind. I spoke to his brother, Mardak, who, by the way, is a shaman."
" That is a rare thing among his kind if he is truly gifted," Merric said in mild surprise.
" He is. Just how gifted remains to be seen, but he is much more than a totem shaking herbalist. They both displayed a level of honor that I found comforting. I have no doubt they are sincere," Micah informed Merric.
" If you trust them, then that is good enough for me. I should get myself to Castle Brannin and see to getting some more men to The Slot. They lost a great many there today. Then I would have a chance to meet this new Chieftain."
" I think that is an excellent…" Micah shot to his feet, his face turned grave. Merric was instantly on his feet as well.
" What is it, Micah?"
" Colonel Bastise is here. I must go. Something is wrong," Micah replied scowling. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver flask. He hurriedly took a drink from it and shoved it back into his pocket.
" What's wrong Micah?" Merric asked troubled.
" I will return when I can." Micah’s eyes continued to stare off into the distance as he spoke, " Tranfero ut meus visum ," and vanished from the room.
Merric stared at the spot where Micah had been standing. "Good luck, old friend." Merric turned and rang the small bell on his desk. He began to pace, waiting for the student on duty to arrive.
Micah materialized outside the ring of stone that stood watch over the portal. Not for the first time , he wondered if it led anywhere besides back to Earth. He dismissed the thought and scanned the night for other living beings. He
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