Read Online The Dark Warden (Book 6) by Jonathan Moeller - Free Book Online
Authors: Jonathan Moeller
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and hundreds of bony spines jutted from its back and the sides of its arms and legs, every spine dripping with poison. A long, barbed tongue rolled over its fangs, and its eyes burned like coals.
The creature was an urhaalgar. The urvaalgs had been war beasts, but the dark elves had used urhaalgars as spies and assassins and infiltrators. The creatures could move with perfect stealth, and when they put their minds to it, they were even harder to find than an urvaalg.
So why had this one shown itself?
Before Ridmark could consider any further, the urhaalgar threw itself forward with a screech.
A blast of white fire shot across the ground, filling the ruined tower with dazzling radiance. Calliande’s spell slammed into the urhaalgar and threw it against the wall with enough force to crack bone. The creature staggered, the right side of its body a mass of smoking char.
Ridmark took off its head with one sweep of his axe. The urhaalgar collapsed, black slime leaking from the stump of its neck.
“Brace yourselves,” said Ridmark. “There will be more coming. Urhaalgars never hunt alone.”
“No,” said Mara. “It wasn’t after us. Gray Knight, there’s someone else out there. A man, I think, a knight of Andomhaim.”
“A knight?” said Ridmark.
“He was wearing plate and chain and had on a surcoat, though I couldn’t see the sigil,” said Mara. “The urhaalgars were after him. I went to take a look closer, and one of the creatures pursued me.” She looked at the carcass. “I don’t think he realized that I had friends.”
What would a knight of Andomhaim be doing in the Torn Hills? If the man lived, Ridmark could question him at length.
If the knight died, likely the urhaalgars would come for them next.
“Gather your weapons,” said Ridmark. “I will not leave anyone to fall to the creatures of the dark elves. Mara, lead the way.”
She nodded and headed for the arch, and the others followed suit.
Ridmark’s headache worsened as he headed down the slope of the hill.
Chapter 5 - The Swordbearer
Morigna put away her bow and lifted her staff.
Arrows were useless against the creatures of the dark elves, and her staff could not harm them either. Yet the spells bound into the staff gave her the ability to command wood, and even the twisted trees of the Torn Hills were still made of wood. She could force the roots to erupt from the ground and entangle their foes, slowing them long enough for Ridmark and the others to land killing blows. Morigna looked at Calliande, the Magistria’s green cloak swaying from her shoulders.
What had she been discussing with Ridmark?
She pushed away the thought. She was not some child. Calliande had had her chance, and she had let it pass her by.
Given the power of the foes they faced, she could not afford the distraction.
A flapping sound came from overhead, and Morigna looked up, fearing that they were about to see an urdhracos. But a group of the misshapen ravens flew overhead, winging to the north.
“Can you bind any of them?” said Ridmark. She cast a spell and reached out with her thoughts, probing for the ravens’ minds.
“No,” she said, scowling. “Their thoughts are too twisted by the corruption of the Torn Hills. They are not natural animals, and I cannot command them.”
“Could not Lady Mara travel ahead and scout the foe?” said Gavin. He had changed a great deal from the hotheaded boy Morigna had met outside Moraime. The fighting had hardened him, made him quieter and steadier. It was growing harder to think of him as a boy.
Mara laughed. “I fear I am not a noblewoman, Gavin.”
“You’re the daughter of a dark elven prince,” said Jager. “Technically you are a princess.”
“Bastard daughter,” said Mara.
“Still counts.”
“In answer to your question,” said Mara before Jager could continue, “my travelling generates too much light. The urhaalgars would see us, and I expect the Gray
The creature was an urhaalgar. The urvaalgs had been war beasts, but the dark elves had used urhaalgars as spies and assassins and infiltrators. The creatures could move with perfect stealth, and when they put their minds to it, they were even harder to find than an urvaalg.
So why had this one shown itself?
Before Ridmark could consider any further, the urhaalgar threw itself forward with a screech.
A blast of white fire shot across the ground, filling the ruined tower with dazzling radiance. Calliande’s spell slammed into the urhaalgar and threw it against the wall with enough force to crack bone. The creature staggered, the right side of its body a mass of smoking char.
Ridmark took off its head with one sweep of his axe. The urhaalgar collapsed, black slime leaking from the stump of its neck.
“Brace yourselves,” said Ridmark. “There will be more coming. Urhaalgars never hunt alone.”
“No,” said Mara. “It wasn’t after us. Gray Knight, there’s someone else out there. A man, I think, a knight of Andomhaim.”
“A knight?” said Ridmark.
“He was wearing plate and chain and had on a surcoat, though I couldn’t see the sigil,” said Mara. “The urhaalgars were after him. I went to take a look closer, and one of the creatures pursued me.” She looked at the carcass. “I don’t think he realized that I had friends.”
What would a knight of Andomhaim be doing in the Torn Hills? If the man lived, Ridmark could question him at length.
If the knight died, likely the urhaalgars would come for them next.
“Gather your weapons,” said Ridmark. “I will not leave anyone to fall to the creatures of the dark elves. Mara, lead the way.”
She nodded and headed for the arch, and the others followed suit.
Ridmark’s headache worsened as he headed down the slope of the hill.
Chapter 5 - The Swordbearer
Morigna put away her bow and lifted her staff.
Arrows were useless against the creatures of the dark elves, and her staff could not harm them either. Yet the spells bound into the staff gave her the ability to command wood, and even the twisted trees of the Torn Hills were still made of wood. She could force the roots to erupt from the ground and entangle their foes, slowing them long enough for Ridmark and the others to land killing blows. Morigna looked at Calliande, the Magistria’s green cloak swaying from her shoulders.
What had she been discussing with Ridmark?
She pushed away the thought. She was not some child. Calliande had had her chance, and she had let it pass her by.
Given the power of the foes they faced, she could not afford the distraction.
A flapping sound came from overhead, and Morigna looked up, fearing that they were about to see an urdhracos. But a group of the misshapen ravens flew overhead, winging to the north.
“Can you bind any of them?” said Ridmark. She cast a spell and reached out with her thoughts, probing for the ravens’ minds.
“No,” she said, scowling. “Their thoughts are too twisted by the corruption of the Torn Hills. They are not natural animals, and I cannot command them.”
“Could not Lady Mara travel ahead and scout the foe?” said Gavin. He had changed a great deal from the hotheaded boy Morigna had met outside Moraime. The fighting had hardened him, made him quieter and steadier. It was growing harder to think of him as a boy.
Mara laughed. “I fear I am not a noblewoman, Gavin.”
“You’re the daughter of a dark elven prince,” said Jager. “Technically you are a princess.”
“Bastard daughter,” said Mara.
“Still counts.”
“In answer to your question,” said Mara before Jager could continue, “my travelling generates too much light. The urhaalgars would see us, and I expect the Gray
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