Read Online The Golden Shield of IBF by Jerry Ahern, Sharon Ahern - Free Book Online Page B

a different color other than brown?”
    “Brown’s fine,” Alan Garrison reassured her. He decided that he could try to help Swan with this champion thing that she wanted him to do, for a day or so at least, until her magic was strong enough to send him back. Or he could think of an excuse to stay for a while longer...

    It was nearly full darkness. The light from the twin moons would not penetrate the low, dense overcast this night. But the whiteness of the fresh snow helped to diffuse the light from the magical globe which the Enchantress had given to him. Erg’Ran could see quite well enough to keep to the trail. In daylight, the globe seemed like an ordinary ball of heavy glass, but as night fell, it began to glow, stronger the darker the night became.
    Erg’Ran slowed his dark brown mare’s pace along the once well-used road leading toward the Castle of the Virgin Enchantress, reined back so that Gar’Ath’s mount would come abreast of him.
    Erg’Ran had to see the devastation for himself. He had to know for certain that the Mist of Oblivion had totally consumed the massive structure where Swan had lived alone for so long, in willing exile from her mother’s residence at Barad’Il’Koth.
    As he drew guidance from the globe’s light, so did Erg’Ran draw faith from it, faith that somehow the Virgin Enchantress still lived. If she did not, how could her magic still power the globe which lit their way?
    Gar’Ath drew up beside him. “Is there something wrong, old friend?” Gar’Ath tossed back the hood of his cloak, his dark hair falling free of the hood and across his shoulders. In the globe’s light through the more heavily falling snow, Erg’Ran could see the younger man’s face quite clearly. The smile seemed forced, but genuine; considering the circumstances this night, it was the only sort of smile that could be possible.
    “We are near to leaving the wood, and from the boundary we should be able to confirm whether or not the Mist of Oblivion accomplished the Queen Sorceress’s foul work. If I know the workings of her evil heart, there will be a scouting party of the Horde—at the very least—lying in wait lest we should hear of the castle’s destruction and go in search of the Virgin Enchantress.”
    “Then we fall right into their plan, old friend. Yet, there’s no choice, I think. I am with you that we must know the Virgin Enchantress’s fate. And, if the castle is, indeed, vanished from the universe, she may still live.”
    “We cannot give up hope, Gar’Ath.”
    “My soul and my sword are with you, as always, old friend, however we end.”
    “I know that, lad. I rely on them both.”
    “Should I scout ahead, do you think then, Erg’Ran? One man will be less noticed than seven, I’d wager. If I come up from the far side of the plateau and stay near the rock walls, I’ll have a better chance of seeing any of the Horde before they should see me. They are predictable, these bastard foemen we fight. They will expect us to come from the wood.”
    “Take no chances, if you do go ahead, Gar’Ath. Your plan seems a good one. But we cannot afford to lose you, tonight or ever if we are to take the fight to Barad’Il’Koth.” And Erg’Ran touched his clenched fist to his forehead, invoking the courage of Mir at the thought of the evil stronghold of the Queen Sorceress.
    “If I ride around to the far side, you and the others should be only a short while behind me when I get there.”
    “We will be there, lad.”
    “I’ll be waiting then!” Gar’Ath’s eyes were younger, stronger. He would not need the globe’s light to guide him through the wood.
    Gar’Ath’s mount veered off the path and into the darkness.
    Erg’Ran called after him hoarsely, “Not through the wood, lad! Not at night!”
    But, Gar’Ath was gone, either out of earshot or choosing to ignore the warning. Since the Horde of Koth swept through the wood, all living things that remained were creatures of