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Authors: Christian Warren Freed
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Amar’s research and study. “A useful tool if nothing else. Is the Stone prepared?”
Kodan floated backwards a few feet before coming to a halt. “As much as can be without the chosen ones to finish the work. It has been a very long time since I felt the raw power of so much mortal suffering. The Stone has an intoxicating effect.”
“As well it should. Thousands of souls have been bled into the Stone. The dark gods will be pleased with our efforts,” Amar replied. His ice-colored eyes never left Maleela. Despite his willingness to use her as a tool he felt the odd tug of emotion deep inside. Could she be more than what he proclaimed her to be? He toyed with the idea of propping her up to be the wicked empress of the north. The idea was not without appeal.
Kodan Bak watched his superior with renewed hatred. Matters hadn’t been the same since they came to Delranan. More and more his thoughts turned towards eliminating Amar and seizing power for his own selfish reasons. The dark gods would punish him endlessly if he displeased them. It was almost a risk he was willing to take. Almost. The time was not quite right for his rise to power.
“Ever you watch me with wicked intent, Kodan Bak,” Amar accused. “You and I will have a reckoning. Soon. Until then I want you to continue trying to break her. She is decidedly more pliant than when the Hags brought her but not enough to be usable.”
“As you command,” Kodan Bak confirmed and faded away, leaving Amar Kit’han alone in his torment.
SEVEN
Return
Pain. Electricity surged through their flesh. Molecules were deconstructed and rebuilt in the blink of an eye. Time and space collided in a myriad of nightmares and pleasures. Sensation turned to nothingness. They watched the world being born, live out its life, and burn away into vast darkness. That same darkness robbed all thought and light, permeating reality until nothing remained but the cold ashes of what might have been.
The teleportation from Trennaron to Delranan took less than a heartbeat. Rays of blinding light exploded on the dawn, illuminating the far horizon in rainbows of color. Men and beast collapsed within a ring of melted snow and ice. Their breaths came in ragged gasps. Steam burned off their flesh and clothes. More than a few vomited. One of the horses brayed in fright. It was all Boen could do in his weakened condition to snatch the reins and prevent it from running off. The others barely managed to regain their hands and knees.
White flames burned knee high in a ring surrounding the group. Slowly subsiding into the depths of the earth from whence they came, their absence allowed the brutality of winter in. Howling winds replaced the void the light created. Fresh snow slashed into them with unabated fury. Bahr managed to shield his face from the worst of it and looked around to ensure he had the correct number of bodies with him. Living bodies. The Dae’shan will pay if anyone died from this . He wasn’t disappointed. They’d all arrived safely back in Delranan. Most were moving, at least a little, only the wizard lay curled up in the fetal position whimpering his pain away.
“I was beginning to forget how damned cold the winter was,” Boen grumbled under his breath as he used the saddle to climb to his feet. He didn’t particularly mind the cold, or the heat, but he figured it would give the others an opportunity to forget about the lances of pain reverberating through their bones.
Bahr cleared his throat with a deep sound and spit the residue onto the frozen rocks. “Try living here. You’d get all the snow you ever wanted. Funny thing is as children we couldn’t wait for it to snow so we could go out and play in it.”
“Keep your snow. I prefer the heat of the south,” the Gaimosian argued and gave his horse a playful pat on the neck. “Looks like we all made it.”
Bahr nodded agreement. A little worse for wear, but we made it . “See to the others. I’m going to help
Kodan floated backwards a few feet before coming to a halt. “As much as can be without the chosen ones to finish the work. It has been a very long time since I felt the raw power of so much mortal suffering. The Stone has an intoxicating effect.”
“As well it should. Thousands of souls have been bled into the Stone. The dark gods will be pleased with our efforts,” Amar replied. His ice-colored eyes never left Maleela. Despite his willingness to use her as a tool he felt the odd tug of emotion deep inside. Could she be more than what he proclaimed her to be? He toyed with the idea of propping her up to be the wicked empress of the north. The idea was not without appeal.
Kodan Bak watched his superior with renewed hatred. Matters hadn’t been the same since they came to Delranan. More and more his thoughts turned towards eliminating Amar and seizing power for his own selfish reasons. The dark gods would punish him endlessly if he displeased them. It was almost a risk he was willing to take. Almost. The time was not quite right for his rise to power.
“Ever you watch me with wicked intent, Kodan Bak,” Amar accused. “You and I will have a reckoning. Soon. Until then I want you to continue trying to break her. She is decidedly more pliant than when the Hags brought her but not enough to be usable.”
“As you command,” Kodan Bak confirmed and faded away, leaving Amar Kit’han alone in his torment.
SEVEN
Return
Pain. Electricity surged through their flesh. Molecules were deconstructed and rebuilt in the blink of an eye. Time and space collided in a myriad of nightmares and pleasures. Sensation turned to nothingness. They watched the world being born, live out its life, and burn away into vast darkness. That same darkness robbed all thought and light, permeating reality until nothing remained but the cold ashes of what might have been.
The teleportation from Trennaron to Delranan took less than a heartbeat. Rays of blinding light exploded on the dawn, illuminating the far horizon in rainbows of color. Men and beast collapsed within a ring of melted snow and ice. Their breaths came in ragged gasps. Steam burned off their flesh and clothes. More than a few vomited. One of the horses brayed in fright. It was all Boen could do in his weakened condition to snatch the reins and prevent it from running off. The others barely managed to regain their hands and knees.
White flames burned knee high in a ring surrounding the group. Slowly subsiding into the depths of the earth from whence they came, their absence allowed the brutality of winter in. Howling winds replaced the void the light created. Fresh snow slashed into them with unabated fury. Bahr managed to shield his face from the worst of it and looked around to ensure he had the correct number of bodies with him. Living bodies. The Dae’shan will pay if anyone died from this . He wasn’t disappointed. They’d all arrived safely back in Delranan. Most were moving, at least a little, only the wizard lay curled up in the fetal position whimpering his pain away.
“I was beginning to forget how damned cold the winter was,” Boen grumbled under his breath as he used the saddle to climb to his feet. He didn’t particularly mind the cold, or the heat, but he figured it would give the others an opportunity to forget about the lances of pain reverberating through their bones.
Bahr cleared his throat with a deep sound and spit the residue onto the frozen rocks. “Try living here. You’d get all the snow you ever wanted. Funny thing is as children we couldn’t wait for it to snow so we could go out and play in it.”
“Keep your snow. I prefer the heat of the south,” the Gaimosian argued and gave his horse a playful pat on the neck. “Looks like we all made it.”
Bahr nodded agreement. A little worse for wear, but we made it . “See to the others. I’m going to help
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