Read Online The Merchant and the Menace by Daniel F McHugh - Free Book Online
Authors: Daniel F McHugh
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out over the palace grounds.
“That is the biggest bed I’ve ever seen,” said the
wide-eyed boy. “It’s bigger than the room I share with my brother back home.”
The idea of Aemmon in the woods with a creature
roaming around leapt into the boy’s mind. His excitement dissipated and he
moved toward the windows, staring out as darkness settled on the Nagur Wood.
Teeg noticed the change in temperament.
“Kael, your brother will be fine. The attack on
Giar and Steff was two days travel from the Nagur path.“
Kael chewed on his lower lip and turned back to the
Elf.
“Master Teeg,” said the boy. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Kael. Just as Lord Ader said. Don’t
worry. We will acquire your goods in the morning. You may pack up and get back
to Kelky by the end of the day tomorrow.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed at the old Elf and he scowled.
“Well, at least tell me why you keep calling
Jasper, ‘Lord Ader.’”
Teeg paused and stroked his chin in thought.
Finally, he smiled and looked into Kael’s eyes.
“Kael, do you know the name ‘Ader’?” asked Teeg.
“It is a common name in some of the lands,” replied
Kael. “Some people give the name to a child for good luck or in reverence to
the Seraph Ader.”
“And who or what is the Seraph Ader?” questioned
Teeg.
“Well the myth is that the Almighty Avra created
the Seraphim or Guides to watch over his people in times of trouble. They
support Avra and perform his bidding.”
“Good,” responded Teeg. “Brelg and Yanwin taught
their sons well. However, what puzzles me is the use of the word ‘myth’.”
“My mother and father trained us in all the stories
of lore that they knew,” said Kael. “We were even taught to read using bits of
the Delvin scriptures. But those were just stories, Master Teeg. Fables from
the past.”
Teeg turned and walked to the door. The old Elf
smiled over his shoulder.
“Kael,” said Teeg. “Every fable is based upon some
amount of truth. The trouble is discerning where the truth ends and the fiction
begins. You may discover more truth in those old fables then you ever thought
existed.
“Make yourself comfortable. Food and drink will be
provided to you. Then I suggest that you get a good night’s rest.”
Teeg left Kael in the royal guest chamber of the
castle of Luxlor. The boy returned to the window and watched as light after
green light appeared in windows and doorways throughout the palace grounds. The
Elves’ lights burned strong and bright, banishing the darkness and calming Kael’s
fears.
Flaming red eyes glared in the darkness.
“You failed me”, hissed the hooded figure on the
dais.
“No ... absolutely not my lord,...I ... it will
take more time,” stammered the colonel. His vision swept to the corner of the
cold, stone chamber where the body of his superior smoldered.
“My servants do not fail me,” snapped the dark
figure as he raised a hand toward the body in the corner. “Your general failed.....
Do not join his fate.”
Izgra the warlock slowly turned and motioned to a
dark area behind the platform. A curtain rustled aside. Something even darker
slid from beyond. The colonel gasped as the inky blackness coalesced into a
nightmare and slowly bore down on him through the shifting shadows created by
torchlight. His back met the rough wall of the chamber.
“Please! Do not let it harm me, Lord Izgra!” cried
the colonel. “I am useful and will continue to be so!”
Izgra silently turned away and slipped from sight
behind the heavy, black curtain.
The creature prowled closer. Six yards long with a
jet black, scaly hide. Its bulk was tremendous. Chest and shoulders larger than
any warhorse the colonel ever laid eyes upon. Closer. The colonel slid down the
wall, raising his arms to shield himself. The beast’s huge forepaws were tipped
in razor sharp claws, longer than the dagger sheathed at the colonel’s side.
Upon its back two gigantic, leathery wings lay
“That is the biggest bed I’ve ever seen,” said the
wide-eyed boy. “It’s bigger than the room I share with my brother back home.”
The idea of Aemmon in the woods with a creature
roaming around leapt into the boy’s mind. His excitement dissipated and he
moved toward the windows, staring out as darkness settled on the Nagur Wood.
Teeg noticed the change in temperament.
“Kael, your brother will be fine. The attack on
Giar and Steff was two days travel from the Nagur path.“
Kael chewed on his lower lip and turned back to the
Elf.
“Master Teeg,” said the boy. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Kael. Just as Lord Ader said. Don’t
worry. We will acquire your goods in the morning. You may pack up and get back
to Kelky by the end of the day tomorrow.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed at the old Elf and he scowled.
“Well, at least tell me why you keep calling
Jasper, ‘Lord Ader.’”
Teeg paused and stroked his chin in thought.
Finally, he smiled and looked into Kael’s eyes.
“Kael, do you know the name ‘Ader’?” asked Teeg.
“It is a common name in some of the lands,” replied
Kael. “Some people give the name to a child for good luck or in reverence to
the Seraph Ader.”
“And who or what is the Seraph Ader?” questioned
Teeg.
“Well the myth is that the Almighty Avra created
the Seraphim or Guides to watch over his people in times of trouble. They
support Avra and perform his bidding.”
“Good,” responded Teeg. “Brelg and Yanwin taught
their sons well. However, what puzzles me is the use of the word ‘myth’.”
“My mother and father trained us in all the stories
of lore that they knew,” said Kael. “We were even taught to read using bits of
the Delvin scriptures. But those were just stories, Master Teeg. Fables from
the past.”
Teeg turned and walked to the door. The old Elf
smiled over his shoulder.
“Kael,” said Teeg. “Every fable is based upon some
amount of truth. The trouble is discerning where the truth ends and the fiction
begins. You may discover more truth in those old fables then you ever thought
existed.
“Make yourself comfortable. Food and drink will be
provided to you. Then I suggest that you get a good night’s rest.”
Teeg left Kael in the royal guest chamber of the
castle of Luxlor. The boy returned to the window and watched as light after
green light appeared in windows and doorways throughout the palace grounds. The
Elves’ lights burned strong and bright, banishing the darkness and calming Kael’s
fears.
Flaming red eyes glared in the darkness.
“You failed me”, hissed the hooded figure on the
dais.
“No ... absolutely not my lord,...I ... it will
take more time,” stammered the colonel. His vision swept to the corner of the
cold, stone chamber where the body of his superior smoldered.
“My servants do not fail me,” snapped the dark
figure as he raised a hand toward the body in the corner. “Your general failed.....
Do not join his fate.”
Izgra the warlock slowly turned and motioned to a
dark area behind the platform. A curtain rustled aside. Something even darker
slid from beyond. The colonel gasped as the inky blackness coalesced into a
nightmare and slowly bore down on him through the shifting shadows created by
torchlight. His back met the rough wall of the chamber.
“Please! Do not let it harm me, Lord Izgra!” cried
the colonel. “I am useful and will continue to be so!”
Izgra silently turned away and slipped from sight
behind the heavy, black curtain.
The creature prowled closer. Six yards long with a
jet black, scaly hide. Its bulk was tremendous. Chest and shoulders larger than
any warhorse the colonel ever laid eyes upon. Closer. The colonel slid down the
wall, raising his arms to shield himself. The beast’s huge forepaws were tipped
in razor sharp claws, longer than the dagger sheathed at the colonel’s side.
Upon its back two gigantic, leathery wings lay
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