Read Online Theft of Dragons (Princes of Naverstrom) by John Forrester - Free Book Online
Authors: John Forrester
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the stars poking through the clouds. "Why do you think I would make an offer of recommendation to Lord Balgron of the Order? I know you can handle a sword."
Tael joined the Bishop in gazing at the milky stars shining brightly at the zenith. Would it be traitorous to his father to join the Order of the Calathian Knights? Father hated the Church and all the terrible things that it did in secret: assassination, bribery, coercion, shadowy alliances...likely with the Hakkadians. Didn't Father say the deal between the King and the Hakkadians was negotiated by the Patriarch himself? The Church wanted an opposing force against the Arcanum and it largely worked. The wizards kept to themselves over the last ten years or so, refusing to speak out against the introduction of the Hakkadians into the King's inner circle. Although his grandfather had heard rumors that the wizards condemned the theft of the dragons as a sacrilege to the gods.
Likely the wizards would fight if they thought they had a chance of winning against the Hakkadians. Tael thought back to the night when Master Loral struggled against the two Hakkadian sorcerers. And only two of them, easily beating the Champion of the Arcanum. Where did they get their power from? The dark...the foul darkness of Naverstrom? He heard the soft rhythmic lapping of the water against the ship's hull and found his eyes heavy and tired. Soon a deep wave of remembrance washed over him. Of better days, when his father had taught him the water dance style of the blade.
"Hold the sword tip down," his father said. The noonday light illuminated the harsh wrinkles of concentration around his eyes. "Lure in your enemies with the illusion of your unreadiness."
Tael relaxed his shoulders and sword arm as his father had taught him, and the wooden practice blade wiggled in response. Father's ash blade struck from the side and Tael parried and leaned in as he grappled his father's wrist, knocking his sword to the ground. Always try to disarm your opponent.
"Very nicely played. You've been learning well from Master Drumman. Someday you'll be besting me at every bout." Father's eyes beamed in pride as he bent down and picked up the practice sword. "I was always a better historian than a fighter. Why don't we rest and enjoy the lunch your mother has prepared for us?"
Tael unwrapped the lunch box and sat under the shade of the black oak tree that overlooked their estate and the blue vastness of the Ferelian Sea. He remembered the incredible feeling of elation he had felt running the two miles from here down to the black sand beach. His father sighed and puffed on his now smoking pipe.
"Did I ever tell you the story of the time the Hakkadians first came to Valance?"
A soft breeze blew up from the west, smelling of ripe wheat from the fields. Tael shook his head and took a bite of the honey-glazed chicken from his lunch box.
"The Hakkadians are a secret order of sorcerers that practice their vile dark magic in the far north, beyond the land of the dwarves. They live in caves in the high mountains, at the mouth of deep tunnels that bore into crystal caverns imbued with the power of the stars. Farther inside those caves the Hakkadians discovered the entrance to the Lair of Naverstrom, a dungeon deep in the heart of the mountain. A dungeon filled with undead creatures, ancient dark relics, runes and wands of power, and banished immortals, imprisoned by spells cast from the First Men.
"The Hakkadians historically were nomads, wandering the lands of the north, half-gnome and part-human, and part-dwarf. My history master at the Arcanum told me the Hakkadians discovered these caves over two hundred years ago and settled there after discovering the dark secrets deep in the bowels of the earth. And the world has suffered ever since."
"You mean what King Braxion did to the dragons?" Tael hated stories of the evil done against the Dragon Kingdom.
"Not only that. The Hakkadians allied with the Elves and helped
Tael joined the Bishop in gazing at the milky stars shining brightly at the zenith. Would it be traitorous to his father to join the Order of the Calathian Knights? Father hated the Church and all the terrible things that it did in secret: assassination, bribery, coercion, shadowy alliances...likely with the Hakkadians. Didn't Father say the deal between the King and the Hakkadians was negotiated by the Patriarch himself? The Church wanted an opposing force against the Arcanum and it largely worked. The wizards kept to themselves over the last ten years or so, refusing to speak out against the introduction of the Hakkadians into the King's inner circle. Although his grandfather had heard rumors that the wizards condemned the theft of the dragons as a sacrilege to the gods.
Likely the wizards would fight if they thought they had a chance of winning against the Hakkadians. Tael thought back to the night when Master Loral struggled against the two Hakkadian sorcerers. And only two of them, easily beating the Champion of the Arcanum. Where did they get their power from? The dark...the foul darkness of Naverstrom? He heard the soft rhythmic lapping of the water against the ship's hull and found his eyes heavy and tired. Soon a deep wave of remembrance washed over him. Of better days, when his father had taught him the water dance style of the blade.
"Hold the sword tip down," his father said. The noonday light illuminated the harsh wrinkles of concentration around his eyes. "Lure in your enemies with the illusion of your unreadiness."
Tael relaxed his shoulders and sword arm as his father had taught him, and the wooden practice blade wiggled in response. Father's ash blade struck from the side and Tael parried and leaned in as he grappled his father's wrist, knocking his sword to the ground. Always try to disarm your opponent.
"Very nicely played. You've been learning well from Master Drumman. Someday you'll be besting me at every bout." Father's eyes beamed in pride as he bent down and picked up the practice sword. "I was always a better historian than a fighter. Why don't we rest and enjoy the lunch your mother has prepared for us?"
Tael unwrapped the lunch box and sat under the shade of the black oak tree that overlooked their estate and the blue vastness of the Ferelian Sea. He remembered the incredible feeling of elation he had felt running the two miles from here down to the black sand beach. His father sighed and puffed on his now smoking pipe.
"Did I ever tell you the story of the time the Hakkadians first came to Valance?"
A soft breeze blew up from the west, smelling of ripe wheat from the fields. Tael shook his head and took a bite of the honey-glazed chicken from his lunch box.
"The Hakkadians are a secret order of sorcerers that practice their vile dark magic in the far north, beyond the land of the dwarves. They live in caves in the high mountains, at the mouth of deep tunnels that bore into crystal caverns imbued with the power of the stars. Farther inside those caves the Hakkadians discovered the entrance to the Lair of Naverstrom, a dungeon deep in the heart of the mountain. A dungeon filled with undead creatures, ancient dark relics, runes and wands of power, and banished immortals, imprisoned by spells cast from the First Men.
"The Hakkadians historically were nomads, wandering the lands of the north, half-gnome and part-human, and part-dwarf. My history master at the Arcanum told me the Hakkadians discovered these caves over two hundred years ago and settled there after discovering the dark secrets deep in the bowels of the earth. And the world has suffered ever since."
"You mean what King Braxion did to the dragons?" Tael hated stories of the evil done against the Dragon Kingdom.
"Not only that. The Hakkadians allied with the Elves and helped
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