Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
The Paladin is well built—I estimate that he would stand at least a head and shoulders taller than a man of my own kind. Indeed, if he was standing next to me instead of lying on the ground, I doubt the top of my head would even reach his shoulder. He has the heavy muscles that can only be gained from swinging a sword day after day. A Solarian barbarian indeed—he looks like a formidable opponent.
There’s something else that’s special about him as well. I press the Jewel of Knowing which I wear at my temple and am surprised at what I learn. Sir Alaric has magic! It’s very rare in Solaris now, because their GodKing did his best to stamp out anyone who has Power in their veins. He has it himself, of course—it’s one reason he’s been able to rule for well over a century and still lives. But he doesn’t like the idea of anyone besting him.
I am intrigued. I wonder why and how this Paladin has been allowed to thrive when he so clearly has magic coursing through him. Has he been able to hide it all these years?
The Jewel of Knowing can only tell me so much. I’ll have to ask him or reach inside his thoughts and memories when he’s awake to learn more. But should I let him wake? All my ravens told me that he seeks to kill me and take something from my collection. The men of Solaris are not supposed to kill women, but of course he will justify it by saying I am a “wicked witch” or some such nonsense.
It might be wise to simply cut a longer length of dream thread—one that would last for say, twenty or thirty years—and let him sleep until he’s too old to bother me.
But I can’t help myself—I’m curious about the strangely beautiful barbarian lying on the ground at my feet. I want to know what he’s seeking but more importantly, I want to know how he was allowed to grow and thrive with his power still intact while living in a land that views any kind of magic as blasphemy.
I decide that I will meet him in the ruined temple after all. The dream thread I gave him has almost expired. Soon he will wake and put on his armor to come and find me.
Then I’ll get my answers and decide what to do with him.
4
Alaric
This battle isn’t going how I expected it to at all. I hate to admit it, even to myself, but I may have walked into a trap.
“Let’s see how strong your magic is, Warrior. Let’s see you escape my Shadows.”
The soft, purring voice seems to echo from all around me. I look for her—for the Sorceress Sylvanna, the NightBorn witch I have been sent to conquer…but I can’t see her anywhere.
The ruined and crumbling temple of the Old Gods, overgrown with vines that glow softly in the moonlight, has disappeared. All around me I see nothing but roiling black shadows tinged with poison green threads. Still, I stand my ground. I am the bearer of the Celestial Fire—I fear no one!
The glowing golden sigil at the center of my armor pulses, reinforcing my conviction. Where Purity and Righteousness raise their banners, Evil and Corruption cannot prevail.
This is what I have been taught all my life—from my earliest days at the Citadel of the GodKing and I believe it with my whole heart.
“I wield no magic, Witch,” I tell her, speaking into the shadows as I take a firmer grip on the hilt of my sword. The sharp nubs inside my gloves dig into my skin—the pain urging the Holy Fire within me to burn more brightly. “Come—show yourself that I may strike your wicked head from your body!” I call to her.
A soft, teasing laugh echoes in my ears—it seems to come from all directions at once.
“But you see, I’m quite attached to my head, noble Paladin. I do not care to lose it,” she murmurs. “However, since I am quite curious about you, I will show myself…but first a few precautions.”
Suddenly, two coils of shadow detach themselves from the roiling mass around me and curl themselves around my forearms.
I shrug my shoulders, meaning to twitch the shadows away. But they remain…and grow more firm. In short order, it feels as though two strong hands are holding me just where the shadows are.
Irritated, I change my grip on the hilt of my sword and twist one arm to be free of them…or try to. I find that my hand is pinned to my side—I can’t lift it.
Then, slowly but surely, the shadows binding my other arm began to twist it. I can feel myself losing my grip on the hilt of my sword…
Fuck! Desperately, I squeeze the hilt tighter, digging the sharp nubs inside my glove deeply into my palm, willing the Celestial Fire to rise within me. As the familiar pain shoots down my arm I feel the burning pressure start to build. In just a moment, it will explode out of me, scorching and incinerating everything in a two-meter-wide radius all around—including the wicked Sorceress, Sylvanna.