An Empire in Runes (The Runes of Issalia Book 3) by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

Author:Jeffrey L. Kohanek [Kohanek, Jeffrey L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2017-05-03T03:00:00+00:00

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Pherran Nindlerod held up a hand. “That’s far enough, boys.”

He stepped closer and rested his hand on the machine, caressing the wooden frame before turning toward the lower plains. A line of Tantarri warriors stretched along the cliff edge, raining arrows upon the dark host below.

“You are dismissed. That is, except for you, Mister Graeburn.” Nindlerod said, looking at Ulric, who towered over Nindlerod’s short frame. “Go crank the launch arm for me. Stop when it’s about three-quarters back.”

Ulric gave a nod and turned toward the catapult as instructed. While the boy cranked the siege engine arm into place, Nindlerod squeezed the basket to his chest and scampered toward the line of Tantarri archers. As he ran, Pherran glanced sideways and spotted young Talenz and his huge black dog run toward the battlefield. The man stopped in shock and gaped at the boy’s speed, moving as fast as any horse. Even though Hedgewick had described the amazing things Chaos could do, seeing it in action was another thing altogether. It had been shocking to witness Brock’s people create bright light from simple stones, but this was far more amazing. As he watched the boy and dog disappear into the night, he wondered what else this new magic might accomplish, what he might be able to achieve when combining it with science.

With a shake of his head, Nindlerod refocused on the task at hand. Stepping between two Tantarri and up to the cliff edge, he gazed down toward the lower plains. Bright lights illuminated the area below south cliff, while similar lights lit the fields at the foot of the northern cliff. Both areas and the dark space between them teemed with an imposing mob of monsters.

Nindlerod spun about to return to the catapult, still hugging his basket of precious cargo. Careful, Pherran. Tripping right now would prove quite fatal, he thought to himself.

Slowing as he approached Ulric, who waited patiently beside the catapult, Nindlerod carefully pulled a canister from his basket. He held it up for closer examination. The polished brass of the ignitor cap reflected a reddish hue in the light emitted from the plains below, while the metallic flakes of flash powder sparkled within the narrow glass jar. He held the canister out toward Ulric.

“Please place this in the launch basket, Mister Graeburn.” Nindlerod handed the canister to the tall boy. “Do be careful. If you drop it, you’ll blow us up.”

The whites of Ulric’s eyes became apparent. “What?”

Nindlerod gave a reassuring smile. “It’s only a problem if you drop it.”

The tall boy nodded and swallowed hard. He shuffled over to the catapult, placing the canister in the launch basket before hastily backing away from the machine.

Nindlerod gave the boy a nod and gripped the launch trigger. A grin of anticipation spread across his face as he released the trigger and the launch arm shot forward. The Engineering Master hurried over to the cliff edge, eagerly waiting to see the result of his action.

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