Birthright: Greatheart by Dixie Lee McKeone

Author:Dixie Lee McKeone [McKeone, Dixie Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7869-0480-8
Publisher: Fanversion Publishing
Published: 2021-05-08T16:00:00+00:00

Twelve

”Well?”

Klasmonde Volkir had silently entered the chamber, but Ulcher had been aware of the lich when he reached the open doorway. The flaming torches in their wall sconces and the huge candelabrum on the long table had dimmed until the large book Ulcher had been reading was nearly lost in the darkness. He could barely see the flames that usually provided illumination in the chamber; their light was being eaten by the Crown of Darkness, worn by the new lich-lord of Castle Gough.

”Well?” Ulcher snapped back. ”How do you expect me to search when I can’t see?” He turned to glare at the blackness through which he could barely discern the face of his new master.

Ulcher’s attitude was a departure for him. He would never have spoken to Mmaadag Cemfrid in that tone, but the old lich-lord held the true power, and Klasmonde did not. Klasmonde’s time on the throne of Castle Gough would be limited, and Ulcher needed to give serious consideration to his own security. Klasmonde was strong, and Ulcher dared not try to escape, but if he wanted a continued existence, he should leave Castle Gough before its present ruler fell to a stronger lord.

Ulcher knew his timing had to be perfect if he were to save his life. Defecting even a day too early could cause Klasmonde to kill him. A day late, and the new ruler would take his life. His plans were not firm, and he put them aside, not sure how much power the Crown gave Klasmonde, or whether the new lich-lord could read his mind. Instead, he concentrated on Klasmonde’s impatience and its reason.

”I still have six tomes to search,” he said in a more reasonable tone of voice. It would not be wise to try Klasmonde’s anger too far.

”The ones stolen from the castle of the Black Prince?” Klasmonde demanded.

”The same. He can travel into Cerilia and has been able to stay there for extended periods of time.” If the Black Prince had not lived in Cerilia—it was said he was known by the name Gorgon when he was on that plane—Castle Gough would probably be a heap of broken stone in retaliation for the raid on the Black Prince’s domain. ”If the answer exists, it must be here.”

”What do you mean, if it exists?” Klasmonde’s voice went up an octave. He tried to make himself sound enraged, but Ulcher heard the fear behind it. Without Deathirst, the blade of Azrai, Klasmonde was a figurehead, helpless against the attacks of Gough’s enemies.

Deathirst was in an elven grove in Cerilia, left behind when the portal had closed.

”Creating portals and passing through them at will may not be a feat of magic, but a result of power,” Ulcher said. ”I warned Mmaadag of it many times.”

”It’s not power!” Klasmonde shouted. ”It’s in here!” With two long strides he approached the table and opened the book. He peered down at it, but the Crown of Darkness prevented him from being able to see the words.

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