Bladeborn by Clayton Schonberger

Author:Clayton Schonberger [Schonberger, Clayton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-28T22:00:00+00:00

Bladeborn’s new routine was to train by day and spend each evening with the Queen.

At dinner one evening Deocarla informed him: “The rites and rituals underlying the magic spell that cloaks the Valleys and the tunnels below have been forgotten, owed to the untimely death of the last Court Wizard who held the power over such things.”

Bladeborn, had tried to understand the illusion which hid the Valleys from the Rhinolon. He asked Deocarla several more questions about it. Nightslayer filled in some of the details.

~~Such spells fade over time if not renewed. Action will soon be needed, or the Six Valleys will fall to the Rhinolon~~

“Quiet, Nightslayer,” Bladeborn thought to the Sword, “I am conversing with the Queen.”

Deocarla went on, “This magic was passed down by other magicians many years earlier. My brother, King Rosen of the Sixth Valley, is one of the few that remembers the Court Wizard who was the last of the line with knowledge of the spell.”

“But the spell still holds?” Bladeborn asked.

“Yes,” Deocarla responded. “It also covers many passes between the Valleys. Despite the death of the last great Court Wizard, the spell still exists and yet protects the Six Valleys from the Rhinolon Shaman that would use magic to locate us.”

Bladeborn wondered, “So, how is it that people of the Realms are captured by the Rhinolon, then?”

Deocarla responded, “Sometimes war bands of Rhinolon find their way into our land and catch us unaware. It happened a few years ago to the Royal Family of the Third Realm. One of my distant relatives with his wife and all their attendants were captured and carted off to Onager, the Northern Rhinolon capital.”

“How could that have happened” Bladeborn exclaimed.

“No one knows for sure.” Deocarla said sadly. “But a lone messenger came back from the Rhinolon city, demanding fifty thousand gold coin in ransom. Nearly everyone in the Six Realms contributed to pay it.”

“Did the Royal family of the Third Realm come home?”

Bladeborn asked.

The Queen paused for a bit as if lost in thought. She looked down, and said nothing.

“The Rhinolon didn’t keep their bargain, did they,” Bladeborn said.

“One more man came back…” Queen Deocarla said, wiping away a tear. “He returned… carrying the severed head of the Third Realm’s King… and demanding another fifty thousand gold.”

Bladeborn tightened his jaw in frustration and leaned over to put his hand on the Queen’s.

“I am sorry,” Bladeborn said. “I didn’t mean to upset you…”

Deocarla, trying to keep her composure, said “If there is any way to stop such madness, I will authorize… No, demand…that it be done. A mere child rules the Third Realm now, one who has no memory of his parents, the King and Queen… who were my beloved cousins.”

The Queen suddenly arose from the table at which they had dined, and Bladeborn moved to try to comfort her.

“You have suffered so much,” Bladeborn said sympathetically.

The Queen wiped away a tear and waved him away, saying, “I must go for the night.”

“Tell me we’ll have dinner tomorrow,” Bladeborn asked.

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