Blood Mage by K.S. Villoso

Author:K.S. Villoso [Villoso, K. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Snowy Wings Publishing

I woke up to a trembling that felt like the building was being uprooted from the ground up. For a moment, I wondered if I was being dragged out of my own body once more and forced into yet another. The fear seemed to carve deeper hollows inside my bones. I opened my eyes and immediately saw a crack appear on the stone compound of the ceiling above.

The shaking stopped. The crack remained. It stared back at me like a crooked smile, as if it was a stranger with a secret.

The door burst open. “The Dageians are attacking,” Nasuha said. “Get up!”

I rolled to my side. “How long was I sleeping?” I asked.

“For most of the morning and afternoon,” she said. “The Dageians surrounded us five minutes ago.”

“The Dageians,” I repeated. “Guards?”

“Yes. They came by a few hours ago and decided that the elders’ continued presence in the building was an act of rebellion. Said they should have vacated months ago.”

“But my mother was assisting them in filing a counterproposal,” I said, gathering my thoughts. “They didn’t sign the receipt of the eviction notice. Legally, if they’ve never seen it, they can’t be held accountable. The officials should have checked first.”

“A reasonable assumption if fair ever worked in our favour,” Nasuha said. “But it doesn’t. It never did. I need you out there.”

“Why me?”

“They want to talk to someone, and you’re a count’s daughter. Your word has weight.”

“Where are my parents?”

“I believe they went back home. You’re the closest we’ve got.”

“I’m an outlaw mage hiding under a fake title. My words don’t have weight—they’re cursed.”

“It’s more than anyone here has. We’ve sent word to Tar’elian, but until he gets here, you’re all we have. Please, Rosha.” Nasuha held out her hand. “Please,” she repeated. I could tell she hated having to beg.

I took her hand and carefully got to my feet. I felt much better than I did the night before, almost as if my body was now starting to remember what it was supposed to do. Only a yawning headache remained from my recent ordeal, and that I could push aside if I was busy. “These elders…are really important to you, aren’t they?” I asked.

“What a question,” Nasuha said under her breath. “They should be to you, too. These elders have no one else. Once they’re thrown out on the streets, where would they go? You’ve seen them. Even if they could make the journey back to Gorent, most of them no longer have families to return to. Remember this: every opportunity they get to hurt one of yours hurts you, too. You know they only get worse with every win. They only get worse. We’re not supposed to give them quarter.”

“The Lost Ones’ philosophy?”

“If we can ever get this thing off the ground…” She swallowed. “Your father thinks we mean to turn the empire upside-down. As if we have the resources for that! We just want a bit of dignity. A bit of dignity, in exchange for all the lands they’ve ransacked, the slaves they’ve captured, the children they’ve killed.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.