Chosen by Harrison Jolea M

Author:Harrison, Jolea M. [Harrison, Jolea M.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy, paranormal, Science Fantasy
Published: 2011-06-28T04:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 16

“Fadril, you bitch!”

Dynan peered over the lip of rock he’d just slid down, clawing his way back to look. He didn’t understand why Adiem was calling her Fadril, but as he watched he realized and understood who she was. She wasn’t his mother, except at the same time, she was. The very first. The desire to stay with her didn’t leave him. Fear kept him from rising to her defense. Adiem towered over her, but she didn’t flinch.

“I see you haven’t lost even a little of your charm, Adiem,” the First Queen of Cobalt said, and nodded her head toward Dynan. “You can’t have him. He is one of my sons, Adiem. You can’t have him either.”

There was an intrinsic sense of safety in her presence. Dynan believed it. The thought of her standing against the First alone, cut him to the soul. He pushed himself off the rock, fighting down the huge desire to run, and moved to her side. He tried keeping his breath even, but he felt himself shaking.

“You see?” she said even as she gestured to stop him from getting any closer.

“Yes, another of your sniveling, weak, little brats. You should have heard him screaming for mercy.”

“And yet, here he stands against you despite your best efforts, untaken and unbroken. He’ll never turn to you. He’ll defy you the whole of his life. What will your master say, Adiem, when he learns of your failure to bring his prize.”

Adiem’s face blazed with rage, and he took a single menacing step forward. Dynan was seized by another wave of terror. He started to think she was completely crazy, standing there and facing madness.

“Yes,” Fadril said. “Do come closer, please. I’ll send you back to your makers, and the Gods will extinguish your miserable existence, once and for all. Once and for all, Adiem, so please, cross the line.”

Adiem stopped short and to Dynan’s amazement drew back by several steps. The next instant he wasn’t a man but mutating into an impenetrable cloak of darkness that melted into a wraith. It’s neck arched, and it roared at them.

Fadril didn’t move except to extend her arm, and by extension the sword in it to the fullest, keeping the point in line with the beast’s head as it rose above her. Her courage gave Dynan a measure of his own, but the stench of the wraith forced him back a step. The beast roared again, opening its mouth to bare its fangs, as sharp as the sword she held, and glinting dully in the light.

Dynan didn’t know what line she meant. The only thing he noticed was the coloring of the rock they stood on was different than it had been. It was normal, slate gray, instead of ruddy, dark red. He feared the wraith might come ahead and accept the dare.

It stood not at the utmost edge of that line, but back several kem while Fadril was at its edge. The legs of the wraith bunched, muscles tightening, preparing to spring.

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