Crown of Sorrows (Song of Echoes Book 4) by R.E. Palmer

Author:R.E. Palmer [Palmer, R.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FrontRunner Publications
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

23. OF SOUTHERN SPIRES

Nyomae’s plan had worked. Kirol’s older companions had reacted as if the very hosts of the old gods had risen. Nyomae had sustained the image of the Immortals of Elmarand marching north, just long enough for her captors to realize the futility of fighting, then turn tail and flee. Kirol had briefly caught her eye as they ran. She noted his wonder as he saw the might of the army that had once served his realm. Nyomae had untied her horse and headed south. Despite the heat, Orlo had maintained a brisk pace and put a good distance between them. And if Nyomae was concerned she would use up her valuable strength to deceive the hunters, a breeze had picked up and blown the sand to erase their tracks. She smiled to herself — perhaps the gods had taken her side for once.

She slowed Orlo as they approached another bridge spanning a dry canal. Nyomae knew they had to shelter from the unforgiving sun, but her encounter with the hunters had made her determined to reach Elmarand all the sooner. The situation in the south was worse than she could have imagined. But the main threat still came from the Ul-dalak in the north. If the Five Realms failed, the fall of the south would be inevitable.

Nyomae reluctantly led Orlo into the shade. She had taken only one of the hunters’ flasks as she did not wish to condemn them to a slow death in the desert. But she would have to find more water the next day. She sat, dearly wishing to enter the Song and locate Toryn and Elodi, but she could not afford to deplete her strength passing through the many Verses to reach them. She closed her eyes and lay back. Elmarand was perhaps a day and a half away. In that time, she would have to decide whether to enter the city by stealth, or confront the guards and demand an audience with the city’s leader. Both approaches were fraught with difficulties. To conceal her presence would take more of her strength, strength she needed to enter Idraman’s fading mind. But she would also be taking a risk to make herself known to whoever held the city. Nyomae knew nothing of the current state of Elmarand beyond what Kirol had told her — and that was not encouraging. If she presented herself at the gate, she would put herself at the mercy of the leader. Did they hold the same beliefs as the hunters? She could not overwhelm a whole city if they chose to sacrifice her to appease the gods. Kirol had spoken of Elmarand building a great army. Did they have plans to invade the north? Or were their eyes on the fertile lands of the south? The fall of the north appeared to have divided the age-old allies of Talamaris and Armanoor. But surely neither could win, and the conflict would lead only to the demise of the once great and powerful realms.

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