Darkblade Seeker_An Epic Fantasy Adventure by Andy Peloquin

Author:Andy Peloquin [Peloquin, Andy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Four

An elegant fragrance—citrus, verbena, and oak—drifted toward him. A heartbeat later, the reek of rot and decay assaulted his nostrils, setting his stomach churning.

Speak of demons and they appear.

The Hunter turned, his eyes traveling to the top of the wall. The Sage leaned on the parapet, eyes fixed on the Hunter and Master Eldor.

Master Eldor followed his gaze and swept a deep bow to the Abiarazi. "He'll want to talk to you, lad," he said from his prone position. "Be wary what you tell him." When he straightened, his face had grown inscrutable, the sorrow fading from his eyes.

The Hunter steeled his expression and, with a respectful nod for the Sage, strode toward the gate. The Elivasti at the entrance let him out without question. He turned his steps to a nearby set of stairs, climbed, and came to stand beside the demon.

"Sage."

"Hunter." The Sage raised an eyebrow. "Anything to report?"

The Hunter shook his head. "Whispers and shared glances, but nothing concrete." He leaned on the parapet. "It'll take more than a day to gain their trust."

"You and Master Eldor seem to have bonded."

The Hunter groaned. "You came right after the tongue-lashing he gave me. I missed a particularly important thrust in training."

"Ahh." The Sage nodded. "I have heard of Eldor's…draconian regimen. A necessary evil, given that his Elivasti face off against the Warmaster."

"Why is that?" The Hunter turned to regard the Abiarazi. "From what I hear, the Warmaster isn't particularly concerned about teaching."

The Sage grimaced. "You've no idea how many Elivasti I've lost to that brute. All part of the training, he says, but it's odd how many of the ones who sustain the worst injuries are the ones I can trust."

"Seems a waste, one you'd be better off avoiding."

"If only," the Sage said, sighing. "Remember that they serve all Abiarazi. They must obey his commands. Which means if he insists that he test their mettle, they have no choice but to face him across the training field at least once."

"Has anyone bested him?"

"Not even close." The Sage shook his head. "Though I would give all the fabled wealth of the lost city of Rach-chan-neth to pit him against Master Eldor in his prime. Now that would have been a battle for the ages."

The Hunter nodded. Even at his advanced age, Master Eldor moved with the grace and speed of a greatcat, striking each blow with power and precision that seemed impossible from such a slim frame.

"Come, Hunter. Walk with me." The Sage gestured toward the smooth walkway atop the wall. "From the lofty heights, one can so easily forget what it's like to live down here. Were it not for the Expurgation, I believe I would never visit the home of my Elivasti."

The Hunter didn't buy the Sage's pretense. The demon didn't care how his servants lived—all that mattered was that they served him. The ritual of the Expurgation commanded his presence here tonight, nothing more.

"How go our plans?" The Hunter inclined his head toward the Warmaster's temple.

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