Destiny by Tonya C. Cook & Paul B. Thompson

Author:Tonya C. Cook & Paul B. Thompson [Cook, Tonya C. & Thompson, Paul B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, General, Epic
ISBN: 9780786942732
Google: QQ26-by54NcC
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Published: 2007-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

they were ambushed and destroyed. Speaker Silvanos sent Lord Balif with the royal army to subdue the rebels. Balif swept the troublemakers away. In a forest clearing called Hyberya, the recalcitrant western elves pledged fealty to the Speaker of the Stars. The battle was one of Balif’s greatest triumphs.

Obviously later generations had forgotten it. Hamaramis was frankly astonished. “You mean elf fought elf?”

She nodded. “Hundreds died. As a result, the western forest was divided into military districts, each with its own garrison. The society of Brown Hoods, believed by the Speaker to have been behind the rebellion, was ruthlessly suppressed.”

“Brown Hoods?”

“A league of rural clerics and wild magicians. The most famous Brown Hood was Vedvedsica.”

By now, all the warriors were listening. They regarded the young scribe with new respect.

“How do you know all this?” Hamaramis asked.

“I’m a scribe. I read.”

The draft grew stronger, forcing the warriors to shield their torches with their bodies. Hamaramis considered their next move. The southwest leg of the crossing tunnel would take them beneath the woodland and away from their camp. Northeast led directly to the circular stone platform. Hamaramis thought it likely that if the tunnel system had a hub, it would be found under the huge platform, the valley’s dominant feature.

They headed northeast, with the breeze at their backs, walking in single file. Hamaramis led, followed by two warriors, then Vixona, and finally the last warrior. Vixona kept count of her paces, measuring the length of the tunnel as they traveled. They’d gone about a mile when the wind abruptly grew stronger. One warrior, caught with too light a grip on his torch, found it snatched from his hand. The burning brand bounced ahead of them for quite a distance, sending out sparks with each impact. It finally came to rest against the wall. By its light they saw a figure struggling on the floor.

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PAUL B. THOMPSON & TONYA C. COOK DESTINY

“Help!” The plea was in the Common tongue, flavored by “And listen,” Vixona said.

a human accent. “Help me, please!” From the deep shaft came a slow, regular thud. It sounded The man was clinging to the edge of a wide pit. Only his very much like the rhythm of a beating heart.

head and arms were visible. The elves ran to him, and two

warriors dragged him to safety.

He was a human of middle years, dark haired, and dressed

in brown leather. When the warriors saw his scabbard and

knife, they drew their own weapons.

“Who are you?” Hamaramis demanded.

“My name is Jeralund. I’m a hunter—”

“How did you get here? There are no humans in

Inath-Wakenti.”

“I chased a stag through a narrow ravine in the mountains

and emerged in the valley. It wasn’t on my map. Last night,

before I could get out, some sort of floating fireball touched

me. Next thing I know, I’m in these caves.”

One of the warriors relieved Jeralund of his weapons.

Hamaramis eyed the human’s sword with suspicion. It was a

war blade, “Are you a soldier?”

“I have been.” So had most of the able-bodied folk on the

continent.

A further search produced a pouch of coins, new ones.

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