From Chaos Born by Hicks Michael R

Author:Hicks, Michael R. [Hicks, Michael R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Amazon: B007L2R5XA
Goodreads: 13558439
Publisher: Imperial Guard Publishing
Published: 2012-03-01T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“So much has she grown, even in the time I was away.” Ulana-Tath marveled at her daughter, who lay asleep in the crib that held several other infants, all nestled together. She leaned forward and gently ran a hand through the child’s white hair, careful that her talons didn’t harm Keel-Tath’s tender skin. The wound in Ulana-Tath’s side caused her some small discomfort as she bent over the crib, but by morning it would be healed.

“She is very beautiful, mistress.” Ria-Ka’luhr stood beside Ulana-Tath, but made no attempt to touch the child. Only the wardresses, and with their permission, the parents, were allowed that honor. “But she must not stay here. Syr-Nagath will know that her first attempt on Keel-Tath’s life has failed. She will send more warriors — legions, if she must — for your child. She will not relent.”

Anin-Khan, who stood on the other side of Ulana-Tath, growled, his gaze flicking to the warriors, the city’s finest, who stood close watch around the creche, with four of them posted, swords drawn, right around Keel-Tath’s crib. “The walls of Keel-A’ar have not been breached in over a thousand cycles. They will not be breached by any army of the Dark Queen.”

“I would not stand in dispute over your words, for they are spoken with great pride and as truth. Yet what you do not realize is that she is building an army the likes of which has not been seen since the last war with the Settlements, perhaps longer. What she has now is nothing, compared to what she will eventually command. T’lar-Gol will soon be hers, and the lands beyond the Eastern Sea will fall not long thereafter.” Ria-Ka’luhr shook his head. “Your warriors here will not face one legion, or ten. You could just as easily face a hundred, backed up by siege engines and weapons of war drawn from the darkest pages of the Books of Time.”

“Impossible!” Anin-Khan threw the young acolyte a disbelieving look. “Even if she could amass an army of builders and concentrate their power, it would take cycles for them all to learn what they needed from the keepers to build such contraptions.” He waved the thought away. “Syr-Nagath will break upon the shore of the Eastern Sea as so many others have before her. Many greater have tried, all but a few have failed. And even the few who breached that watery obstacle, even the handful in the past age who have reached the stars to confront the Settlements, eventually fell to dust.”

Ria-Ka’luhr said nothing more, but bowed his head in respectful acquiescence.

“He is right, Anin-Khan.” Ulana-Tath felt a chill run down her spine as she imagined a horde of warriors surrounding the city, and it made her think of Kunan-Lohr. He still lived, she knew, but how could he hope to make it home? He does not intend to, an unwelcome voice spoke in her mind. Blinking the thought away, she went on, “You have not seen her, as I have.

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