Heart of Stone (Hearts of Dragons Book 3) by G J Ogden

Author:G J Ogden [Ogden, G J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ogden Media Ltd
Published: 2025-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Losing Faith

Adozen Holy Blades stormed through the bronze throne room doors, their boots slapping the marble in a frenzy of piercing clatters. The Justicar leading the charge glanced in horror at Vindicar Silvana’s crumpled form, before her gaze fell upon the body of her slain Queen.

“No!”

The Holy Blade’s anguished cry was harrowing, even for one as hardened against pain as Natesh. The woman collapsed to her hands and knees, her sword clattering to the ground.

“In Padma’s name, no!”

The warriors to her rear could only stand and stare. Some also dropped to their knees, the strength in their legs evaporating like the flesh of the champions the Annwyn had consumed. Others were frozen as if already bound by the spectral hounds, yet not a single one of the Holy Blades had yet to even notice the great alpha poised by Natesh’s side. They only saw Queen Vespera Maris, sprawled on the marble floor of her throne room, surrounded by an expanding pool of scarlet blood.

“The Queen has been slain!” the Justicar wailed, covering her eyes with trembling hands, for she could not bear to look upon Vespera’s dead body. Tears streamed down her face. “Padma guide me! Give me strength!”

Natesh was overwhelmed by the outpouring of grief. Even if the sorrow and heartache the Daughters felt had not been amplified through the soul of the unknown dragon, she would have still been moved. Queen Vespera was loved. Adored, even. She was more than a Queen to the Holy Blades—she was their sole reason for living, as blessed as the Saint herself. The shattering despair was as traumatic as losing a child. She feared that their outpouring of vengeful wrath would be equally as fierce. She would need every bit of Vyrnax’s power to escape the city.

Natesh summoned the Annwyn. The alpha stood guard before her, while a dozen other wraith hounds formed a circle around her. The hurried footsteps of many more Holy Blades were already thumping the flagstones outside. Before long, a legion of warriors would stand between her and her ship, if not more. But she had the might of earth and stone as her ally. Against such a force of nature, not even the Daughters of Padma could prevail.

“Kill the assassin!” the High Justicar commanded. She had managed to draw her body up from the floor and reclaim her anointed blade. “Deliver the Saint’s justice unto her!”

The Justicar charged, blade raised high, teeth gritted, eyes wild, but her assault was halted by the alpha’s pouncing attack. In an instant, the creature was made flesh, and its claws and teeth savaged the Justicar, ripping through her armor as if it were parchment.

The other Holy Blades got to their feet in fits and starts. Some managed to rise only to be again crippled with incapacitating grief before they could act. Where once the throne room had been filled with voices raised in song, now only sobs echoed through the halls. Those that did manage to take up their swords

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.