Into The Dark Flame (Book 4) by Martin Ash

Author:Martin Ash [Ash, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Outside Publishing
Published: 2013-04-22T23:00:00+00:00

iii

The image of Issul haunted Leth for the remainder of his journey across the Meadows of Dreams, to the extent that, had other phantoms manifested he would quite possibly have remained oblivious to them.

The company passed through the gate on the far side of the meadows and rode on for a short while before the decision was taken to rest up for the night, as many hours had passed since they had set out. They were in an area of rough, uncultivated land, the vast wall of the Death Abyss soaring high on one side, a couple of hundred paces away. On the other the wild land extended for half a league or so before falling sharply away. A small spinney with a little rill tumbling through provided basic shelter. Juson and two of the Abyss warriors began to gather wood and kindling for a fire while Dembarl prepared meat and doughbread to cook. Leth took himself off alone. He settled himself with his back against a tree, brooding deeply.

She had seemed so real. Even now he could not wholly persuade himself that what he had experienced was entirely illusory. The encounter had seemed replete with meaning. The sight of Issul had thoroughly thrown him, but had uplifted him also. It still did. As though, somehow, somewhere, she was alive, even though the evidence was stacked against this being so.

But what conclusion was he to draw from what he had witnessed? Issul had plainly been in danger. Who were the men he had seen pursuing her? Did this vision have some basis in reality, or was it, after all, nothing more than phantoms cast up out of the eerie properties of the meadows?

Leth heaved a leaden sigh, shaking his head. He wondered for his sanity, not for the first time. A profound melancholy was settling upon him, such that he found himself questioning his ability to carry on.

What is the meaning, the purpose of all this?

A twig cracked close by. Leth looked up to see Count Harg standing over him. 'Rasgul is concerned that you have placed yourself too far from us, Swordbearer. Dark things prowl the Abyss, especially after nightfall. Come. A fire blazes and meat is sizzling.'

'In a moment,' said Leth.

He watched Harg walk back to join the others around the fire. Darkness was almost complete now. The men were glimmering silhouettes, touched by the fire's orange glow. Leth felt intensely alone. These men, these warriors, no matter their capabilities, were slaves of another, and enemies to him. They might not know it, but they were each in large part the servitors and bound creatures of the Noeticist, Urch-Malmain.

What had they been before? Harg had been a noble, by station and nature. Of the others Leth knew too little to guess. But they were wholly in Urch-Malmain's grip now. They obeyed Leth's commands, even demonstrated concern for his welfare. They would to the best of their abilities escort him safely to his objective. That is, to Urch-Malmain's objective.

And then?

Leth climbed wearily to his feet.

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