Lord of the Black Tower by Jack Conner

Author:Jack Conner [Conner, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blazing Books
Published: 2014-07-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Elethris frowned at him. “Now now, prince,” he said, lowering his spoonful of fish soup, for Baleron had interrupted his lunch. “Don’t be foolish. My wife’s death ... It had nothing to do with you.”

“But my Doom—”

“Has no dominion here. The strength in that stone I gave you, as well as the Light of Celievsti, will protect you.”

“But with Itherin’s death—“

“Enough! Do not speak of my wife’s end so lightly.”

“I am most sorry, Master Elethris. I meant no disrespect. But don’t you see? You’re in danger. All of you. The Enemy planned this. As soon as he placed the curse on me and locked me away, he began trying to kill either you or your wife so that he could weaken Celievsti. I believe he had help. The night the wedding caravan was attacked, the adept with us, Bragan Thad, was slain, and his seeing stone taken. Later I saw a rithlag deliver a blackened stone to the captain of the Borchstogs that took us to Gulrothrog; I believe it was the same stone, but somehow corrupted.”

“With such a tool they could spy on us ...”

“Exactly! And as soon as he succeeded, and Celievsti was weakened, he staged my escape. I thought I came here under my own free will, but perhaps my Doom guided me, or he knew what I would do, or—”

“No more!” Elethris sucked in a deep, steadying breath, then let it out. “I admit you have a point, Baleron, and there may be some validity in it. I’ll think on it. Meanwhile, King Felias will be arriving soon, and you have much work to do.”

“The maps are done, and done again, though I will still work on them if there’s time. But my Doom—”

“Is countered.” Elethris issued an exasperated groan. “Baleron, child, still yourself. Do you not know who I am? What I am capable of? I raised this tower.”

Through clenched jaws Baleron said, “You had help. It took a hundred years.”

Anger flashed in the elf’s eyes. “I am mightier than you can imagine, and I have opposed your Doom. Now away!” His fist crashed down on the tabletop, and Baleron jumped. Soup overflowed from the bowl.

“Come, Baleron,” Shelir whispered, tugging at his sleeve. She had hung back out of respect, but she stepped forward now. “For your own good, let’s go.”

“But, Lord Elethris—”

“Away!” the sorcerer shouted.

Baleron let Shelir lead him away. “Damn him,” he said, bunching his fists.

“I told you,” she said as they made their way through the halls, “it would do no good to confront him. He’s proud and stubborn, and once he’s decided on something it’s hard to get him to reconsider. He’s taken the measure of your Doom, as he sees it, and he has countered it, and that is an end to the matter.”

“But he’s wrong. There’s a coldness in me, a shadow. It’s the curse, I can feel it, and it did not lessen when I entered this place. It did not lessen when he gave me the stone.

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