Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Six by Dean Cadman

Author:Dean Cadman [Cadman, Dean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Dean Cadman
Published: 2019-08-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-One

Arlo knelt down beside Gruken’s heart and reached out towards it. Upon contact, he immediately felt his consciousness being pulled down into its vast depths, but fortunately, the plummeting sensation quickly abated as Ryuu asserted his dominance over the dead dragon. Gruken’s response to the intrusion was swift and brutal. A powerful wave of fear crashed into Arlo’s mental barriers, but they held firm with the help of Ryuu’s superior strength. Several more attacks quickly followed, each one more powerful than the last. Despite the vicious mental assaults, Arlo could still sense the surprise and confusion emanating from Gruken as he tried to comprehend what was happening.

“BLOOD RECOGNISES BLOOD!” Ryuu’s voice boomed out. The mental assaults immediately faltered, and Arlo felt Gruken’s mind questing out towards him and Ryuu.

“Easy, old friend. It’s only Ryuu and Arlo. We mean you no harm,” Arlo reassured him.

There was a slight pause, then Gruken turned his attention entirely towards Arlo. He probed at the edges of his mind as if trying to confirm his identity. Slowly, Arlo relaxed his mental defences and allowed Gruken limited access. Having heard testimony from Persas about the returning Magru’s mental state and now witnessing the devastation at Aster for himself, Arlo was far from confident about lowering his guard, and when he felt a fresh wave of confusion wash over him a moment later, it did little to bolster that confidence.

“Blood recognises blood,” Arlo said, hoping that the ancient greeting would stir some kind of recognition in Gruken’s mind.

There was a brief pause as Arlo sensed even more confusion, then Gruken finally replied, “BLOOD RECOGNISES BLOOD.”

“It’s good to hear your voice again, old friend. It’s been far too long,” Arlo said, finally relaxing a little.

“Yes, it has,” Gruken agreed, “but I don’t understand how this is even possible. How is it that you still live, Arlo? Even bonded to Ryuu, you could not possibly have survived for so long. It has been at least five hundred years since we sought refuge at Aster, maybe even more.”

Arlo chuckled. “You’d prefer that I was dead, old friend?”

“No, of course not. But I know of only one way that a human can extend their lives to such an extent…”

“It is not through necromancy; I can assure you,” Arlo snapped, disgusted that Gruken would even consider the possibility of him engaging in such a vile act. To a Guardian, there was no greater sin. For anyone to take another’s life in order to extend their own was a direct affront to Aysha and everything she and her Guardians stood for. And for Gruken to even insinuate that he could be capable of committing such debauchery hurt him deeply.

“Forgive me. I did not mean to speak out of turn or cause offence to you or Ryuu. Presently, my thoughts and memories seem to be wandering in ways that I am unaccustomed. Wake me, brother, so that I may clear the cobwebs from my mind, then we will hunt and feast together and share our stories, just like we used to do.

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