Shade by Richard A. Knaak

Author:Richard A. Knaak [Knaak, Richard A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Speculative Fiction
ISBN: 9781439107003
Goodreads: 6578970
Publisher: Pocket
Published: 2009-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

XV

THE ICE DRAGON’S LAIR

THE SEEKER DID NOT finish his lunge, and after a moment’s focus, Shade understood why. The avian was frozen in ice and what the sorcerer had taken for a furious attack had been the creature’s death throes as the ice had formed around it. That alone was enough to tell Shade where they were.

The lair of the Ice Dragon . . . or what was left of it.

The ruined cavern was a testament to the level of insanity that often overtook a Dragon King as he dwelled more and more in his power. The damage to the dwarven chamber could not compare to the collapse here. The upheaval had taken down part of the roof, revealing open air above.

Not all of this damage had occurred when the Ice Dragon had perished, but without his power to maintain it, the already fractured citadel had fallen prey to the Northern Wastes’ harsh weather. Indeed, as Shade tried to stand, he heard a cracking sound from above. Another large fragment of the roof dropped with a crash, fortunately far enough away not to concern the trio.

Thinking of his companions, Shade quickly turned in search of Valea. She lay a short distance away. Her skin was so pale that he at first feared that she was dead.

So much concern for another? said a part of his mind mockingly. Do you think yourself human?

He forced away the thought as he knelt near her. Up close, Shade could see the faint wisps of breath rising. Passing his hand over her, the sorcerer sensed no injuries. Like him, Valea had merely been struck unconscious by the force of their abrupt departure. The stone’s power.

How he could have forgotten the stone until then, Shade did not know. Satisfied that Valea would be all right, the sorcerer rose and searched for the mysterious dwarf.

There was no sign of him. What Shade did see, however, were two more figures frozen in ice, other foolhardy intruders who had become pieces of the Ice Dragon’s macabre collection. One was an elf, the other too obscured to be made out.

Dismissing the dead, Shade tried to sense the stone. However, even after years, the Ice Dragon’s sanctum was inundated with magical energies and ancient spells, some of which were surprisingly active.

A moan escaped Valea. Shade returned to her.

Her eyes opened as he neared. She looked up at him and her stare reminded the sorcerer again that he would never be quite human.

He stared at his hand, always the telltale sign for him. It was solid, which confused him. If his face had lost focus, his hands should have begun to fade.

“The medallion,” Valea finally said. “It’s working again.”

“That is not possible.” He touched the talisman hidden beneath his shirt. Even through the glove and the garment, Shade could feel the medallion’s energies flowing strong.

The enchantress pushed herself up. “Where’s the dwarf?”

“He was not here when I awoke.”

More crackling arose, this time sounding much nearer and closer to the ground. Shade looked behind him at the wall.

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.