The Dream Lords [Book One]: Rebellion by Adrian Cole

Author:Adrian Cole [Cole, Adrian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sword sorcery, science fantasy, Space Opera, space fantasy, sword spaceship
Publisher: Pulp Hero Press
Published: 2021-06-11T22:00:00+00:00

chapter eight

The Shadow of the Goat

“Your life is in grave danger,” said Pthorthe. We were in a private room of his house, deep underground, where there was no possibility of our being overheard. Pthorthe’s apparent anxiety that morning when we met in one of the libraries at the Culture Center had set my nerves on edge. Since I had disgraced Dworl a few days before, I had expected some kind of reprisal. I did not press Pthorthe for details at once, knowing that he would furnish me with them all in good time.

“From what?” I now asked, startled by his disclosure. His brows contracted in a deep scowl.

“From that very source of evil which you have been sent to destroy,” he said softly, as though afraid to say it even in this sheltered place. I shared his fears, for it was not usual for him to seem so insecure.

“From Ur?”

“Yes, from Ur itself. I have told you something of Daras Vorta, have I not?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I will tell you more, for circumstances force me to hasten. Vorta was born here on Gargan, that you know already. While he was here he made many friends, most of them unpleasant, ambitious men, I might add, and after some years he founded a cult that began practising evil and delving into forbidden realms of Dream Lord powers.”

“Evil? I don’t understand,” I said, frowning almost as deeply as he.

“All in good time, Galad; be patient. Yes, Vorta is a terribly evil man, for he has certain powers now that are above those of a normal man. Moreover, he is a psychopath—when one has learned some of the things that he has one’s mind can hardly remain stable—so he is doubly dangerous. I told you of the cult he started here; the details of this are too heinous to relate,” he went on grimly, and his expression was one of loathing.

“The Brotherhood of the Goat?” I guessed, and at once he whirled, eyes aflame.

“Exactly! Do you know of it, Galad?”

“A little. Ardat mentioned it once, although not in connection with Vorta. The Wise One told me to be wary of the Goat,” I added.

Pthorthe nodded. “Yes, yes. The Goat. Vorta’s self-appointed title. Ardat has heard of the cult from myself and from others, but little suspects its true function. People think it is a Garganian secret society for the overthrow of Zurjahn rule, but it is in fact the tool in the hands of a madman. Now that Vorta has the huge fortress of Karkesh on far off Ur to hide in, he has developed his foul Brotherhood to a greater extent.

“The Dream Lords do not realize this, for Vorta is as cunning as a demon, but Karkesh has become more than a prison city—it is a living hell, made for the sadistic pleasures of the vile Warden who rules it like an Emperor. Vorta used countless numbers of his helpless prisoners as victims in his ungodly rituals to appease the hungry appetites of the disgusting gods that he serves.

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