The Dusk Watchman: Book Five of The Twilight Reign by Lloyd Tom

Author:Lloyd, Tom [Lloyd, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780575096691
Publisher: Hachette Littlehampton
Published: 2012-08-29T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

At dusk, after a day of rest and recovery at Leppir Manor, Isak began to grow restless. The manor was owned by King Emin and maintained by a steward as a useful waystation on the border; the region had been fractious for years. After long weeks of travelling their horses were in need of rest; they all needed to replenish their supplies, repair clothes, tend weapons and spend at least one day not fleeing from search parties of Black Swords.

The haunted look was still on Isak’s face when he headed through the long hall. Without speaking Vesna followed his friend outside to the courtyard, where Hulf lay watching the steward’s geese from a safe distance. The dog gave a happy bark at the sight of Isak and ran to him.

It had been a warm day and neither man had bothered with anything thicker than a tunic. Isak’s brown sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, displaying the strange balance of light and dark on his scarred forearms. The Skull of Ruling was a bulge at his waist, kept secure by a thick strip of cloth worn under his shirt. His right hand was empty again, the skin as dark as charcoal.

Hulf kept clear of it, Vesna saw, though he couldn’t begin to guess whether that was wariness of the black sword’s return or fear of touching Isak’s stained skin.

‘Isak,’ Vesna began hesitantly, ‘what does it feel like?’

‘The sword?’ He raised his hand to inspect his skin. The look on his face was one of wonder and disbelief, as though even Isak couldn’t believe the strange turns his life had taken. ‘Like a cloud’s crossed the sun, that sudden chill – but the rest of my body is still hot, warmed by Ghenna’s echo in my bones.’

Vesna flexed the black-iron clad fingers of his own God-touched limb. ‘Do you feel Death’s presence?’

Isak laughed softly. ‘I’ve felt that for a while, my friend. No, I know you didn’t mean it that way: you mean can I feel Death’s spirit as you feel Karkarn’s?’

‘I suppose I do, yes.’

‘No, and for that I’m glad. He’s not so much a part of me as that – maybe it’s because the Gods are weakened, but all I can feel of Death Himself is an echo in my bones. It’s not so different to when I had the Reapers caught in my shadow. Maybe it’s better to say I’m walking with one foot in the lands beyond this one. Part of me is still there, and Termin Mystt’s the key to reaching it. I actually feel more complete this way, can you believe that? My soul’s caught between realms, but with Termin Mystt in my hand I feel like I’m on the border between them. It’s not enjoyable, but at least it feels like I can reach both parts of me from here.’

‘Will you be able to step back from it?’

‘Step back?’

Vesna caught his friend’s arm, careful to touch the cloth of his sleeve only. ‘Isak,

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