The Ruin (Year of Rogue Dragons Book 3) by Richard Lee Byers

Author:Richard Lee Byers [Byers, Richard Lee]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786956982
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2010-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

Brimstone regarded his companions, and took some slight solace in the fact that none of them appeared panicky or demoralized. They might be his inferiors, and an aggravation much of the time, but they had a toughness that made them useful pawns.

“The drakes are called Tarterian wyrms,” he whispered, keeping his voice even lower than usual. He and his comrades had retreated a goodly distance back down the tunnel, but he assumed the creatures outside heard as well as dragons generally did. “They dwell in the Abyss and certain other parts of the dark worlds. Archdemons and the like employ them as jailers, sentinels, and coursing beasts.”

Taegan arched an eyebrow. “I trust you aren’t saying the elves built their stronghold in Baator or someplace similarly uncongenial, and we’ve landed there now.”

“No,” Raryn said. “We’re in the far north of Faerûn, just as we expected. I only caught a glimpse of the sky and stars before we had to scurry for cover, but I could tell that much.”

“Sammaster stationed the Tarterian dragons here,” Brimstone said, “as he left a Styx dragon in Northkeep, and used shadow wyrms to mount a guard over King Gareth’s soul. His primary concern was always the drakes of our own world, but he also had an interest in wyrms native to other levels of existence. He learned to command some varieties, and negotiated covenants with others.”

“And here they are,” sighed Karasendrieth, slumped, ashen, and generally haggard-looking, her makeshift bandages spotted and giving off the enticing scent of blood. The smell wore away at Brimstone’s self-restraint. “I suppose the Tarterians were a better choice than chromatics, since he doesn’t want the latter learning anything about the source of the Rage. But still, by all the stars and every melody they sing, how many barriers did he put in our way?”

“We’ve known from the start,” Taegan said, “that he has a penchant for intricacy and elaboration. It was manifest in his cipher, so complex that even Firefingers and the other scholars couldn’t unravel it. But we’ve outplayed him so far, and will again. Though I confess, I’m uncertain as to how.”

Raryn scratched his silvery goatee. “I see two choices. We four can try to find and destroy the heart of the Rage without running afoul of the Tarterian dragons and whatever other dangers are lurking about. Or, someone can go for reinforcements.”

“The latter,” Brimstone said, “is the wiser course, and I’m best equipped to do it. I can fly, I command the most potent magic, and I emerged from our recent battles relatively unscathed. I am, moreover, impervious to the cold. I believe a fading enchantment like the one protecting the site in the Novularonds still warms the valley to some degree, but none of you could bear the chill that prevails beyond the mountains.”

Raryn smiled. “I could, but I don’t see how I’d manage if I was riding you and you had to turn into smoke. Anyway, I’d rather bide here, because I think we should try both plans.

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