The Shadows of Grace (The Half-Orcs, Book 4) by Dalglish David

Author:Dalglish, David [Dalglish, David]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-10-06T16:00:00+00:00

Lathaar knocked twice, but entered without waiting for an answer. Inside he saw the four Eschaton together in a corner, in various states of battle ready.

“Where the bloody Abyss have you been?” Tarlak asked, startling to his feet.

Mira went to say something, then stopped and blushed a deep red. Tarlak’s jaw dropped.

“You didn’t,” he said.

“No,” Lathaar said. “We didn’t.”

Bernard looked up from his prayers and saw the paladin. His wrinkled face stretched into a smile.

“Welcome back,” he said, using the bench to steady himself as he stood. “Though things have grown far more somber than your first joyous arrival.”

“Someone murdered a priest of Karak last night,” Lathaar said. “Hayden’s blaming Antonil.”

“Much as we’d like to take credit, we can’t,” Tarlak said. “Isn’t that right, Haern?”

The assassin shrugged. “Is that sarcasm, Tarlak? Say it again; I couldn’t tell.”

“Enough,” Aurelia said. “We need to find out who, and put a stop to it.”

“Why?” Haern asked. “We should be joining them, not hunting them down. You saw what the priests of Karak did to Veldaren. We cannot let the priests here do the same, not with an army within weeks of laying siege.”

“I will not listen to this,” Bernard shouted, startling them all. He stormed over to Haern, reached down his shirt, and yanked out the golden mountain pendant hanging from a chain. He let it fall, and as the candlelight reflected in all directions, the old man stared down the assassin.

“I am no fool,” he said. “You have fallen far, young man. A lying tongue and bleeding hands are welcome even here, but only if they seek forgiveness and atonement. I will not listen to you advocate murder.”

Haern pushed the old man aside and headed for the door. Just before he left, he drew his sabers and pointed one at Tarlak.

“You know what they did to Delysia,” he said. “You of all people should understand. We can’t remain cowards. We need to act, and now!”

“I know what they did,” Tarlak said, shaking his head sadly. “But I know the forgiveness Delysia lived and died for. If you wish to hunt down and murder the priests, you will not do it as an Eschaton.”

Hearn sheathed his sabers, the pain clear in his eyes.

“What Eschaton are left?” he asked the wizard. “Brug? Delysia? If I go, who else remains but you?”

Tarlak waited until Haern exited, then turned and slammed his fist against the wall.

“Damn it all!” he shouted.

“Should we stop him?” Harruq asked.

“No,” Tarlak said. “We’ll leave him be for now. Our first priority is protecting the priests here. We’ll have to see just how bold Hayden is. For now, we keep all of you here, to be safe.”

“We will not cower here,” Bernard said. “There are people who need to hear Ashhur’s word, now more than ever. If we have to risk our lives, so be it.”

“You’re right,” Harruq said, grinning at Tarlak’s surprise. “And I know how.”

Within the hour, the remaining priests of Ashhur spread throughout the camps of Neldar. Their reception was phenomenal.

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