The Music of Dragons by C.S. Vass

Author:C.S. Vass [Vass, C.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.S. Vass

Pale yellow light filled the sky as the sun descended in the west. Godwin walked through the central gardens of Saebyl, an expansive park filled with snow-tinged evergreens. The winding dirt pathways were empty. Saebyl had tried to recover after the first several assaults by the Sun Warriors, but nobody yet dared walk the streets this close to dark. Just outside the city walls, thousands of Tarsurians were waiting for their chance to strike.

“I know who you are.”

Atusto Romulai was a thin man with small beady eyes, an untrimmed mess of facial hair, and a blue feather perched in his cap.

“And I you,” Godwin responded. The darksword, that magical blade that had caused so much destruction within Saebyl’s walls, hung heavy at his side. “Why are you here?”

“You already know. I wish to defect.”

“Why?”

“Why? Do you really have to ask? What man would want to serve an arrogant Emperor who shovels his own men off to fight and die on foreign soil without so much as healers at the ready for the broken bodies that return home? An Emperor who is ready to burn the world to the ground with the snap of his fingers?”

“What of your friends and countrymen?”

“Could I not serve them better by ensuring the madman who reigns in Sun City is destroyed?”

“Am I to believe you’d so willingly trade one tyrant for another? What makes Boldfrost any better? Do you think he’d be any different if the West had armies comparable to the East?”

“I cannot believe you’d speak of your king in such a manner!”

“Look who’s talking.”

“See here!” Atusto stepped forward. “I’ve already made my decision. I know what I’ve gotten myself into and where my new loyalties will lie. Do you think I take this lightly? Do you?”

A fevered look came into Atusto’s eyes as he stepped forward again. His lips trembled, and his legs shook. Keep talking, Godwin heard. He looked around, alarmed. Though his lips hadn’t moved, the voice was Atusto’s. Keep talking you fool. They’ll kill us both. Say anything. Ramble about what a traitor I am.

Utterly stunned, Godwin obliged. This was elven magic. Old magic. Of the sort he had never encountered before. Still, he managed to make himself speak, slowly, almost nonsense, about traitors and loyalties.

Listen to me, Godwin, Atusto’s voice continued inside of his head as Godwin spoke. I will die here, but you have to survive. They’re all around us, and we don’t have much time. I’m going to give you a bottle with a message inside of it. A magical voice will repeat the message only once. You must open it in the presence of someone powerful in your government. Someone who can help with an oncoming catastrophe. You must deliver the message. Don’t stop speaking! Insult me.

“I don’t know why Boldfrost would want the first thing with a dog like you,” Godwin said.

Good, Atusto continued. Keep going. Godwin, Tarsurian soldiers are all around. I’m sorry, but it’s the only way. They’ll stay hidden for now if you kill me.

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