A Silvery Moon: Book 1 of A Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Series by Luís Falcão de Magalhães

Author:Luís Falcão de Magalhães
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Legends of Elessia
Published: 2019-03-17T04:00:00+00:00

14

A NECROMANCER FOR ALL SEASONS

— Lucius —

Lucius had seen some great libraries on his travels, but he still felt a sense of awe and comfort when surrounded by bookshelves, even those of the more modest ones. He often imagined that if he had not chosen the priesthood, he would have been a scholar, one looking to be responsible for a library such as this.

Not that the keep’s library was too modest. The room was wide, and wooden shelves filled with books and scroll cases covered the stone walls, the only exception being the north wall. An enormous fireplace dominated that side of the room, red and yellow flames dancing over the pinewood burning inside, with fresh piles of wood stacked to either side. On the opposite end of the room, an oaken desk faced the fire, with more bookshelves adorning the wall beyond. The majordomo had gone to sit behind the desk after he and his guards escorted them to the library. He now looked at Lucius with an intensity that threatened to drill holes in his skull.

The library had two entrances, both blocked by the majordomo’s guards. They had removed their helmets and exchanged the crossbows for a couple of two-handed great-axes once the group had entered. The pair seemed more at ease holding the gargantuan weapons than they had been with the crossbows. Both were women and wore their hair in the same curly fashion that was common in the region, although one was blonde and the other was brunette. Each held their ax in front of them, bladed head touching the floor, hands clasped over the pommel at the handle’s end. Each guard had an eyepatch over one eye; the brunette over her right eye and the blonde over her left. A rune that Lucius did not recognize was inscribed over each one.

Their faces were battle-scarred. The blonde had a slight gap over her right nostril, which traveled down her face, splitting her upper lip. There was also evidence of a cut that went from below her left ear to her chin. The brunette had an almost perfectly horizontal scar across her forehead, bisected by another vertical one that crossed her missing eye. She also had another one that went from the middle of her left cheek to the corner of her lip. Otherwise, the guards looked identical from neck to toe, clad in darkened leather and chain armor.

Something else drew Lucius’ attention, though. There were mysterious carvings above each guard, outlined in the corners of each doorway. Again, he did not recognize the runes, but they seemed to glimmer when he was not looking directly at them.

The majordomo sighed and leaned back in his chair. He shifted his gaze from Lucius to his companions.

“Well then? There’s the wood in front of you. Go on, carve what you want to carve.”

“What? What are ye playin’ at?” Oskar asked.

“I’m not playin’ at anything. Fate has delivered you to me, and though I am doubtful of your success, I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

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