Age of Asango Book I by Matt Russell

Author:Matt Russell [Russell, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragon Tooth Press LLC
Published: 2018-10-16T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 16: The Island of Death

According to the Enumis, the gods brought a fiery emerald comet forth from the cosmos to imbue their most loyal and obedient children, the elves, with magic, so that they might vanquish demons and bring the world to glorious order. This never came to pass. Promethiock, the greatest of the ancient dragons, decided to use his titanic power to alter the comet. He chose mortal men, whose passionate hearts were most like his own, as the recipients. For this, the gods gathered all their strength and imprisoned him within an island of cosmic stone. He resides there, century after century, and we, the beneficiaries of his gift, can do nothing to free him.

—Dracus Mobius, Starborn of the 9th Generation, First Bishop of the Onkai Order

The smell of musky salt invaded Somar's nostrils anew as the ship beneath him rocked to the ocean's machinations. He sat near the edge of the bow opposite Cassian, a table between the two of them upon which rested a cornerstone board. The game should have been impossible to play upon a rocking ship, but the many carved stone pieces were held precisely in place by Cassian's will. Somar was trying to focus on his next several moves. It was an excellent distraction to how sick he felt after so many days at sea.

"Shield," Cassian said, and Somar watched as one of the small shields in the corner of the board floated over to Cassian's centurion and lodged itself within the finely carved hooks.

Somar swallowed back his queasiness, trying to gauge the boy's attack pattern. Cassian was proving to be a very aggressive player. He had moved a good deal of his army out of its square to the center of the board early. With only the two of them playing on opposite corners, two additional corners were free for the taking on either side between them. Two-person games were the quickest in that respect, though Somar preferred when three or four people were playing. Strategies became far more complicated when more minds were involved.

He picked up his berserker and killed one of Cassian's peasants, then ricocheted it into Cassian's empress with its second attack.

"Ugh!" Cassian grunted as Somar swept away his most valuable piece.

"You are doing quite well for your third game," Somar said, and this was true. Somar was considered to be one of the finest players in the empire. He had taught many of his soldiers the game over the years. It took most individuals twenty or so games before the intricacies of the board and its pieces were fully grasped. Already though, Cassian was using impressive attacks involving multiple pieces. "You are just a bit reckless for a beginner."

"We are going to have to abandon this game," Cassian said with a shrug. "No reason not to experiment a bit."

Somar gazed across the bow of the ship to the continuously flashing point off in the morning mist. It had grown considerably on the horizon since he last looked, which was simultaneously thrilling and terrifying.

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