Curse of Mount Ream by D.L. Gardner

Author:D.L. Gardner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sword and Sorcery, Fantasy Romance, Epic fantasy
Publisher: D.L. Gardner
Published: 2021-08-31T00:00:00+00:00

WHEN ERIKA RETURNED to the bed in Silas’ house, she meant to read the journal, but her eyes grew heavy trying to decipher the handwriting and she soon fell asleep. In her dream she floated on sun rays over the sea and to the Cho Nisi Castle. Marble gods and goddesses strolled up and down the halls and they looked like her father’s gods, but they weren’t statues, they were real, and they talked to each other. She stood among them, dwarfed. The painted ceiling seemed alive, pastel flowers swayed, and a tiger stalked a herd of antelope in a distant landscape. Unmindful of their surroundings, the gods convened as if planning the fate of the universe.

“We must send the woman alone. Only she has the power,” Pólemos, the god of war commanded as he paced the tile floor. The ray of light that brought Erika to their world now illuminated his powerful features. He bore a sword in one hand and a lance in the other. His voice roared like thunder and vibrated the floor.

“She is too young. Send the man instead,” Eidy, the goddess of love suggested, rubbing Pólemos back once he sat on his throne. When she spoke, a fragrant perfume filled the room. Erika breathed in its richness. Eidy’s hair draped in waves down her back to her waist, and when her gentle eyes rested on Erika, a smile parted her lips.

“Why don’t they both go?” Eroto asked as he swung his leg over his throne and watched with eager eyes as the tiger in the distance stalked the antelope.

“We would lose them both, then. It is fitting to lose only one.” Vasiliás the god of all gods had been her father’s favorite. Perhaps it was the long, silky beard that gave him so much charm. He spoke with authority. Eidy walked up to him and rubbed his shoulders.

“We don’t know that we’ll lose either of them,” she said, glancing first at the antelope grazing peacefully, the tiger, and then Eroto. “Why do you take pleasure in such things?” she asked the god of passion. “Let them choose on their own.”

Her words echoed in the hall as the tiger lunged. Instantly they vanished, and Erika found herself in a dark and loathsome cave. Lights flashed around her, blue like the lightning of Skotádi’s magic, and red like his fire. Steam in the shape of fingers floated over her head. They gave off a putrid smell. Stealing her breath, she fought to get away, but she had no control over her body.”

“Fairest?” A voice came from afar. Or was it real? Erika opened her eyes.

“Serena!”

The woman knelt next to her. Erika sat up on her bed.

“Is this real? You’re free.”

“Much has happened. As you can see, I just got home.” She wore a torn dress, and her hair no longer shone as it once had but instead it was matted and wet. Patches of mud caked her face and there were sores on her arms.

“You poor child!”

“It thrilled me to hear you were here.

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