D&D - Dragonlance - Heroes 01.2 by Stormblade # Nancy Varian Berberick

Author:Stormblade # Nancy Varian Berberick [Berberick, Stormblade # Nancy Varian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-01-07T22:13:36+00:00

Darknight spread its wings to half extension, admiring the play of its shadow stetching up the black, gleaming walls of its lair and nearly spanning the width of the rough, high ceiling. It snaked its neck to its full length and stretched its jaws wide. Though it could not see the effect, it imagined that the light of the small brazier near the far wall made its fangs appear to be gleaming daggers of flame.

It turned its head and spoke to a shadow on the wall.

“My Lord, all in all, I prefer the sunny lairs in the cliffs of Pax Tharkas to these wet, cold warrens beneath this wretched Thorbardin.”

That doesn’t surprise me, the shadow whispered. Verminaard threw back his head and laughed in his chamber in Pax Tharkas. His shadow-image on the cave wall did the same.

Darknight lashed its tail impatiently and rumbled deep in its massive chest. It preferred the iron-fisted martial order of Pax Tharkas under Verminaard’s rule to the tempestuous storms of dwarven politics in a kingdom under no one’s rule. “Highlord, I heartily wish that Realgar would mount his wretched revolution and be done with it, so that I can be done with him.”

The shadow sharpened to knife-edged clarity. Darknight could almost see Verminaard’s eyes as red lights on the stone.

He’s still wasting his time on the ranger?

The ranger had given Realgar no good answer to the question of the Kingsword’s whereabouts in all the days he’d been the Theiwar’s captive.

“Aye, Lord. It’s the difference between you,” the dragon snarled as it listened to its belly rumble. “Were the ranger your prisoner, I would have been sucking the marrow out of his bones days ago.” As it was, Darknight had to forage at night for mountain sheep while Realgar marched bloody-footed through the ranger’s soul for nothing but enjoyment.

Darknight snorted and closed its eyes. “Simple enjoyment is all he’s getting from it now. He admits that if there is an answer to be had, the ranger isn’t going to provide it. Enjoyment, and a soothing revenge for time wasted.”

Shadow eyes flared red and it scraped its claws on the stone floor of its lair. It doubted that the ranger had ever known where the sword was, and if he had, there could be nothing left of his mind now in which to sift for an answer.

“Lord, how go your own plans?”

Well enough. The troops move into the mountains and the bases will be in place. Ember will fly tonight as cover for the last of them.

Ember! Flying with fire and fear as its weapons, and it was lodged here in this dank, foul hole! Darknight gnashed its teeth.

“Cover, Lord? Does Ember—” Darknight caught itself. Haughty Ember would never admit to needing assistance. “—want company?” By the Dark Queen! Its legs were cramped, its wings aching for a night flight!

The shadow seemed no shadow at all, but an image reflected on polished ebony. The dragon saw Verminaard’s face now—coldly handsome that face was, ice-eyed and hard as stone.

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