Dragontiarna: Gates by Jonathan Moeller

Author:Jonathan Moeller [Moeller, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Calliande examined the Dwyrstone with both her physical eyes and the power of the Sight, listening with half an ear as Ridmark gave instructions to Hhazakar and the ghost orcs.

“Pursue the goblins to the edge of the woods, but no further,” said Ridmark. “I don’t want our men blundering into an ambush. Lord Shalmathrak, I suggest you pursue the goblins as far as you wish – you can turn any ambushes back upon them.”

“My rangers shall harry the foe,” said Shalmathrak. “I will send new patrols around the surrounding countryside. Do you know in what direction we shall march next?”

“Not yet,” said Ridmark. “Not until Calliande finishes with the Dwyrstone.”

Calliande examined the flows of power moving through the menhir. There was a taint of dark magic overlaying the stone. The power of the Dwyrstone itself was neither good nor evil. It was simply a manipulation of natural force, much in the same way a water wheel employed the current of a river or stream. But dark magic had been used to awaken and bind the Dwyrstone’s power.

A Herald of Ruin had touched this stone. Probably Aeliana. The taint of dark magic here resembled that upon the Dwyrstone in Castarium. Calliande had hoped that Aeliana had drowned in the darkness beneath Cintarra, that the dark soulblade the woman had borne lay forever beneath the water, but she could not deny the evidence of the Sight.

Fortunately, the taint of dark magic provided a convenient linchpin for breaking the spell.

Pushing aside her weariness, Calliande summoned the power of the Well of Tarlion and focused her will. Shafts of white fire burst from her hand, stabbing into the Dwyrstone. Her spell sliced through the taint of dark magic and shattered it, and the artificial force holding the Dwyrstone awake collapsed. The glowing sigils carved into the menhir flared with blue fire and then went dark. Calliande’s Sight saw the current of power from the Great Eye beneath Cintarra, and that current faded into nothingness.

The rift a few yards away snapped out of existence as if it had never been.

One more bridge to the world of the Frankish Empire had been closed.

Calliande let out a long breath and turned to see Ridmark, Third, and Shalmathrak waiting for her.

“The Dwyrstone has been put back to sleep,” said Calliande. “I think that also closed five or six additional rifts.”

“A solid blow against our foe,” said Shalmathrak.

“Where is the next one?” said Ridmark.

Calliande drew on the Sight and concentrated. “To the northwest, I think, towards Durandis. Perhaps another ten or fifteen miles.”

“We should march at once,” said Shalmathrak. “Let us keep our enemy off balance with swift and deadly blows.”

“One of the Cultists is still alive,” said Third, and Calliande looked at her in surprise. “Perhaps it will be profitable to question him.”

“Perhaps it will,” said Ridmark, and Calliande followed him and Third around the Dwyrstone.

Six armored human knights lay sprawled upon the ground. Five of them were dead, and Calliande recognized the distinctive wounds that Storm and Inferno left.

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