Iceblade by Jay Aspen

Author:Jay Aspen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, adventure, romance, epic, dragon
Publisher: Sandfire Publishing Ltd
Published: 2021-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

13

SOME SOURCES SUGGEST that the ability of an Elemental to confer power directly to humans was developed in collaboration with the first Power Mage as part of an alliance against Rapathia, but no reason for such an alliance has been recorded.

The story of Maratic, from the Eldaran archives.

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It is almost the end of the following afternoon by the time we reach Blackthorn Manor, set in a high valley further from the snow mountains and not unlike the surroundings of Maratic except that it is more thickly forested with ancient oaks and tall pines. It is a beautiful, peaceful place but it looks almost impossible to defend if a legion of Rapathians were to suddenly sweep down on it. I can’t help feeling the Eldrin should have brought Tandarion somewhere a bit more fortress-like, but maybe that is exactly what the enemy would expect.

The Eldrin guard-post has been set up outside the Manor grounds, securing the main gate and with patrols circling the outer wall. The guards already know Marin and let us through, exchanging anxious glances with each other when they see the half-conscious form of Deris supported only by Marin’s arm and sheer willpower.

The Manor itself is a large stone-built square building occupying a slight rise in the middle of its extensive grounds. Guards patrol the broad top of the walls and several more are posted outside the main doors to the house. It gives the impression that the Eldrin are taking no chances if the King is expected here soon.

Marin dismounts outside and carries Deris straight to the room that has been taken over as an infirmary. To my relief, the surgeons and medics who run to meet us are all Eldrin. If their medical expertise matches their fighting skills it will be far ahead of anything available among even the King’s personal surgeons when it comes to experience of dealing with people who have recently had arrows cut out of them.

Deris has hardly spoken since he was wounded. It has been difficult to get him to drink enough to replace fluids from the blood loss he suffered when Marin cut out the arrowhead. It tears at my heart to see him lying so still and pale while the Eldrin surgeons gather round to see how much additional damage the ride has inflicted.

I’m missing Deris already. He has always been there for me with his protection and his answers to my questions. Without him I don’t think I would have made it through those early days under everyone’s suspicion. I need his songs of flowers and sunsets to take the cold edge off the way the world often feels with this deadly gift of mine. Marin takes my arm and steers me outside.

“Give them space to do their job. We are just getting in the way here.” He signals Brac to stay and keep watch on Deris while completing his sketches of anyone he remembers seeing still alive at House Raksan.

Marin leads me back outside into the gardens surrounding the house.

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