Unholy by Byers Richard Lee
Author:Byers, Richard Lee [Byers, Richard Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780786950218
Published: 2009-02-03T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter ten
21-25 Mirtul, The Year of the Dark Circle (1478 DR)
It isnât possible,â said Samas Kul. Disappointment hadnât robbed him of his appetites, as the buttered roll in his meaty hand and the crumbs scattered down the front of his gorgeous robes attested. But it seemed to Aoth that though the archmage ate and drank as ceaselessly as ever, there was a sullen quality to it instead of the usual gusto. âBreak a pattern and you rob it of its arcane virtues. Every apprentice knows that.â
âWhat a pity,â Lallara drawled, âthat Szass Tam isnât an apprentice.â
Samas glared at her. âDo you understand how he did it?â
âNo,â Lallara said, âbut the other Dread Rings are still functional, and so is the device they comprise. Weâve all verified it. So itâs time to stop whining that âit isnât possibleâ and figure out what to do next.â
Aoth agreed with her. He just hoped there was something to do and that someone would have the cleverness and the will to
propose it. He wouldnât have wanted to bet on it.
The Dread Ring of Lapendrar possessed all the amenities of any great castle, including a hall equipped with a round oak table and chairs where lords and officers could palaver. It was here, beneath hanging black-and-scarlet banners adorned with skulls and other necromantic emblems, that the zulkirs, Bareris, and Aoth had assembled for a council of war. And when the sellsword captain looked around ar his companions, it appeared to him that weariness and discouragement had set their stamps on every face.
Or rather, every one but the bardâs. Barerisâs expression was just as it had been for a hundred years, joyless and haggard but keen as a blade. Aoth had the odd and vaguely resentful thought that for his friend, it was a good thing their plan had failed. Now he had a better excuse to go on hating and fighting.
Everyone sat silently for several heartbeats. Then Samasâs throne floated back from the table. âThatâs it, then. I have treasure to move out of Escalant. I assume the rest of you have your own arrangements to make.â
Aoth didnât realize he was going to jump up out of his chair. It just happened, and the seat overturned to bang on the floor behind him. He leveled his spear and said, âYouâre not running. Not unless we all decide itâs the only thing to do.â
Samasâs face turned a deeper red, and inside its yatds of jeweled vestments, his gross body seemed to swell like a frogâs. âAre you truly mad enough to try to dictate to me?â
Aoth smiled. âWhy not? Weâre co-commanders, remember? Besides, our cause is too important, and too many of my men gave their lives to get us this far.â
âThis is on your own head, then.â Samasâs quicksilver wand writhed out of his sleeve and into his hand like a snake. âWhich would you prefer: to turn to smoke or to live on as mindless worm?â
âSurprise me.â Aoth roused the power in his spear, and the point glimmered.
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