A chill touched the back of her neck, followed by a deep inhale. Her legs trembled under her.
“Go…” The single word whispered in her mind.
She couldn’t.
A low growl formed and, with a shove, she was knocked forward, bloodying her knees. The action released her from the paralyzing fear. She scurried to her feet and ran back to her room, stifling a cry as she went.
The wraith turned his attention back to the boys’ room. It entered to find two cribs along the wall, sitting side by side. First, it inspected Aeronais, hovering its hand over every inch of the infant. The baby’s lip curled, and out came a whimper, followed by a jerking of his head. The shadow recoiled from the cradle, disappointed by the rejection.
Then, it approached Archaos.
The child was squirming as it came alongside him, but after the same inspection, he calmed and relaxed under the searching tendrils.
Satisfied with its choice, the consciousness funneled into the boy.
Archaos’ body trembled. Small veins bulged with black tar under the translucent, newborn skin. Flecks of darkness glinted in his glassy eyes. But, soon it was over, and the outward signs of the intruder dissipated, as it moved deeper and deeper into the baby’s physical and mental fabric…
…A hand dipped into the vessel of water, breaking the connection. The vision crept out of view, as Archaos fell back asleep.
“And there we see it.” A hooded figure said, more to himself, than the two men standing next to him.
They stood alone in a deep cavern, with barely enough torchlight to see the small table in front of them. The two men shifted in their tattered clothes, staring intently at the magical device.
“What now?” One of the men asked—his hand jittering at his side. “We are at your service, Master.”
“It will be some time before I am in need of anyone. For now, I will rest, and wait for the return of the true Master. Plans may have been delayed, but far from failed.”
He reached out to each side and grabbed the men by their throats. His eyes burned with a bright red light. “Soon will come the rise of the Searanei!” With the howled words, both men blew into ash.
* * *
“Do we have to stop?”
Master Orin smiled. “So… it has genuinely intrigued you?”
“Well if this is all, in fact, true, there is so much more to this story. Those are the people that Balar misled during the Blood War, right?”
“Correct—the fallen Tearanei. You remembered. Good. Valen, these events are pivotal in history. Your history.”
“Why have I never heard of these people? Or these places we have seen?” Valen stood to his feet and started to rearrange the furniture back into place. His eyes burned and he realized how late the night had grown.
Orin collected his stones and stood to his feet. “Your people are proud and skilled warriors, but they place little value on the discipline of mind and expansive knowledge. Many of these stories and ideas I have sprinkled throughout my teaching, during my tenure at the Academy. But, this level of education I have reserved only for you.”
Valen’s demeanor changed. “Why?”
“I will tell you everything, but for now, I need you to trust me, and know that you are not ready for that. There is evil in this world, and one day you may have to defend yourself against this kind of darkness. You have grown up sheltered, in a sense. Your life here is hard, yet simple, and that might not always be the case.”
Valen frowned. “Is something going to happen?”
“I know that evil always returns, and when it does, we are going to need heroes of a new generation.”
Orin shook out his hands and dropped them to his side. “But, for now, I will show, and you will learn. Be here promptly after your sword drills tomorrow. You must keep up appearances, new champion.” He clasped the young man’s shoulder. “Things will have changed in tomorrow’s channeling. Because, like I said, evil always returns…”
A Closing Note
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this book! It has been a true labor of love and I was excited to share it with you. As a newly published author, it would helpful if you would consider leaving an honest review on Amazon. The support is extremely appreciated!
If you want to read more from the world of Ethindriil, stay tuned for a novella coming out Spring 2016, The Demon Seer. The story takes place between books 1 and 2 of the Talurian Empire Trilogy and introduces a couple new characters to the series.
For more information about me, my writings, or to subscribe to my newsletter, head over to www.jonathanpasquariello.com
Fate of an Empire (Talurian Empire Trilogy Book 1) Page 31