Ridmark said nothing, looking down at her.
“How did you know?” said Morigna.
“Know what?” said Ridmark.
“That she could do it,” said Morigna. “That she could survive the transformation and not become a monster.”
“I didn’t,” said Ridmark.
Morigna let out a long breath. “You are…the strongest man I have ever met.”
“I don’t…”
She cut him off. “I would have killed Mara then and there, just on the chance she might become a threat. But you did not. That took great courage. More than I possess, truly.”
“I hardly…” said Ridmark.
“Stop,” said Morigna. “Just stop. I do not want to hear you denigrate yourself. I do not want to hear about how you deserve death, how you earned that brand upon your face. Because they are lies, every last word of them. Mara may have saved herself, yes, but she only had that chance because of you. The Iron Tower only fell because you fought Paul, because you convinced Crowlacht and Otto and Sir Marcast to work together. And you…you deserve better than what you think of yourself. I wish you could understand how I see you. I wish you could understand how much I admire you.”
He turned his head and stared into the forest, and she saw a twitch of a muscle in his jaw.
“You are too kind,” said Ridmark.
“Really,” said Morigna, taking another step towards him. They were only a pace apart now. “Kind? In the time that you have known me…do you truly think one could describe me as kind?”
He looked back at her, incredulous, and laughed.
“Blunt, certainly,” said Ridmark.
“Then you know,” said Morigna, “that I am telling you the truth.”
“Thank you,” said Ridmark. “Perhaps…if we live through this, perhaps it is time I should rethink some things.”
Morigna nodded, and they stared at each other in silence for a moment. She felt her heart drumming in her ears, felt a flicker of fear and anticipation, as she stared at the man who sought to stop the Frostborn. The Frostborn might have commanded the ice, but Ridmark Arban was the one who was frozen. His heart had turned to frozen grief years ago, and on his own he would never break free of it.
Unless he had some help.
She came to a decision.
“Ridmark,” she said. “I…know you would not do this. So I shall simply have to do it myself before my courage abandons me.”
Before she could change her mind, she leaned forward, caught him by the collar, and pulled down his face for a kiss.
He could have stopped her. He was stronger and faster. But he did not stop her, though he flinched with surprise, and Morigna drew back a little, her hands still on his collar. His blue eyes bored into her, his breath hot against her face.
He started to speak, fell silent. He was talking himself out of it.
One of her hands strayed to the side of his neck, the warmth of his skin soaking into her fingers.
“When was the last time you have been touched?” she whispered.
“I’ve gotten hit in the face quite often,” said Ridmark.
She smiled at that. “Do you not miss it? Someone touching you? Wanting you?” Her other hand strayed down his chest. “Are you not tired of being alone?”
His pulse throbbed beneath her hands, his eyes unblinking.
“I am tired of it,” said Morigna, still tasting him on her lips. “I…I think you are, too.”
Still he said nothing, and a wave of embarrassed chagrin rolled through Morigna. Once again she had made a fool of herself. He would not shake off his grief, not for any reason, and…
Something cracked in his expression. Like a dam shattering.
He pulled her forward so forcefully that she lost her balance, his arms pressing her body tight against his, and kissed her long and hard upon the lips. She wrapped her arms around him, partly to keep her footing, but mostly because she wanted to feel him. On and on the kiss went, her fingers digging into his back, his arms like iron bands around her.
At last the kiss ended, her chest heaving with her breath.
“We…” started Morigna.
He silenced her with another kiss.
In short order they ended up on the ground together, their clothes spread beneath them to form a blanket. Morigna had been with a man before and knew what to expect, but even so the sensation thrilled her, overwhelmed her, his whole body pressed against hers, her limbs coiling around him, his strength holding her against the ground.
Toward the end she was loud enough that every creature for a mile would have heard her, but she did not care.
After they finished, Morigna lay back and closed her eyes, her arms and legs still twitching, her breath slowing, a pleasant warmth radiating through her.
She turned her head, pushed the sweaty hair from her face, and smiled at Ridmark, and he smiled back at her.
###
Ridmark gripped Morigna’s hand and pulled her closer, the sweat cooling upon his skin.
If he lived through his journey to Urd Morlemoch and the quest to stop the return of the Frostborn, if he survived, he did not know what he would do next.
But as he kissed Morigna, some ideas came to him.
And for the first time in five years, Ridmark Arban started to hope that he would survive his quest.
Epilogue
In a land blasted by ancient sorcery and dark magic, a half-ruined fortress of white stone rose from the poisoned land like bones jutting from a rotting corpse. Urd Morlemoch spread over an entire hill, its slopes terraced, an elaborate maze of domes and towers and halls covering its slopes. A great tower of white stone rose from the hill’s crown, five hundred feet tall, stark against the eternal night overhead. Three ribbons of blue fire wound their way around the tower, lashing at the darkness.
And atop the highest tower stood the Warden of Urd Morlemoch, the endless cold wind tugging at his black-trimmed blue coat.
A ring of black standing stones crowned the highest tower, and the Warden stared into one of the stone arches. Light and shadow flickered within the arch, and through it the Warden gazed into the shadows of time itself.
Or, more specifically, the future.
For the past was like stone, frozen and unchangeable. The present was an inferno, forever changing and altering. But the future was the shadow cast by the fires of the present…and shadows could be steered. Altered.
The Warden felt no joy at the visions he saw in the arch. He had left behind such petty emotions long, long ago.
But he did feel anticipation.
Perhaps even glee.
“Ah,” murmured the Warden.
With the choices he had made, Ridmark Arban had forever and irrevocably altered the future.
Just as the Warden had foreseen.
For the shadows of Ridmark’s decisions would ensure the return of the Frostborn. It was now inevitable. The Frostborn would return, and this time they would not be repulsed. They would utterly destroy this world, and nothing could stop them.
But there were other worlds, countless other worlds scattered across the silent darkness of the cosmos.
And thanks to Ridmark Arban, the Warden would soon rule them.
He strode into the dark heart of Urd Morlemoch. There were preparations to be made.
His guests would be arriving soon.
And the Warden’s laughter echoed over the walls at the thought of the welcome that he would give them.
THE END
Thank you for reading FROSTBORN: THE IRON TOWER. If you liked the story, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice.
Ridmark Arban and his companions will return in 2014 in FROSTBORN: THE DARK WARDEN. To receive immediate notification of new releases, sign up for my newsletter, or watch for news on my Facebook page.
Other books by the author
The Demonsouled Saga
MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK is a wandering knight, fearless in battle and masterful with a sw
ord.
Yet he has a dark secret. He is Demonsouled, the son of the ancient and cruel Old Demon, and his tainted blood grants him superhuman strength and speed. Yet with the power comes terrible, inhuman rage, and Mazael must struggle to keep the fury from devouring him.
But he dare not turn aside from the strength of his blood, for he will need it to face terrible foes.
The priests of the San-keth plot and scheme in the shadows, pulling lords and kingdoms upon their strings. The serpent priests desire to overthrow the realms of men and enslave humanity. Unless Mazael stops them, they shall force all nations to bow before the serpent god.
The Malrag hordes are coming, vast armies of terrible, inhuman beasts, filled with a lust for cruelty and torment. The Malrags care nothing for conquest or treasure, only slaughter. And the human realms are ripe for the harvest. Only a warrior of Mazael’s power can hope to defeat them.
The Dominiar Order and the Justiciar Order were once noble and respected, dedicated to fighting the powers of dark magic. Now they are corrupt and cynical, and scheme only for power and glory. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.
To defeat these foes, Mazael will need all the strength of his Demonsouled blood.
Yet he faces a far more terrible foe.
For centuries the Old Demon has manipulated kings and lords. Now he shall seize the power of the Demonsouled for himself, and become the a god of torment and tyranny.
Unless Mazael can stop him.
Read Demonsouled for free. Mazael's adventures continue in Soul of Tyrants, Soul of Serpents, Soul of Dragons, Soul of Sorcery, Soul of Skulls, and Soul of Swords, along with the short stories The Wandering Knight, The Tournament Knight, and The Dragon's Shadow. Get the first three books bundled together in Demonsouled Omnibus One.
The Ghosts Series
Once CAINA AMALAS was the shy daughter of a minor nobleman, content to spend her days in her father’s library.
Then sorcery and murder and her mother’s treachery tore her life apart.
Now she is a nightfighter of the Ghosts, an elite agent of the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar. She is a master of disguise and infiltration, of stealth and the shadows.
And she will need all those skills to defend the Empire and stay alive.
Corrupt lords scheme and plot in the shadows, desiring to pull down the Emperor and rule the Empire for their own profit and glory. Slave traders lurk on the fringes of the Empire, ready to seize unwary commoners and sell them into servitude in distant lands. Yet both slave traders and cruel lords must beware the Ghosts.
The Magisterium, the Imperial brotherhood of sorcerers, believe themselves the rightful masters of the Empire. With their arcane sciences, they plan to overthrow the Empire and enslave the commoners, ruling all of mankind for their own benefit. Only the Ghosts stand in the path of their sinister plans.
And the Moroaica, the ancient sorceress of legend and terror, waits in the shadows, preparing to launch a war upon the gods themselves. She will make the gods pay for the suffering of mankind...even if she must destroy the world to do it.
Caina Amalas of the Ghosts opposes these mighty enemies, but the cost might be more than she can bear.
Read Child of the Ghosts for free. Caina's adventures continue in Ghost in the Flames, Ghost in the Blood, Ghost in the Storm, Ghost in the Stone, Ghost in the Forge, Ghost in the Ashes, Ghost in the Mask, and Ghost in the Surge, along with the short stories Ghost Aria, Ghost Claws, Ghost Omens, The Fall of Kyrace, Ghost Thorns, Ghost Undying and Ghost Dagger. Get the first three books bundled together in The Ghosts Omnibus One.
The Ghost Exile Series
Caina Amalas was a nightfighter of the Ghosts, the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar, and through her boldness and cunning saved the Empire and the world from sorcerous annihilation.
But the victory cost her everything.
Now she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends. Yet a centuries-old darkness now stirs in Istarinmul, eager to devour the city and the world itself.
And Caina is the only one that stands in its way...
Read Ghost in the Cowl and Ghost in the Maze, along with the short stories Ghost Sword and Ghost Price.
The Third Soul
RACHAELIS MORULAN is an Initiate of the Conclave, the powerful order of mighty mages. But to become a full Adept of the Conclave, she must first survive the Testing. Those who survive the Testing never speak of the trials they endured.
Those who fail the Testing are never seen again.
And now the Magisters of the Conclave have come to take Rachaelis to undertake the Testing. And there she shall face perils to both her body and her sanity.
And creatures that yearn to devour her soul.
If Rachaelis survives the Testing, she will face even more dangerous foes. The demons of the astral world watch the world of mortal men, desiring to rule it for themselves.
And some Adepts of the Conclave are eager to help them.
Read The Testing for free. Rachelis's trials continue in The Assassins, The Blood Shaman, The High Demon, The Burning Child, The Outlaw Adept, The Black Paladin, and The Tomb of Baligant. Read the entire series in The Third Soul Omnibus One and The Third Soul Omnibus Two.
The Frostborn Series
A thousand years ago, the last grandson of Arthur Pendragon led the survivors of Britain through a magical gate to a new world, a world of magic and high elves, of orcs and kobolds and stranger, darker creatures. Now the descendants of the exiles rule a mighty kingdom, peaceful and prosperous under the rule of the High King.
But a shadow threatens to devour the kingdom.
RIDMARK ARBAN was once a Swordbearer, a knight of renown. Now he is a branded outcast, stripped of his sword, and despised as a traitor.
But he alone sees the danger to come. The Frostborn shall return, and unless they are stopped, they will cover all the world in ice and a neverending winter.
CALLIANDE awakens in the darkness, her memories gone, and creatures of terrible power hunting her.
For she alone holds the secret that can save the world…or destroy it utterly.
The secret of the Frostborn.
Read Frostborn: The First Quest, followed by Frostborn: The Gray Knight, Frostborn: The Eightfold Knife, Frostborn: The Undying Wizard, Frostborn: The Master Thief , and Frostborn: The Iron Tower along with the short stories The Orc's Tale, The Mage's Tale, The Thief's Tale and The Assassin's Tale.
The Tower of Endless Worlds
THOMAS WYCLIFFE just wants to finish his dissertation in peace and quiet. So when a man in a black robe appears in his closet, claiming to be the last of the Warlocks, Wycliffe figures it is a bad joke.
But he soon realizes the last of the Warlocks can give him power beyond imagining.
And all it will cost is his soul.
SIMON WESTER needs a job. Badly. So when a rich and powerful Senator offers him employment, he jumps at the chance. Sure, Simon expects to find some corruption, some shady deals.
He doesn't expect to find black magic.
LIAM MASTERE is a Knight of the Sacred Blade, defender of the mortal races. But can swords stand against guns? As bullets and bombs destroy his kingdom, Liam must risk everything to save his homeland's one chance of salvation.
By daring the horrors of the Tower of Endless Worlds…
Read The Tower of Endless Worlds for free. The saga of the Tower continues in A Knight of the Sacred Blade, A Wizard of the White Council, and The Destroyer of Worlds.
About the Author
Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.
He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE
series of computer books, and numerous other works.
Visit his website at:
http://www.jonathanmoeller.com
Visit his technology blog at:
http://www.computerbeginnersguides.com
Contact him at:
[email protected]
You can sign up for his email newsletter here, or watch for news on his Facebook page.
Table of Contents
Description
A Brief Prologue
Chapter 1 - The Soulstone
Chapter 2 - Fire and Stealth
Chapter 3 - The Assassin
Chapter 4 - Unyielding
Chapter 5 - Half-Blooded
Chapter 6 - A Dark Seed
Chapter 7 - A Jade Bracelet
Chapter 8 - The Artificer
Chapter 9 - Purpose
Chapter 10 - It Would Be A Mercy
Chapter 11 - Ascension
Chapter 12 - Persuasion
Chapter 13 - Haggling
Chapter 14 - A Branched Path
Chapter 15 - Shadows
Chapter 16 - Water Gate
Chapter 17 - Assault
Chapter 18 - Shadows’ Fury
Chapter 19 - Reborn
Chapter 20 - Metamorphosis
Chapter 21 - I Am You
Chapter 22 - Fire and Iron
Chapter 23 - The Assassin and the Thief
Chapter 24 - The Choice
Epilogue
Other books by the author
About the Author
Frostborn: The Iron Tower Page 30