They had gone with him to Urd Morlemoch and Khald Azalar, companions in grave danger, and now they were going their separate ways.
He put aside his melancholy.
“Of course, Queen Mara,” said Ridmark.
There was a war to fight, and Ridmark had a lot of people to kill.
Epilogue
The Frostborn had no need of illumination.
The frozen walls within the fortress the khaldjari of the Order of the Tower had constructed glowed with a pale, eerie blue light, throwing stark shadows over the walls, the air steaming with cold. Imaria did not feel the cold as she stood in the central chamber, her shadow rotating around her as the shadow of Incariel whispered in her thoughts. The shadow protected her from the cold. The shadow could protect her from anything.
Except a soulblade and the Keeper’s magic, of course, but those would soon be neutralized.
“It seems we have suffered a setback,” said Arlmagnava.
Imaria listened with half an ear, watching the gate.
Once this place had been the crest of a hill, supporting the ring of dark elven standing stones where Imaria had opened the world gate. Now it was the heart of the fortress, a vast dome rising overhead. The fortress enclosed the hill, guarding the link of the Frostborn to the rest of their Dominion.
“We have,” said a Frostborn male named Kajaldrakthor, the new Lord Commander of the Order of the Vanguard. He had been one of Rjalmandrakur’s lieutenants, and had taken command after Ridmark had opened Rjalmandrakur’s neck. “Such problems are to be expected in the conquest of a new world.”
“Indeed,” said Arlmagnava.
A score of Frostborn stood before the crackling glare of the world gate in its menhirs, discussing the battle in their cold, dispassionate way. The creatures did have emotions, Imaria decided, but emotions as cold and logical and arrogant as the rest of their natures. She had half-expected the Frostborn to fly into a rage at their defeat, but instead they began discussing how to continue their goals of conquering Andomhaim and adding it to their Dominion.
Such determination made them dangerous.
“What of our ally?” said Kajaldrakthor.
“Tarrabus has marched south, intending to lay siege to Tarlion,” said Arlmagnava, glancing at Imaria. “The Citadel houses the Well, a magical source of great power. Should Tarrabus claim this, it will guarantee his victory over his opponents.”
The shadow stirred in Imaria.
She would have the Well.
And then she would be free at last, and she would free this world from its prison.
“We must consider Tarrabus Carhaine unreliable,” said another Frostborn, one of the officers of the Order of the Vanguard. “Seeker Arlmagnava’s assessment of him was correct. He will inevitably turn on us. He promised his plan would gain him complete control of the realm, and instead a strong rebellion marches against him.”
“Seeker Arlmagnava is indeed correct. Nevertheless, this works to our advantage,” said Kajaldrakthor. “Let the shards of Andomhaim war against each other. The lifespan of a human is inconsequential. While they war, we shall fortify our gains in the Northerland and summon reinforcements. Once Tarrabus and the rebels have exhausted each other, we shall march from a position of unassailable strength.”
The other Frostborn agreed.
“What of the Gray Knight?” said another Frostborn female of the Inquisition. “The one who slew Rjalmandrakur? If not for his interference, we would have crushed the rebels utterly.”
“I have placed a price upon his head,” said Kajaldrakthor. “Whoever slays him shall receive the governance of five cities, or an appropriate reward of similar nature.”
“His life,” hissed Imaria, her shadow rotating around her, “is mine.”
The Frostborn shared a look amongst themselves.
“Raise the price,” announced Kajaldrakthor, “to ten cities.”
Imaria smiled to herself. The Frostborn were powerful and deadly, but they were still fools. She would use them as Tymandain Shadowbearer had used the dark elves and the dvargir and the Mhorites. If Tarrabus failed to gain her access to the Well, she would use the Frostborn to destroy Andomhaim.
When Andomhaim was destroyed, she would seize the Well for herself…and then she would free humanity.
First, though, there was work to be done.
She cast a spell, charging the gate with new power, opening it for the reinforcements to come through.
Andomhaim would fall, and Imaria would seize the Well in the Citadel of Tarlion.
She only hoped Ridmark lived long enough to see his failure before she killed him.
THE END
Thank you for reading FROSTBORN: THE HIGH LORDS. Look for Ridmark's next adventure, FROSTBORN: THE FALSE KING, to appear in 2016. If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. 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 sword.
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 the
ir 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, Ghost Light, and Ghost Dagger, and the prequel novels Blade of the Ghosts and Champion of the Ghosts. 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, Ghost in the Maze, Ghost in the Hunt, Ghost in the Razor, Ghost in the Inferno, Ghost in the Seal, and Ghost in the Throne along with the short stories Ghost Sword, Ghost Price, Ghost Relics, Ghost Keeper, Ghost Nails, Ghost Lock, Ghost Arts, and Ghost Vigil.
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, Frostborn: The Iron Tower, Frostborn: The Dark Warden, Frostborn: The Gorgon Spirit, Frostborn: The Broken Mage, Frostborn: The World Gate, and Frostborn: The High Lords, and the prequel novel Frostborn: The Knight Quests along with the short stories The Orc's Tale, The Mage's Tale, The Thief's Tale, The Assassin's Tale, The Paladins's Tale, The Knight's Tale, The Soldier's Tale, and The Soldier's Tale. Read the first three books combined in Frostborn Omnibus One.
Mask of the Demonsouled Trilogy
MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK has prevailed over terrible foes and now rules the Grim Marches with firm justice. Yet ancient evils are stirring in the shadows, freed at last by Mazael's own hand. Unless Mazael fights with all his strength, the world will fall.
SIGALDRA is the last holdmistress of the Jutai nation, the final defender of her people. Now the darkness comes to devour the final remnant of Sigaldra's home and family. Even Sigaldra's courage may not be enough to turn aside the darkness.
Read Mask of Swords along with the short stories The Ransom Knight and The Serpent Knight.
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.
Cloak Games
In 2013, a gate to another world opened, and Elves used their magic to conquer Earth, crushing all resistance before them.
Three hundred years after the Conquest, the exiled Elven High Queen rules an orderly but stagnant Earth, with humanity forced to fight in the High Queen’s war against the traitors on the Elven homeworld.
Nadia Moran doesn’t care about that. She doesn’t care about the High Queen, or the Rebels seeking to overthrow her. All she cares about is getting her baby brother the treatments he needs to recover from his potentially fatal disease…and those treatments have a steep price.
Fortunately, Nadia has magic of her own, and she’s a very, very good thief.
Unfortunately, the powerful Elven lord Morvilind has a hold on Nadia. If she doesn’t follow his commands, her brother is going to die.
Of course, given how dangerous Morvilind’s missions are, Nadia might not live long enough to see her brother’s death…
Read Cloak Games: Thief Trap, Cloak Games: Frost Fever and Cloak Games: Rebel Fist.
About the Author
Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of 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 or Twitter feed.
Glossary of Characters
ACCOLON: The son of Sir Arandar and grandson of the High King.
ARDRHYTHAIN: The last archmage of the high elves, and the founder of the Order of the Magistri and the Order of the Soulblade.<
br />
AELIA LICINIUS ARBAN: The eldest daughter of Gareth Licinius, and the late wife of Ridmark Arban. Killed at Castra Marcaine by Mhalek.
AGRIMNALAZUR: An urdmordar, slain by Ridmark Arban in Urd Arowyn.
ANTENORA: A former apprentice of the last Keeper of Avalon upon Old Earth, cursed by Mordred Pendragon’s dark magic to live forever until she finds redemption. Now the apprentice of Calliande of Tarlion.
ARANDAR: A Knight of the Order of the Soulblade and current bearer of the soulblade Heartwarden. The bastard son of the High King Uthanaric Pendragon, and the father of Accolon and Nyvane. Plague killed his wife Isolde.
ARLMAGNAVA: A Frostborn woman, a Seeker of the Order of the Inquisition of the Dominion of the High Lords, the military Order of the Frostborn devoted to spying and recruitment of allies.
THE ARTIFICER: A dark elven noble and wizard, formerly the apprentice of the Warden. His spirit was bound to the Iron Tower. Defeated by Ridmark and his companions.
AVENTINE ROCARN: A knight in service to Tarrabus Carhaine.
CADWALL GWYRDRAGON: The Prince of Cintarra, the largest city in Andomhaim.
CAIUS: A dwarven noble of Khald Tormen and a friar of the mendicant orders. The first of the dwarven kindred to convert to the church of the Dominus Christus.
CALLIANDE: The Keeper of Tarlion, the guardian of the realm of Andomhaim against the powers of dark magic. The daughter of Joanna and Joachim, and the former student of the Magistrius Marius and the Keeper Ruth.
Frostborn: The High Lords Page 33