The Tomni'Tai Scroll (Book 1)
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“I can help you,” the drow stated at long last.
“How can you help me?” Talon asked.
“Imagine the stir that would wriggle through the city of Bluewater if I walked back through the streets openly.” The drow smiled wryly.
“What purpose would that serve? I see no benefit, and you just said you are too old to fight.”
“You see no benefit?” the drow asked in a mocking tone. “You have the scroll, but you lack the other relics. In order to find the other relics you will have to travel to Selemet. That is where they are.”
“I have already figured as much,” Talon grunted.
“Well, have you come up with a plan to get from here to there?” the drow taunted.
Talon folded his arms impatiently.
“I didn’t think so,” the drow commented. “I may not have the strength to fight on a continuing basis, but I have enough strength for one last battle.”
“You would sacrifice yourself just to create a diversion?” Talon asked.
The drow nodded. “And, perhaps I can take a few of those cursed Svetli’Tai down before I die. I do not believe they have been practicing their magic as widely since the end of the Mage Wars, therefore it will take them a while to counteract my spells.”
Talon nodded. “That is true. I have only seen the Svetli’Tai Kruks execute spells. An old elf lady told me that most of the elves were required to give up using magic a long time ago.”
“That is because the humans demanded that all magic be discontinued after the Mage Wars. The Svetli’Tai Kruks were allowed to continue practicing with the understanding that they served as the buffer to the Netherworld Gate.” The drow puffed up his chest and smiled. “I may die, but at least I will die to aid my fellow drow escape from the hell they were put into. You just make sure you open the gate.”
“Alright,” Talon agreed. “Let’s do it.”
“I have one more gift that will help you,” the old drow announced.
“What is that?” Talon asked.
The drow reached into the folds of his dark robes and produced a katana. Talon was amazed that the weapon had been concealed so well that even he had not noticed it. His bewilderment turned to admiration quickly as he studied the weapon. The scabbard was made of black, lacquered wood. The scabbard had two rings, one just below the hand-guard, and the other in the middle of the scabbard. The first ring was made of blue steel and had a demon face etched into the ring. The second ring was also made of blue steel, but it was the graven image of a dragon’s head. The scabbard end also had a blue steel cap with a winged demon face.
The hand guard on the katana was the shape of a great, serpentine dragon wrapped around the sword, providing excellent protection as well as a great visual component. Talon admired the black silk binding crisscrossed over the handle with another ring of blue steel at the middle of the handle holding yet another graven image of a dragon. The pommel was capped with a final blue steel piece forged into the shape of a dragon’s head.
“It is exquisite,” Talon whispered.
“You should see the blade,” the drow offered.
Talon handed his torch to the drow and took the sword from the drow and slowly, gently slid the katana from its scabbard. The torchlight glinted off of the clean, pure steel and illuminated the design on the blade. Talon marveled at the workmanship. The image of a long dragon swirling through clouds was carved into the very blade itself on both sides of the mune, the flat back of the katana blade. Talon took a few mock-swings with the blade and delighted in its perfect balance and weight.
“This is the most incredible weapon I have ever seen,” Talon complimented.
“That is because you hold the sword of King Lemork,” the drow replied. “I have kept it here since that day when the black dragon brought it in with him after Lemork’s death. I once thought that I would wield it to avenge my brethren, but I am too old for such things now.”
“I have no words to express what I feel at this moment,” Talon whispered reverently.
“This sword was made by the Sierri’Tai, centuries ago. Only the king of our kind has ever wielded it in battle. I think it would be fitting that our savior should wield it now.”
“What is the sword’s name?” Talon asked.
“It is called Drekk’hul in Taish. If it is translated literally into the common tongue it is rendered as ‘of the black dragon’s spine’ I believe.”
Talon paused, recalling the words Jahre had spoken. “The sword is made from a dragon’s spine?” Talon asked.
The drow shook his head. “A better translation would be ‘Son of the Black Dragon’ as the great sword was made with the aid of a dragon.”
“I see,” Talon said, relieved that this sword didn’t exactly match the description Jahre had foretold of in Medlas.
The drow tapped the blade with a long fingernail and continued. “Originally there were four such blades in existence on Terramyr. One was created for each of the four great dragons, but now the others are lost and this is the only one that remains.”
“I will wield it well on my quest to recover the Sierri’Tai,” Talon promised.
“Drekk’hul will also help you in your quest.”
Talon shot the Drow a puzzled look.
“It is imbued with magical properties. The great dragon who helped my ancestors make this blade blessed it to grant the wielder additional strength and agility. In addition, as long as you possess this blade, the Sierri’Tai are bound to protect and defend you. They will view you as their rightful ruler.”
“Well then,” Talon cut in, “when do we go?”
A smile, larger than any the drow had worn in centuries, crossed his lips and he let out a loud cackle. “Patience, my young friend, we have much to discuss.” The drow rose to his feet and beckoned for Talon to follow him again. “Come, I have some food, and then I will show you where you can rest without worrying about the elves finding you.”
“Can you tell me more about the other relics?”
The drow nodded. “That and much more, I assure you.”
Other Books by Sam Ferguson
If you enjoyed The Tomni’Tai Scroll, then please take a moment and post a review on Amazon!
Keep an eye out for The Netherworld Gate, Book Two: The King’s Ring in 2014.
You may also enjoy
Legends and Myths from Terramyr
The Dragon’s Champion Series:
The Dragon’s Champion
The Warlock Senator
The Dragon’s Test
Erik and the Dragon
About the Author
Sam Ferguson has a sword collection so large that Wolverine has blade-envy.
He once fought a bull with nothing but a fencing panel and won.
He has enough sons to create his own 3 on 3 football game and still be all-time QB.
When Russian, Latvian, and Hungarian didn't confuse him enough, he moved to Yerevan so he could learn Armenian.
He once drove through an earthquake while all others were too afraid to come out from hiding.
He used to hunt cougar with a baseball bat.
While others use a .22 for target practice, he uses a Russian RPD.
He can curl more than 200 lbs., without cheating.
He also draws the BEST darn stick-figures you have EVER seen!
Now, he won't admit to being Batman, but no one has ever seen him and Batman in the same room at the same time...
When he is taking a break from being awesome, he is usually at home with his wife and kids and learning from them how to become even AWESOMER!
(Yes, "awesomer" is a word. The toddler says so!)
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTTEEN
Other Books by Sam Ferguson
About the Author