The Eynan
Page 35
Gallia, overhearing the exchange, hurried over to her husband. "My love," Gallia said softly, "neither of you is to blame for any of this. The one responsible is dead." She looked at Ilada and reached out her hand. "I am Patinus' wife, Gallia, and I know how much he loves you and how much he's missed you."
"Oh yes," Patinus said, sounding stronger. "Give me your cloak," Patinus ordered one of the nobles being herded past by the Timendrans, taking it from the man's back even as he spoke. He wrapped it around Ilada, hugging her. "It's so wonderful to have you back."
"Gallia," Ilada murmured. "I heard my brother was married, but I never thought to meet you."
"I would be as a sister to you if you let me," Gallia said.
Ilada smiled shyly.
Glancing around, Patinus suddenly realized the spectacle they were making. "This should be a more private meeting," he said, taking hold of Ilada's hand. "We'll talk properly when we reach home, my dear. Gallia will look after you until then."
"It will be my pleasure," Gallia agreed, drawing the young woman to her.
Jhond smiled as Gallia and Patinus approached, the prince's sister back with her family where she belonged.
Noticing Suvran's disembodied hand still lying on the floor Jhond picked it up, removed the ring from the finger and let the hand fall to the floor. He placed the ring in the palm of his hand and closed it. He shut his eyes and tipped his head back. "Such power," he murmured, opening his eyes again. He glanced at Ninian. "No wonder he felt he could defeat me. Only in the essence of the Eynan have I felt such power."
"We have to decide what to do with the ring," Patinus said
"It's very dangerous. It will take a powerful spell to destroy it."
"Should it be destroyed?" Gallia queried. "It could be a very powerful tool in the right hands...Ninian's, for example."
"True," Ninian agreed. "However, I think the risk is too great that it could end up in the wrong hands. I am satisfied with the power I have by rights and I don't believe anyone should have power to rival that of the Eynan."
"I think he has a point," Girau said, and both Patinus and Gallia nodded.
"Yes, I'll work on destroying it as soon as I can," Jhond said, slipping the ring on one of his fingers.
It wasn't long before the wounded, the soldiers and their prisoners had left the throne room, closely followed by Amired's sailors.
Girau waited until the noise of the feet clambering down the stone steps had ceased before he spoke. "You decided it was necessary to kill Suvran?"
"I believed it was too dangerous to allow him to live." Jhond glanced around and asked, "Are there any detractors?"
"As satisfying as it was to hack off his hand, I'd have killed him then if I could've reached his neck with my sword," Patinus declared.
"You'll get no argument from me," Ninian said.
"Nor me," added Amired.
"Gallia?" Jhond queried when she didn't speak.
She raised her head to look at him. "I have no qualms about the man deserving death. I have no idea how many people he has killed, or caused to die, but I do have personal knowledge of those he has hurt. Lords, if I'd had a blade, I'd have done it myself! My only question is for Lord Girau. What will the king's reaction be to both Bardius and Suvran being killed?"
The thought had occurred to Jhond, but he'd dismissed it. However, now the question had been asked and he was curious as to his father's reaction.
"King Corianus might've wanted the two of them to stand trial and be accountable for their deeds, but then he wasn't here, face-to-face with their evil ways. And something else I thought of; if we'd managed to capture them, how do we know they wouldn't have escaped and created more havoc. No, I think it better this way."
"Good," Jhond said. "I did what I believed to be right. As the Eynan, it is my responsibility to protect the rest of my people from evil however it manifests, but I'm glad everyone is of the same opinion."
Girau took a deep breath. "Come. I think it's time we spoke to the colonel, check what the situation is in the rest of the stronghold, and let him know Bardius and his mage are dead. I also need to write a short report to the king and tell him that things are progressing even better than expected. I believe Captain Amired has a few messenger birds if the colonel hasn't brought any."
Patinus said, "Don't be too quick to report success, Girau. There are still two armies out there fighting over my country."
"Sorry," Girau said, "I rather let my relief at what happened here overwhelm my common sense. You're right, of course. Opposing armies are going to be fighting over this entire continent. I'm not suggesting it will be easy. There's probably at least one general out there who'll see this as an opportunity rather than a cause to surrender, but at least I can report we couldn't have made a better start: lopping off the head of the monster."
Patinus, Gallia, Ilada and Amired were following Girau toward the stone steps when Jhond said, "We'll follow you shortly."
Girau looked curious, but didn't question them, just raised a hand in acknowledgement.
* * * *
"Do you feel all right?" Ninian asked as soon as they were alone.
"I'm fine."
"Good. I thought perhaps you were more affected by what we did than you let on."
"No, I meant every word I said. I just... I feel strange, almost as if everything is settled, that I've done what I was created for, and yet I know that is so far from true."
"Yes, it is, but that doesn't mean you didn't succeed today. Your father was right. We lopped off the head of the monster, both of them."
"Yes, but this is so far from the end of the battle."
"True, it's the beginning. And I will be by your side until we really do reach the end."
"I believe we still have a long way to go, Ninian, and who knows what else we might still have to face. I cannot believe the magi created the Eynan for just one day's battle. I think we need every advantage we can find."
"You're not just speaking casually here," Ninian said. "You have something in mind."
"Yes, I do. We never did finish searching the tower on the Isle of Truth. I think we can leave my father and the others in charge of continuing the fight here while we get Amired to take us back to the isle and carry on where we left off."
The two magi looked at one another and smiled. They could feel the energy...the adventure had only just begun.
L. S. Gibson
L. S. Gibson has been putting pen to paper, figuratively speaking, for decades, but only in the last few years has L. S. really pursued writing in a more serious manner, wanting to get the work published so others can read and hopefully appreciate it.
L. S. likes to write in various genres, though science fiction, fantasy and historical are among the favorites.
For more information on L. S., please visit:
http://www.lsgibsonauthor.com
http://lsgibsonauthor.wordpress.com
* * * *
Don't miss Questor, by L. S. Gibson,
available at AmberQuill.com!
The spaceship, Questor, is caught in an unknown phenomenon that results in the vessel being transported far from home. Desperately low on supplies, the crew discovers a solar system with two inhabited worlds where they hope to find assistance. Captain Sullivan visits the first world, Midea, while sending a small expedition to the second planet, Rhiava. When Jon and Manny try to land on Rhiava, however, they discover a strange energy field encircling the planet, which causes their vessel to crash.
Rescued and befriended by Rhiava natives, Jon and Manny learn the truth about the oppression of the Mideans. The Rhiava aren't the simple people they first appear, having strong mental skills they call Gifts. Helping the Rhiava leader, a young female called Triena, to reach safety, Jon and Manny travel across the planet's surface. During the dangerous journey, Jon and Triena become close, and she's devastated when he's captured and tortured by Midean forces. But Jon refuses to disclose anything he's learned, and though he's fi
nally rescued with help from Triena's Gift, he has been hardened by the ordeal.
The Questor eventually arrives at Rhiava, its crew having learned the truth about the Mideans. Knowing that if they assist the Rhiava against the Mideans and succeed, they will receive all the supplies they need, Captain Sullivan decides to help. After Triena reveals some of her people's secrets to the Questor crew, they plan an attack on the Midean base.
Now only one question remains--who will survive the battle?
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Table of Contents
THE EYNAN
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
L. S. Gibson
Amber Quill Press, LLC
Table of Contents
THE EYNAN
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
L. S. Gibson
Amber Quill Press, LLC