###
They rode on, and Ridmark looked at his companions.
Caius and Kharlacht led Gavin’s and Morigna’s horses. Gavin was taking to horsemanship with ease, while Morigna loudly proclaimed the superiority of her own feet. From time to time Jager offered a mocking little comment, and Morigna answered in turn. Perhaps it was just as well that Jager had joined them – he would help keep Morigna and Caius from their interminable theological debates.
Calliande moved beside him, handling her mount with ease. She was an excellent rider, it seemed – yet another skill she had acquired before going into the long sleep below the Tower of Vigilance.
He regretted that he had hurt her. But it was for the best. He had seen Aelia die, and he could not bear to have it happen again. And if she desired companionship...well, she could do far better than a branded exile.
“You’ve acquired quite the collection of followers,” Calliande said. “It must be a change from wandering the Wilderland alone.”
“It is,” said Ridmark. “But I cannot to what needs to be done alone. I cannot stop the Frostborn alone.”
“Nor can I,” said Calliande.
He nodded, and they rode on toward the Iron Tower and the soulstone.
And beyond, to where Urd Morlemoch and the Warden awaited with the secret of the Frostborn.
Epilogue
After he finished, Tarrabus rolled off Imaria Licinius and got to his feet, breathing hard, sweat beading upon his skin. Imaria sighed and stretched on the camp bed, displaying her body to him. She was devoted to Tarrabus, and she possessed a number of skills he had found useful.
But Imaria was not Aelia, and he could never really forgive her for that.
Still, that was no reason not to take his pleasure with her.
“My lord is vigorous,” she purred.
“Indeed,” said Tarrabus. He poured himself a cup of wine from the folding table besides his bed, the walls of the tent rippling in the night breeze. “My work in Coldinium was successful. Why should I not be pleased?”
Sir Paul had the soulstone, and would guard it at the Iron Tower. Tarrabus had hoped to kill Ridmark Arban, and he also wanted Calliande dead. Shadowbearer had ordered her death, and after seeing her performance against Imaria, Tarrabus knew that she was a potential threat. Best to kill her before that potential became actual.
But it was no great loss if Mournacht and Rotherius failed in their trap. Ridmark would never retrieve the soulstone from the Iron Tower, and if he tried the garrison would kill him. Shadowbearer would take the stone, and then at last Tarrabus could begin.
He would make humanity strong and immortal, a master kindred to dominate this world forever.
Imaria chattered about something inconsequential, and Tarrabus listened with half an ear, sipping at his wine.
Then a deep chill fell over him, and his shadow, thrown by the light of the lantern, flickered.
“Leave me,” he said. “Now. Return to your tent. I shall see you in the morning.”
A hurt look went over her face, but she nodded, collected her robe, and left. She knew better than to disobey him.
Tarrabus sat on the bed as his shadow flickered and grew longer and darker. A strange, eerie voice came from the shadow. Or more precisely, two voices at once, one deep and musical, the other an inhuman, alien buzz.
“Have you been successful?” said Shadowbearer.
“I have,” said Tarrabus. “The soulstone shall await you at the Iron Tower. Once you can travel without fear of Ardrhythain locating you, you may proceed to the Tower and claim it.”
“Good,” said Shadowbearer. “Very good. You have done well, Dux of Caerdracon. Andomhaim shall prosper with you as her High King.”
There was a faint note of mockery in the wizard’s voice, but Tarrabus did not care. Shadowbearer had created the Enlightened of Incariel, had forged them as tools to serve his own purpose.
But Tarrabus had his own purposes.
“Thank you,” said Tarrabus.
“And Calliande?” said Shadowbearer. “Is she dead?”
“No,” said Tarrabus.
Shadowbearer hissed in annoyance. “She is dangerous, more dangerous than you know. But once I have the soulstone, I will kill her with all the others.”
###
In the darkness below the Iron Tower, Mara sat alone in her cell, the iron collar about her neck holding her fast to the wall. The thin shift they permitted her was not enough, and she kept shivering, her teeth chattering. The guards had not harmed her, but they had not gone out of their way to make her comfortable.
At least they had let her keep the jade bracelet on her left wrist.
Which was wise of them. Without the bracelet she might have killed every living thing in the Tower.
But the cost would have been more than she could bear.
She buried her face in her knees. Cold, she was so cold. She would have wept, but there were no tears left. Jager, her poor, brave Jager, was likely dead, and there was no one coming for her, no one to free her…
“Perhaps,” murmured a deep whisper, “you ought to free yourself.”
Mara’s head snapped up, her hands moving to weapons she did not carry.
Alone. The white cell was empty, save for her chamber pot and the isron chains.
But the shadows in one corner seemed darker, somehow…and she felt something within them staring at her.
“You are caged,” said the whisper, “but there is no need for it.”
“Who are you?” said Mara. Was this a trick? Some game the guards were playing with her?
“A prisoner, like you,” said the whisper. “We can free each other…and then grow drunk upon the blood of our enemies.”
THE END
Thank you for reading FROSTBORN: THE MASTER THIEF. If you liked the story, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice.
Ridmark Arban and his companions will return in fall 2013 in FROSTBORN: THE IRON TOWER. 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 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 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, and Frostborn: The Master Thief along with the short stories The Orc's Tale, The Mage's Tale, and The Thief'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
Prologue
Chapter 1 - Wings
Chapter 2 - Venom
Chapter 3 - Only One Way
Chapter 4 - Vulmhosk
Chapter 5 - Sons of Mhor
Chapter 6 - The Lake of Battles
Chapter 7 - One Theft Too Many
Chapter 8 - Coldinium
Chapter 9 - The Crow’s Helm
Chapter 10 - The Heralds of Mhor
Chapter 11 - A Wanted Man
Chapter 12 - The Dux and the Magistria
Chapter 13 - The Challenge
Chapter 14 - Pursuit
Chapter 15 - Memory Bleed
Chapter 16 - No Longer Useful
Chapter 17 - Gift of a Dagger
Chapter 18 - Catacombs
Chapter 19 - Tentacles
Chapter 20 - Mercy
Chapter 21 - Thieving
Chapter 22 - Vengeance of the Family
Chapter 23 - Traitor To The Realm
Chapter 24 - Debts To Pay
Epilogue
Other books by the author
About the Author
Frostborn: The Master Thief Page 30