Growling Bear took his axe from his shoulder and swung it through Ghile's neck in one easy swipe. When the grey mist Ghile was made of simply parted and then reformed, Growling Bear smirked and nodded as if it confirmed his suspicions.
“Interesting trick. It might be useful to travel into others dreams once I have killed you.”
Ghile noted that Growling Bear used his free hand to make wide motions as he talked.
“I am Ghile Stonechosen. I have come to speak truth with you.”
Ghile said the words just as Two Elks had taught him. He even made the same hand gestures Two Elks had used.
The female barbarian scoffed. “Bah, this gwa-”
“Silence!” Growling Bear said.
The woman closed her mouth.
He eyed Ghile for a long time before nodding. Growling Bear laid his axe at his feet and then crossed his arms over his chest. “I will hear your words.”
“It is true my people live under the rule of dwarves. My people have forgotten the true language and speak the tongue of the dwarves,” Ghile said.
“But, I have spoken with the Goddess Islmur and she has much wisdom. She remembers the time when the Battle God walked on Allwyn. So, I believe her words are true,” Ghile said.
Ghile knew his next sentence would decide his path in all this.
“The Battle God does not wish us to fight the other races so that he can become the All Father and be equal to the All Mother. He wishes us to fight in hope that we will be destroyed and he can take back what he gave up to create us. If you give yourself to him, you will not only be sacrificing yourself, but all of us.”
Growling Bear stared down at Ghile, his expression unreadable. He turned and looked at the three humans behind him. There was no question in Ghile's mind what they thought of his words. Each of them had been a stonechosen and had been defeated and consumed by Growling Bear. Like Adon, Muk, and even Akira, the part of them that had existed on Allwyn was still there, but it was now combined with a soulstone and as such had the soulstone's desire that their host be a suitable vessel for Haurtu's return.
“I hear your words, Ghile Stonechosen,” Growling Bear said, “Now hear mine.”
Growling Bear stepped over his axe and walked to the center of the clearing. He raised his hands like he was addressing an army. When he spoke, his voice carried across the clearing with a deep resonating boom.
“I am Growling Bear of the Blood Moon tribe. I now speak truth to you, Ghile Stonechosen. My people have not forgotten and hold true to the old ways. I do not believe the words of Islmur. She who schemed with Daomur to trick and imprison the Battle God.”
Growling Bear walked over to a large animal hide concealing something beneath. He pulled it aside to reveal a cage made of bone. Inside cowered a living shadow.
“You are not the first to test me, Ghile Stonechosen. But I am Growling Bear and I have not forgotten the old ways.”
“I will prepare for the Battle God's return. I will bathe in the blood of his enemies and lay their cities low. I will call all humans who would remember the old ways to my banner. Then I will release the Battle God from his prison and join him in eternity!”
The others cheered as Growling Bear finished, his hands raised above his head. With a confident smirk on his face he strode back to stand before Ghile and picked up his axe.
“I will not fight you,” Ghile said.
“You will,” Growling Bear said.
“Because even now my armies march on the dwarven settlements throughout the north.”
Growling Bear raised a brow. “You are from the Cradle of the Gods, are you not?”
Ghile felt a chill run down his spine.
“Follow the pull of my soulstones. Come to me before I reach your precious Cradle. If you do, I will free your people and allow them to join my army. If not…”
Growling Bear's cheek rose in what could have been an attempt at a smile, but his scars turned it into a toothy sneer.
“I will kill them all.”
Ghile stepped out of the dream mists and appeared in the clearing under the boughs of the Great Oak. The others were there waiting for him with looks that ranged from hopefulness to trepidation to outright fear. He took a deep steadying breath and walked towards them.
There was nothing for it now.
Akira met him halfway and took his hand. She said nothing, but simply smiled up at him and gave his hand a reaffirming squeeze.
By the All Mother, I love her.
Adon stood there with Muk, the goblin to one side and Ba'groot, the vargan, to the other. They all watched and waited for him to speak.
Near the roots of the Great Oak, his shadow appeared and crouched down to watch.
Ghile looked at them all. He looked up at the Great Oak and the surrounding clearing. His path was chosen and for the sake of everything he loved, he would walk it until he reached its end.
“There is much to be done,” Ghile said.
Name Pronunciation & Race Guide
Word Phonetic Sounds like
Humans
Adon ˈā-ˈdən ‘A-done’
Almoriz ˈal-mə-ˈriz ‘Al-muh-riz’
Ecrec ˈek-rik ‘Ek-wreck’
Elana ˈē-ˈlä-nə ‘e-La-na’
Gaidel ’gī-del ‘Guy-dell’
Ghile ˈgē-lā ‘Key-lay’
Two Elks ˈtü-elks ‘Two-Elks’
Dwarves
Dagbar ˈdag-ˈbär ‘Bag-bar’
Finngyr ˈfin-gir ‘Fin-gear’
Gyldoon ˈgil-dün ‘Gill-dune’
Kjar ’K-yär ‘Ka-yard’
Obudar ˈō-bu-där ‘Oh-boo-dar’
Elves
Arenuin ˈär-e-nü-ən ‘R-eh-new-in’
Goblin
Muk ˈmək ‘Muck’
Primordials
Haurtu ˈHär-ˈtü ‘Car-Two’
Daomur ˈdā-ō-ˈmər ‘Day-O-fur’
Islmur ˈiz-l-ˈmər ‘Drizzle-Fur’
About the Author
Thomas grew up in a small town in Illinois where he spent most of his time enjoying scouting and playing role playing games. After graduation he joined the military, obtained a degree in Computer Science and saw the world. Since leaving the military, his job in IT continues to keep him abroad. As of the completion of this book, he hangs his hat in a small town in England, with his lovely wife and children, where he can be found spending most of his time enjoying scouting and playing role playing games. Some things never change.
Thank you for taking time to read Time of the Stonechosen. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author's best friend and much appreciated.
Time of the Stonechosen (The Soulstone Prophecy Book 2) Page 36