enough to turn over a power such as this on faith! You tried to manipulate me with your words and visions. I will not hand over the power of Adromida. Kill me if you like, but neither of you shall possess it if you do.”
Kellallea regarded him with slow smoldering fury hid well behind patient eyes. “What is it you would ask of me?” she asked.
“ Help me to the last Gate of Arkron.”
Chapter Ten
Veolindra
As the sun broke over the horizon illuminating the dull clouds hanging overhead, the barbarians broke camp, and, within the hour, they marched southwest once again. They followed in the footsteps of the Draggard down the once heavily used trade road. The beasts left the road behind them trampled and muddy, making the going slow and laborious for the wagon train. Soon, Aurora instructed Zander to order the Draggard to fall back behind the seven armies; better to break through the snow themselves than navigate the mud pits the Draggard left in their wake. The early winter weather was in a transition period when fat snow fell but quickly melted, leaving everything wet and slushy.
The barbarians stiffened and the horses whined nervously as the Draggard passed to take up the rear. The dwargon lumbered past by the hundreds, their heavy three-toed feet leaving wide puddles in the road. The beasts passed without incident, though they snarled and bit at the air if a barbarian stared too intently.
Beorin of Bear Tribe road up next to Aurora then, glaring at Zander as he took his place beside his chieftain. “This weather is shyte, and this mud is for the dogs,” he spat.
“ Unlike the dark elves, we cannot control the weather. Focus on what we can change, Bear Chief,” said Aurora.
“ Ah, but you are right,” Beorin replied. She felt him staring sidelong at her, measuring. “You have impressed me, Chieftain,” he said finally, and turned his hard gaze to the road. His eyes told of deep consideration, as if his words escaped him. His beard came together as he puckered his lips, his lack of teeth bringing his bottom lip up and out. His gray eyes sparked with resolution.
“ Yes, I see clearly now our destiny.”
“ Save your arse kissing for one who gives a shyte, Beorin,” said Aurora.
“ You have me wrong, m’lady. I came only to tell you of my wishes should I die in battle. I ask to be raised by the dark elf. If I can be of further use dead, then I accept.”
Aurora jerked her head to the side and took a newfound measure of the man. His eyes showed his sincerity. She was impressed and disturbed by his resolve.
“ You do not know what you are saying,” she told him.
“ I speak with my heart of hearts, Aurora,” said Beorin, and fell back, leaving her to her thoughts.
The conversation made her think of Azzeal. She had seen little of the lich, but more than she could stand. His milky white eyes made her skin crawl; they saw nothing and everything it seemed, and she always felt them staring at her, past her, into her very soul. She thought of the elf she had known for such a short time, how he had fought to free her and the others from the arena in Uthen-Arden, and how he had tried to save her. She knew he was inside, somewhere behind the crooked stance and downward stare. She had turned out to be a coward after all, unable to die doing the right thing. Instead, she had done something unimaginable. The memory of impaling Azzeal with the Dragonlance of Ashai came to her again. His eyes locked hers in place, and rather than outrage or shock, they conveyed sympathy. What if she had gone against Eadon, and ordered her armies against the Draggard?
Zander moved to ride beside her once more, his head craned back as he spied Beorin. “Hard to find one so dedicated, even among my kind. He is possessed of something beyond honor. Keep an eye on that one…he will be quite useful.”
“ Honor? Your kind cares for such a thing?” Aurora asked.
“ You may think us monsters, but who claims such
Kellallea regarded him with slow smoldering fury hid well behind patient eyes. “What is it you would ask of me?” she asked.
“ Help me to the last Gate of Arkron.”
Chapter Ten
Veolindra
As the sun broke over the horizon illuminating the dull clouds hanging overhead, the barbarians broke camp, and, within the hour, they marched southwest once again. They followed in the footsteps of the Draggard down the once heavily used trade road. The beasts left the road behind them trampled and muddy, making the going slow and laborious for the wagon train. Soon, Aurora instructed Zander to order the Draggard to fall back behind the seven armies; better to break through the snow themselves than navigate the mud pits the Draggard left in their wake. The early winter weather was in a transition period when fat snow fell but quickly melted, leaving everything wet and slushy.
The barbarians stiffened and the horses whined nervously as the Draggard passed to take up the rear. The dwargon lumbered past by the hundreds, their heavy three-toed feet leaving wide puddles in the road. The beasts passed without incident, though they snarled and bit at the air if a barbarian stared too intently.
Beorin of Bear Tribe road up next to Aurora then, glaring at Zander as he took his place beside his chieftain. “This weather is shyte, and this mud is for the dogs,” he spat.
“ Unlike the dark elves, we cannot control the weather. Focus on what we can change, Bear Chief,” said Aurora.
“ Ah, but you are right,” Beorin replied. She felt him staring sidelong at her, measuring. “You have impressed me, Chieftain,” he said finally, and turned his hard gaze to the road. His eyes told of deep consideration, as if his words escaped him. His beard came together as he puckered his lips, his lack of teeth bringing his bottom lip up and out. His gray eyes sparked with resolution.
“ Yes, I see clearly now our destiny.”
“ Save your arse kissing for one who gives a shyte, Beorin,” said Aurora.
“ You have me wrong, m’lady. I came only to tell you of my wishes should I die in battle. I ask to be raised by the dark elf. If I can be of further use dead, then I accept.”
Aurora jerked her head to the side and took a newfound measure of the man. His eyes showed his sincerity. She was impressed and disturbed by his resolve.
“ You do not know what you are saying,” she told him.
“ I speak with my heart of hearts, Aurora,” said Beorin, and fell back, leaving her to her thoughts.
The conversation made her think of Azzeal. She had seen little of the lich, but more than she could stand. His milky white eyes made her skin crawl; they saw nothing and everything it seemed, and she always felt them staring at her, past her, into her very soul. She thought of the elf she had known for such a short time, how he had fought to free her and the others from the arena in Uthen-Arden, and how he had tried to save her. She knew he was inside, somewhere behind the crooked stance and downward stare. She had turned out to be a coward after all, unable to die doing the right thing. Instead, she had done something unimaginable. The memory of impaling Azzeal with the Dragonlance of Ashai came to her again. His eyes locked hers in place, and rather than outrage or shock, they conveyed sympathy. What if she had gone against Eadon, and ordered her armies against the Draggard?
Zander moved to ride beside her once more, his head craned back as he spied Beorin. “Hard to find one so dedicated, even among my kind. He is possessed of something beyond honor. Keep an eye on that one…he will be quite useful.”
“ Honor? Your kind cares for such a thing?” Aurora asked.
“ You may think us monsters, but who claims such
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