what happened to you when you were alive. Now, all you are after is a second chance to get control and rule the world.”
Martok could hardly believe he was hearing these words coming from Kat. Not after feeling so sure just a short time ago that he was winning her over. “You speak about things that are far beyond your understanding,” he told her. “And because of this, you will doom us all. I only want to heal this world, not rule it. That's all I've ever wanted. Who other than me do you think could accomplish this? The dwarves? Your moron of a father? Do you honestly believe the races would unite under his banner? Even if you did succeed in defeating Shinzan - which you most certainly will not - your actions would ensure that Lumnia is ravaged by war for countless generations to come.”
“No, you misjudge them,” she countered, ignoring the insult to her father. “The people have already united. They don’t need an all-powerful leader to make them do what they know in their hearts is right.”
A mocking laugh slipped from Martok's lips. “Don’t be so naïve. The elves and the dwarves have come together out of necessity, nothing more. And humans have never been able to accept that they must share this world. The alliance you see will crumble the very moment they no longer have a common enemy to fight. Do you really believe thousands of years of hatred and distrust can be washed away so easily?”
Kat shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re right. Maybe this really is all for nothing. But I know I’m not going to let you go through with your plan. You will not have Ethan’s body. And you will not replace Shinzan.”
“Replace?” He struggled against the collar, but a searing pain shot through his head. It took several moments before he was able to continue. “Katyana. I am begging you. Listen to reason. The control I have over Ethan is permanent; it cannot be undone. Release me and I will forgive you for your lapse in judgment. I give you my word on that. Once we have resolved this misunderstanding, then together we will destroy Shinzan.”
Kat chuckled softly. “You honestly think I believe that?” She shook her head. “No, Ethan is still inside there somewhere. And when we get to the dragons, then he’ll be able to come back to me.”
A jolt of anxiety ran through Martok. He tried to disguise this with a scornful laugh. “The dragons? What good will going there do you? Ethan’s bond with the elves has left him vulnerable to me. And you should know that from all of the Dragonvein line, only I hold the knowledge and the power to use this crystal. Ethan certainly cannot.”
“If that’s true, then you have nothing to worry about, right? But then again, why would Ethan have told me to bring his body there if this ever happened? That's a strange thing to ask if he knew it wouldn’t do him any good.”
Martok's anger began to swell again. “Damn it, girl. Release me, or I swear I will rip Ethan’s spirit apart. I’ll send him to the depths of oblivion. Do you hear me? He will be truly dead. Forever.”
Kat stood and turned her back. “If I don’t do this, then he’s dead anyway.”
He grunted with frustration. “So tell me. How do you think to get me there? This collar may restrain me, but you have no way of moving me. That is, unless you intend to carry me across your back. I doubt even you could get me all that way without help.”
“That's true. But I’m not alone.”
Martok heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
“Is he fully restrained?” To his astonishment, it was the voice of Lylinora.
“Yes,” replied Kat. “The collar worked perfectly.”
“Do you have the dwarf object?”
Kat pointed off to her left. “It’s there in my pack.”
Lylinora bent down to meet Martok’s eyes. “I am sorry it has come to this. I mean that. But you left us with no choice.”
Martok sniffed. “You are as stupid as Katyana if you think this will do you any good. Take me to
Martok could hardly believe he was hearing these words coming from Kat. Not after feeling so sure just a short time ago that he was winning her over. “You speak about things that are far beyond your understanding,” he told her. “And because of this, you will doom us all. I only want to heal this world, not rule it. That's all I've ever wanted. Who other than me do you think could accomplish this? The dwarves? Your moron of a father? Do you honestly believe the races would unite under his banner? Even if you did succeed in defeating Shinzan - which you most certainly will not - your actions would ensure that Lumnia is ravaged by war for countless generations to come.”
“No, you misjudge them,” she countered, ignoring the insult to her father. “The people have already united. They don’t need an all-powerful leader to make them do what they know in their hearts is right.”
A mocking laugh slipped from Martok's lips. “Don’t be so naïve. The elves and the dwarves have come together out of necessity, nothing more. And humans have never been able to accept that they must share this world. The alliance you see will crumble the very moment they no longer have a common enemy to fight. Do you really believe thousands of years of hatred and distrust can be washed away so easily?”
Kat shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re right. Maybe this really is all for nothing. But I know I’m not going to let you go through with your plan. You will not have Ethan’s body. And you will not replace Shinzan.”
“Replace?” He struggled against the collar, but a searing pain shot through his head. It took several moments before he was able to continue. “Katyana. I am begging you. Listen to reason. The control I have over Ethan is permanent; it cannot be undone. Release me and I will forgive you for your lapse in judgment. I give you my word on that. Once we have resolved this misunderstanding, then together we will destroy Shinzan.”
Kat chuckled softly. “You honestly think I believe that?” She shook her head. “No, Ethan is still inside there somewhere. And when we get to the dragons, then he’ll be able to come back to me.”
A jolt of anxiety ran through Martok. He tried to disguise this with a scornful laugh. “The dragons? What good will going there do you? Ethan’s bond with the elves has left him vulnerable to me. And you should know that from all of the Dragonvein line, only I hold the knowledge and the power to use this crystal. Ethan certainly cannot.”
“If that’s true, then you have nothing to worry about, right? But then again, why would Ethan have told me to bring his body there if this ever happened? That's a strange thing to ask if he knew it wouldn’t do him any good.”
Martok's anger began to swell again. “Damn it, girl. Release me, or I swear I will rip Ethan’s spirit apart. I’ll send him to the depths of oblivion. Do you hear me? He will be truly dead. Forever.”
Kat stood and turned her back. “If I don’t do this, then he’s dead anyway.”
He grunted with frustration. “So tell me. How do you think to get me there? This collar may restrain me, but you have no way of moving me. That is, unless you intend to carry me across your back. I doubt even you could get me all that way without help.”
“That's true. But I’m not alone.”
Martok heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
“Is he fully restrained?” To his astonishment, it was the voice of Lylinora.
“Yes,” replied Kat. “The collar worked perfectly.”
“Do you have the dwarf object?”
Kat pointed off to her left. “It’s there in my pack.”
Lylinora bent down to meet Martok’s eyes. “I am sorry it has come to this. I mean that. But you left us with no choice.”
Martok sniffed. “You are as stupid as Katyana if you think this will do you any good. Take me to
Similar Books
