The ceiling above Rhobart, Milton, and the twins collapsed, trapping them beneath a pile of stone, books, and wood. Fortunately, Milton had activated a shield around them, preventing them from being killed. A dim globe of light floated above them. “Fuck!” Rhobart swore while trying to find a way out so he could go after Galian and Ayla. Galian. That son of a bitch not only came after his soulmate, his wife, but he had hit her, and Rhobart hadn’t been able to stop that bastard from doing so. Not when Galian had held a cursed dagger against her neck. And it wasn’t the first time Galian had put his hands on Ayla. ‘My favorite game was to count how many times I could make Ayla scream while I broke her fingers or I whipped her. Among other things,’ Galian had said. Galian had whipped Ayla. And had done many other things to her. How could he not have known about it? No wonder she looked at him like he was a monster, Galian made her believe that. And he had put his hands on her as well
Ayla had always loved her garden. Since she was a little girl and her grandmother started teaching her about the power of the healing plants and herbs, Ayla had spent time each day in the garden, tending to it. She grew all kinds of medicinal plants–from embelia, which loved the sun, and served for healing wounds, to swamp-root, which thrived in swamps and was good for lung sicknesses.When the plants were mature, Ayla collected them and gave them to Drax, the Water Mage novice. He used them to make potions, elixirs, or tonics. Some could be applied directly to the wounds or transformed into ointments. Leaves or other parts of plants were dried to be made into teas.While working in the garden, Ayla loved hearing the birds sing while the sun warmed her skin. Butterflies or dragonflies danced between the flowers. Myrthana was, after all, the Kingdom of Everlasting Spring.But for some time, the sun felt cold, as if he hated Ayla. The birds were silent, and even the wind had died. There
The once busy roads of the Kingdom of Myrthana were mostly empty. Except for Orcs and mercenaries, almost no one dared travel between towns or villages. The road to Erylas, the capital of Myrthana, was empty except for four riders and their horses. A fifth horse had the carcasses of two deer and some pelts and furs. The riders were dressed simple—trousers, pants, and cloaks. The cloaks were mottled grey, green, and brown. A man with wings was embroidered on the left side of the cloaks—the mark of the Dark God. The riders had the hoods of their cloaks over their heads, and shadows hid their faces. They rode in silence, studying the dusty road or the green forest. One of the riders, the biggest and the strongest, lifted his head and looked at the sky for a few seconds before turning his attention back to the road. He said nothing as he rushed his black horse. The others did the same as they followed his lead. Sometime later, they reached a bridge. Orcs and human mercenaries wearing ar
The mercenary moved his hand higher, and the wench girl was trying to get free from him. The other mercenaries were laughing and shouting words of encouragement, while the Orcs seemed oblivious to what was happening at the table.Eude gripped his fork hard. "We have to do something; else, they will force her all night long!"The Orcs' table was left to those occupied by Rhobart and the Paladins. The King and his men had been studying the mercenaries and Orcs for a while.Rhobart rose from his seat and looked at the mercenary who was touching the wench girl. "We want more mead! Let her go!"The mercenary looked at Rhobart. "Just because you are permitted to travel and hunt doesn't mean you can order me around! Sit down, finish your dinner in silence, and leave!"Milton put his hand in his trousers pocket and grabbed a magic rune. He kept his hand in the pocket.The wench girl looked at Rhobart, "I am used to it now. You shouldn't get into problems because of me.""You heard her!" the m
Erylas, the capital of Myrthana, was built on a big plateau. A river separated the city from farms, fields, orchards, and the main road. Except for the North-East gate, all the other gates were closed, and the bridges were up. Orcs and mercenaries patrolled in and around Erylas.South of the capital was the most important vineyard of Myrthana. A minor road was behind the last rows of vines of grapes. The road led to a big hill covered by a dense forest of pines. After leaving the cabin from the grove, Drax took Rhobart, Milton, and the Paladins to a forgotten mausoleum built in the heart of the pine forest. Moss and vines covered the mausoleum, and the doors were long gone. Two wolves made from marble guarded the entrance.Drax dismounted his horse and tied the reins close to the mausoleum. The others did the same. Rhobart let Kerra out of his shoulder bag. “What is this place?” he asked, looking at the forgotten place. “A long time ago, Eike, a Son of Earth, and his loyal men fou
The King of Nordmar started walking; each step took him closer to his soulmate. He did not look behind. He didn’t need to do so; he knew his men would follow him anywhere he went. They walked in silence for a while, following Hudde’s light globe. “I feel as if someone is watching me,” Eude said after a while.Hudde looked around. “Do you think it’s a ghost?”Gorn snorted. “I think your brain might have ghosted you!” Tizgar and Droyn laughed. Rhobart looked around the catacombs. Some sarcophaguses were so old that Rhobart didn’t recognize the language in which the King’s or the Queens’ names were written. He wondered if the language was that of the Gods. The tunnel turned to the left, and Rhobart followed it. “It’s the Shadow Mage,” Drax said.“The who?” Tizgar asked.“The guardian of this place,” Drax replied. “He usually kills those that disturb his rest.”“Why haven’t you said this earlier?!” Milton asked, and took out a magic rune.“Put the rune back, Milton!” Rhobart said. “
The dungeons of the Black Tower were cold, even more than Nordmar. The thin dress Galian had forced Ayla to wear did not protect her from the cold. She forgot how it was to feel warm and safe. She didn’t remember how it was not to be tortured and not to feel pain all the time. She might have even forgotten the taste of food, for all Godefray and she received were water and old, moldy bread. Ayla looked at the little piece of bread she had in her hand and put it down next to her. It did not matter if she lived or died. Not anymore. Her hands shook from everything the Dark Master and Galian did to her. Or perhaps it was from the cold. She didn’t know. A rat that lived in a hole made in one of the cell’s walls came and stole Ayla’s bread. “Stupid creature!” Godefray said and pushed his share of bread into Ayla’s hands. “Eat!” he said. Ayla’s hands spasmed hard, and the bread fell on the dirty floor. Godefray picked it up, cleaned it as best as he could, and took it to Ayla’s mouth
Galian slammed her on top of the torture table, knocking the breath out of her. Her back hurt, but Ayla said nothing. Galian tied her legs and hands and looked into her eyes. “This is your last chance to tell me the truth about Nordmar! Otherwise, I will break you!” Ayla spat in his face. “I will never betray Nordmar! Never! And you will never break me!” Galian slapped her before looking at Eluvene. “Bring me the box with the Soul Eaters!” Ayla almost let out a scream of fear but forced her pounding heart to slow its beatings. Her hands spasmed violently. Of all the forms of torture Galian and the Dark Master have tried on her, the Soul Eaters were the worst. Galian looked at Ayla, and an evil grin appeared on his face. “Afraid of some tiny worms, little sister?” “I am Ayla, wife of Rhobart Braveheart, Queen of Nordmar. I am not afraid!” she said. Eluvene gave Galian a black box. He opened it, lifted a little black worm, and put it on Ayla’s neck. Ayla felt the worm digging its