A Shadow Flame (Book 7) Read Online Free Page A

problems at hand."
    "I can use the stones I brought with me to release as many of the soldiers as possible from the spell," Margo offered.
    "Good," Borrican said, then he frowned. "But do not use all of them. If the magic of the dark god can corrupt a person so easily, there is a danger that one of us might fall prey to it, so we should keep a few in reserve."
    "While I do not wish for any of my people to suffer any longer than they must, perhaps it would be best to wait until we can release all of them at once," Berant said. "I would not want to pick and choose, nor would I wish upon them the guilt and horror of having been picked and chosen. For now, they remain bound by the magic, but they are no longer being used against their will, so no further harm will come to them if they must wait a little longer."
    "Wise and careful thoughts, General Berant," Margo commented with a nod, then she turned and looked at the young warrior, who spoke with the voice of a god. "What say you of the stones?"
    Brian felt the god use his power to sense the composition of the clear stone, and he was amazed at the knowledge that Kroma possessed about the world, and the many substances that existed within it. It was a strange sensation seeing his thoughts, yet not really understanding much about them, but he was fascinated and wondered if the god would be willing to teach him about such things. He heard Kroma chuckle in his mind, then he told Brian that he would be more than pleased to instruct him in the ways of metal, crystal and stone.
    "With my power, I could make stones like this, but it would take some time, much more time than we have," Kroma said, finally.
    "Then perhaps one of the vassal dragons can fly to the north and collect more of the stones from the watcher people who stayed behind in their village," Ariana suggested, and Vale nodded in agreement.
    "I can send Kiva," she suggested. "He is known to the watcher people, is a faster flyer than Crag, and speaks better than Raz or Kaz."
    "What do you mean by that?" Raz growled.
    "Quiet Raz," Kaz said, giving him a hard elbow in the ribs.
    "Good," Borrican said, ignoring the drakes, though he noted that the others had remained quiet, demonstrating at least a little decorum. "What of Rivergate?"
    "We expect there to be some resistance at the keep itself, but there have been no encounters with the enemy," Nathas said, then he turned to Storm. "Storm, you have flown over the lands between here and Rivergate. Is there any sign of the Darga?"
    "Most of the creatures went east," the dragon warrior growled. "I can smell their stink on the wind."
    "Then it appears they have retreated," Borrican said with a nod. "Still, considering the nature of our foe, once our forces are free of the forest, we must be ready for an attack, at any time and without warning."
    "We will watch from the skies," Storm offered. "These Darga are no match for dragons."
    "Do not be overconfident, Storm," Borrican said. "Many of those creatures have become more powerful, and their numbers are still far greater than our own."
    "It is the swords they use," Kroma rumbled. "The godswords give them power."
    "And they give us power as well," Storm commented.
    "That is true," Kroma replied. "But be wary of taking too much power from your foe with the godswords. There is a reason the weapons were hidden away. They are dangerous."
    "What is so dangerous about them?" Borrican asked.
    "They can lead to madness," Kroma rumbled. "So I am told."
    "What is this madness of which you speak?" Vale asked, glancing over at Borrican, and the four dragons at her side shifted uneasily on their feet, sensitive to the troubles of madness that afflicted dragonkind.
    "It is a nearly forgotten tale from an ancient time," Kroma said. "Perhaps only the Lady herself knows the full truth of the godswords, for she is the only one who remains from the age in which they were created, but let us say it was better for the world when the knowledge of such