Key of Living Fire (The Sword of the Dragon) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Scott Appleton
power in this world that is truly to be reckoned with, my old master.” Auron smiled and stepped forward. “And you, even after a thousand and more years have passed, have yet to understand that it is not the power of the prophets, or of their God.”
“It is—” Specter struggled to say the words as ice formed over his chest. “You have rejected all that is good, Auron. And for that you will pay the ultimate price.”
The traitor flung his gaze ceiling-ward and laughed.
“Oh, mighty God, please,” Specter prayed. His body trembled. “Do not let him escape. Look upon me with favor.”
Auron sprang toward him and landed a punch to his jaw. Spots of light danced in Specter’s vision, and he gagged as ice crackled over his throat. “I will leave your fate up to these friends of mine, Master .” Auron turned his back and pointed his broken staff at the wall. Smoke poured from the orb, swirled, and funneled through the dirt. A bright flash and a portal appeared, revealing a snow-covered mountain slope and a gate in the mountain, made of ice. A clear blue sky stretched to the horizon, and ice-and-snow-covered mountain peaks filled the landscape.
Auron laughed and placed his foot in the portal. “Your end has come, Xavion. Death will not claim me. God’s angel decreed it.” He cackled and lowered his arms. “You should have chosen a different enemy. Now death comes by their hands and I—I live on, eternal and ever growing in might. I will escape God’s judgment, while you meet it like a warrior.” He walked into the portal and glanced over his shoulder, his eyes sparkling. “God have mercy on you!”
The portal closed and darkness swallowed Specter. The evil spirits brushed against his cheeks. “Join us. You can.”
But three brilliant lights appeared beside him, and the demons screamed as the light revealed their skeletal bodies. The humanoid spirits looked at one another, still screaming. Three glowing men robed in white smiled at him and touched his body. Immediately the ice receded from his neck, back, and legs. It fled into the room’s edges, and the demons vanished. Warmth returned to his body, and he bowed to the angels, awe filling him.
“No, friend.” The angels pulled him straight. “Do not bow to us; we are servants like you. We all serve the Lord and Maker, and He has sent us to save you this day. But now we must return you to the forest and send you on your way. Auron is lost, and should you meet him again, you must become his angel of death—or the innocent will suffer for it.”
The angels walked him out of the chamber and for a moment stood around him in the silent forest. He marveled at their radiance, their heavenly glory. “What should I do?” he asked them. “For I had set my mind on staying with the traitor. Now that he is gone, I don’t know where I may best serve the will of my Creator.”
“Return to the holy prophet, the dragon you know as Albino. Place yourself once more under his guidance.”
He started to bow, habit overruling wisdom. But they disappeared, leaving him to realize that, once again, Auron had escaped justice. Next time, he vowed—if there ever came such a time—he would do what must be done. For now he would make the return journey to Netroth and see if he could find the dragon.
2
THE HIDDEN REALM
A lbino was not certain what made him return to the portal. He had not been to the site for years. But every so often he came back, just to reassure himself with a visual check that no one had managed to enter the hidden domain. He flapped his wings as he soared over the immense forest and angled toward the one tree rising far above the others. No other branches would hold his weight.
Angling his wings back to slow his approach, he settled his feet on the branch. Cool breezes rustled the leaves as his gaze swept the treetops. Folding his wings to his sides, he dug his claws into the ancient bark and gazed upon the one-story structure a couple
“It is—” Specter struggled to say the words as ice formed over his chest. “You have rejected all that is good, Auron. And for that you will pay the ultimate price.”
The traitor flung his gaze ceiling-ward and laughed.
“Oh, mighty God, please,” Specter prayed. His body trembled. “Do not let him escape. Look upon me with favor.”
Auron sprang toward him and landed a punch to his jaw. Spots of light danced in Specter’s vision, and he gagged as ice crackled over his throat. “I will leave your fate up to these friends of mine, Master .” Auron turned his back and pointed his broken staff at the wall. Smoke poured from the orb, swirled, and funneled through the dirt. A bright flash and a portal appeared, revealing a snow-covered mountain slope and a gate in the mountain, made of ice. A clear blue sky stretched to the horizon, and ice-and-snow-covered mountain peaks filled the landscape.
Auron laughed and placed his foot in the portal. “Your end has come, Xavion. Death will not claim me. God’s angel decreed it.” He cackled and lowered his arms. “You should have chosen a different enemy. Now death comes by their hands and I—I live on, eternal and ever growing in might. I will escape God’s judgment, while you meet it like a warrior.” He walked into the portal and glanced over his shoulder, his eyes sparkling. “God have mercy on you!”
The portal closed and darkness swallowed Specter. The evil spirits brushed against his cheeks. “Join us. You can.”
But three brilliant lights appeared beside him, and the demons screamed as the light revealed their skeletal bodies. The humanoid spirits looked at one another, still screaming. Three glowing men robed in white smiled at him and touched his body. Immediately the ice receded from his neck, back, and legs. It fled into the room’s edges, and the demons vanished. Warmth returned to his body, and he bowed to the angels, awe filling him.
“No, friend.” The angels pulled him straight. “Do not bow to us; we are servants like you. We all serve the Lord and Maker, and He has sent us to save you this day. But now we must return you to the forest and send you on your way. Auron is lost, and should you meet him again, you must become his angel of death—or the innocent will suffer for it.”
The angels walked him out of the chamber and for a moment stood around him in the silent forest. He marveled at their radiance, their heavenly glory. “What should I do?” he asked them. “For I had set my mind on staying with the traitor. Now that he is gone, I don’t know where I may best serve the will of my Creator.”
“Return to the holy prophet, the dragon you know as Albino. Place yourself once more under his guidance.”
He started to bow, habit overruling wisdom. But they disappeared, leaving him to realize that, once again, Auron had escaped justice. Next time, he vowed—if there ever came such a time—he would do what must be done. For now he would make the return journey to Netroth and see if he could find the dragon.
2
THE HIDDEN REALM
A lbino was not certain what made him return to the portal. He had not been to the site for years. But every so often he came back, just to reassure himself with a visual check that no one had managed to enter the hidden domain. He flapped his wings as he soared over the immense forest and angled toward the one tree rising far above the others. No other branches would hold his weight.
Angling his wings back to slow his approach, he settled his feet on the branch. Cool breezes rustled the leaves as his gaze swept the treetops. Folding his wings to his sides, he dug his claws into the ancient bark and gazed upon the one-story structure a couple
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