Son of the Dragon (The Netherworld Gate Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

assassin tried to move, but found his struggles futile. He was the elf’s prisoner.
    The darkness fell out from below them and the two spirits dropped down onto some valley that Talon didn’t recognize. There were strange trees that he did not know. The forest stretched out to the north for as far as he could see until a great range of snow-capped mountains stopped them. To the south were green, tall grasses covering hills and valleys. A river bordered the east, running out to the sea in the south.
    Two armies were on opposite sides of the field. One had managed to build wooden palisades and blockades. The other had erected siege engines and marshalled a large force of footmen.
    “What does this battle have to do with me?” Talon asked. “Is this a picture of the End War you keep talking about?”
    Jahre sniggered. “This is a war of men. The End War will be much more than that. No, this battle has nothing to do with you.”
    “Then why show me?”
    Jahre pointed to the army on the western side. “If you look carefully, you will see a large man, dressed in heavy armor and shrouded in fire.”
    Talon watched as catapults threw burning clay pots toward the palisade. The projectiles crashed and exploded, showering the area in flame and creating a thick blanket of smoke.
    “You see, the captain of that army thought it would be a good idea to send one of his biggest men dressed as Basei.”
    Talon’s interest piqued and he watched intently. A large man came forward, shouting and hollering as a group of enemy soldiers rushed out from the palisade. The large man cut through a number of them, pretending to call down fire from the sky as more catapults launched additional projectiles. Soon, the enemy soldiers were rushing back into the safety of their palisade, closing the gates and shouting out the name Basei as they ran through their camp sounding alarms.
    “This isn’t going to end well,” Jahre said with a shake of his head. “Look up, Talon, and tell me what you see.”
    Talon looked up and saw a large fireball, much like the one that had landed in his home village when he was a boy. He felt the same knot of fear grip him and twist his core. The fiery ball crashed down into the ground, melting the pretender in an instant and showering dirt and fire all around.
    The giant demi-god roared and leapt out from the sphere. He held his left hand out and engulfed the western army with flame. The soldiers behind the palisade began to cheer, but their fortune was short lived.
    Basei growled and turned on them in his fury. He cut the gate down with one swing of his mighty sword and then he set about his work of destruction. Bodies were hewn in two, tents and walls were razed to the ground. Basei even slew the horses. When he had finished, there were none left alive, just like it had happened in Talon’s village.
    “Why do you show me this?” Talon roared.
    Jahre turned and put a finger up to silence Talon.
    Basei turned in their direction and started walking toward them, cutting down obstacles in his way as he scanned the area.
    “This is no memory,” Jahre warned. “This is happening right now. True, it is in a land far from our own, but I wanted to show you what Basei does throughout Terramyr.”
    “I already know Basei is despicable,” Talon replied.
    “Who dares insult the mighty Basei?” Basei thundered. Fire and smoke whirled around the two ghosts, and Jahre moved in close to Talon, sliding a golden cord into the dead assassin’s mouth.
    “A demi-god is not all-powerful, but we do not want him to find us yet,” Jahre cautioned.
    Basei stormed toward them, but Jahre was able to whisk the two spirits back with his magic. As they ascended back into the clouds, Talon could hear the wailing, angry Basei down below.
    “He slaughters indiscriminately,” Jahre said once they were back in the dark chamber. “I thought you should see that.”
    The golden cords loosened and Talon was again able to move and speak.