Sovereign Stone Read Online Free Page B

spare you in hopes that you would bow to him and deliver Ruatha without war. Next time may be the last.”
    Isabel’s hand tightened on his arm. Alexander nodded thoughtfully. “I hadn’t considered that. The few moments I spent lost in the firmament were terrifying. It didn’t occur to me that he could have scattered my awareness more completely. I wonder how close my point of view has to be before he can see me. On Karth, he didn’t seem to notice that I was there when I was high above him. I guess I’ll have to stop looking in on him until I gain a better understanding of my clairvoyance.”
    “That leaves us with the problem of the Sovereign Stone,” Jack said. “With the Stone, Ithilian will probably submit to his rule without a fight, but that’s not the worst of it. The old stories say that the Reishi moved armies by means of the Reishi Gates, which are tied to the power of the Sovereign Stone. When the Stone was lost, the Gates stopped working. If Phane retrieves it, he may be able to use the Gates again and bring as many troops as he wants into the heart of Ruatha.”
    Alexander was alarmed. He’d read stories about the Gates, but they hadn’t worked in so long that he didn’t even consider the possibility that they might come into play. If Phane gained control of them, he would be unstoppable.
    “Where’s the Gate on Ruatha?” he asked.
    Jack pointed southwest. “It’s about a day’s ride from here, several miles west of the road we traveled. It stands on a stone platform in the middle of the open plains.”
    “Can it be destroyed?” Isabel asked.
    “Doubtful,” Jack answered. “The old stories say that the people of Ruatha tried to destroy it after the Reishi War but failed. Perhaps Kelvin will have some insight or magic that could help. But even if the Gates don’t pose a problem, the Sovereign Stone must not fall into Phane’s hands. It contains the secret of Wizard’s Dust, and with that knowledge, he’ll be able to build an army of wizards. Alexander, we must stop him from getting the Stone at all costs.”
    “I’m afraid I agree with Jack,” Lucky said. “I don’t know how Phane plans to get the Stone out of the aether, but I suspect he has a few ideas. I’d like to hear what Kelvin has to say. He may be able to shed some light on the matter.”
    “I sure hope so,” Alexander said. “Isabel, I think it’s time to send Slyder out with a message for the Guild Mage.”
    Isabel tipped her head back and closed her eyes for a moment.
    Jack took out his tablet. “What do you want to tell them?”
    “Blackstone Keep is ours. Phane has sent a scourgling to guard the entrance platform. Approach with caution. It is imperative that we speak as soon as possible. Signed, Alexander Ruatha.”
    When Jack finished writing the message, he rolled the parchment and handed it to Isabel.
    Moments later Slyder landed in the middle of the table and looked up at Isabel curiously. She fastened the note to his leg and sent him on his way. The small-framed forest hawk flew low until he passed over the wall, then tipped his wings back into a dive to gain speed for his flight toward the advancing army.
     
    ***
     
    Late that evening, Slyder returned with a note from Kelvin: “Understood. Will arrive tomorrow morning. KG.”
    Alexander read the little note and felt a bit of his anxiety fade. Kelvin might know how to interfere with Phane. The idea of the Reishi Gate suddenly coming to life and thousands of enemy soldiers pouring forth was more than Alexander wanted to contemplate.
    He set his mind to the scourgling. Lucky didn’t think his remaining potions would have any effect on the creature. And normal weapons were clearly useless against the otherworldly hardness of the beast’s oily black skin. If Kelvin didn’t have a way to defeat it, Alexander knew he would have to test the Thinblade against it. He was certain that his new sword could cut through anything of natural origin but less sure