Black Wizards by Douglas Niles Read Free Book Online

dead. She would have gone, except for the demands of Genna’s illness, for the Great Druid desperately needed her help now.
    Half-hoping, she turned to the forest beyond the grove, as if she expected to see the approach of the white charger and its handsome rider.
    But there were only green leaves, swaying easily in the breeze.

    The goddess, Earthmother, was a deity unlike Bhaal in every respect. While his interests spanned planes and universes, hers were focused only upon the Moonshae Islands. While he thrived upon death, she prospered from growth and life. Bhaal relished chaos and disorder, while the Earthmother desired only the proper balance of all things
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    The islands had been her body, her life, since time began, But the power of the goddess was waning, for only through her druids could her body survive and prosper. The coming of the Northmen, in centuries past, had driven the druids from many parts of the isles
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    And a challenge from another source, upon the large island of Alaron, had gradually removed that land from her. She did not know what had happened to the druids of Alaron—only that their lives had been snuffed out, one by one, as if some ravaging cancer had spread across the land
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    Her islands of Snowdown and Moray, small and lightly populated, still held to the tenets of her ancient faith. Their druids were devout but simple people, the demands of their lands slight and easily met
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    Only upon Gwynneth were her druids still truly strong. She sensed, in some godlike way, that she would need all of that strength if she was going to survive
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he vast underground passage reverberated with soft echoes, as hundreds of dark, small bodies moved stealthily through the cavern. No light broke the inky blackness, but the figures moved quickly and easily, avoiding each upthrusting stalagmite, and carefully bypassing each sheer precipice that led to depths of the earth thousands of feet, even many miles, below them.
    “Are your troops in position? My time is precious,” remarked Cyndre smoothly. The black wizard was concealed as usual beneath his robe, but his posture and tone conveyed boredom.
    “You will receive your payment!” barked one of the little figures, standing irritably beside the mage. He came only to the man’s waist. His dark and swarthy face scowled at the passing file of similar creatures. “If your magic is as mighty as you claim …”
    Dai-Dak, king of the dark dwarves—the duergar—glared a challenge at the mage. He was not used to hearing complaints. Cyndre waved a finger, whispering a soft word.
    Dai-Dak, the cave salamander, froze in panic. His reptilian eyes bulged up at the wizard. Cyndre gestured again, and the dark dwarf stood once again beside him, looking considerably chastened.
    “See that you do not question my magic again,” said the sorcerer very softly.
    Dai-Dak nodded quickly. “As we agreed, my army will guard the underworld approaches to Caer Callidyrr. We will let nothing in orout. And when you call us, we will be there to serve you!”
    “Very good.” The wizard smiled from the depths of his robe. “Now let us see to this attack.”
    “My troops are almost in position,” pleaded the dwarf. “A few moments more, please!”
    Cyndre looked with disinterest at the short, stocky column of fighters. Each was dark-skinned and bristled with hair and beard. Their bowed legs carried them roughly but steadily. Finely crafted armor of metal or leather protected their chests, and their arms were banded in steel.
    The deep gnomes—svirfneblin—were the blood enemies of the duergar. The vast, underground community below them contained valuable gold and iron deposits, prime fungus-growing caverns, and good water supplies. It would be a fine addition to the duergar holdings. And too, the slaying of the svirfneblin would be grand sport for the malicious, merciless duergar.
    Cyndre enjoyed the prospect of the coming fight, for his magic would insure the victory—and the