Erebos by Ursula Poznanski Read Free Book Online Page A

knight.’
    â€˜Are you sure?’
    Yes, he is. Knight sounds noble, almost like a prince.
    â€˜Knight,’ he affirms.
    â€˜Choose your abilities,’ the fifth tablet demands. Underneath, there is an overwhelmingly long list of characteristics. He chooses far sight, strength, stamina, and the ability to blend into the surroundings. Lighting fires. Speed. Jumping power.
    He is cautious because he doesn’t know how many skills he is entitled to in total. Even now every decision means that other options are lost to him. When he selects ‘slight healing power’ the ‘death curse’ option ceases to exist. For ‘shield of strength’ ‘iron-skin’ disappears.
    After ten choices it’s suddenly over. The writing dissolves into nothing, right at the moment when he thinks he can keep on going forever.
    â€˜You will soon miss some of the things you have spurned,’ says the gnome, and smiles.
    â€˜Maybe.’
    He wonders what this ugly fellow is doing here – he would actually prefer to be alone. The sixth tablet is waiting.
    â€˜Choose your weapons.’ A massive chest opens underneath the tablet. Swords, spears, shields, several morningstars of various sizes. A few hideous-looking barbed blades, whips armed with claws, spiked clubs.
    â€˜Would you like some advice?’ the gnome asks.
    So you can put one over me?
    â€˜No thank you.’
    He wants to find the right things himself. Carefully he draws one sword after the other out of the box, and lines them up along the wall, then tests how well he can lift each of them, how quickly he can swing them. Finally his choice falls on a longsword with a narrow blade and a handle swathed in dark red that buzzes seductively when he swings it through the air.
    The shields are all made of wood, and don’t inspire much confidence. Besides, the bigger they are, the heavier – they’ll slow him down. So he chooses the smallest shield he can find: round, with a bronze shield boss and blue serpentine patterns painted on the wood.
    â€˜You can strap it onto your back,’ the gnome advises him and swings his crooked legs energetically as if he wants to spur the chest on.
    The dark elf doesn’t deign to answer. He goes up to the seventh, and final tablet.
    â€˜Choose your name.’
    Nick is somewhat surprised to remember that not so long ago he intended to call himself Gargoyle. Suddenly that doesn’t suit him at all any more. He looks around to see whether another chest might not open, containing scrolls with suggested names. No. He’s on his own with the choice of a name.
    Almost, anyway, since the gnome has his own idea of helpful advice.
    â€˜Elfintail, Elfinsnail, Darklingdithersmall! Pointy-Ear, Weasel-Fear! Or more classical? Momos, Eris, Ker or Ponos, not forgetting Moros! Something there you like?’
    Briefly he toys with the idea of taking his sword and doing away with the gnome. It can’t be all that hard and he would have some peace to think about it. But the thought of shrill gnomish death cries and pools of blood on the tower floor deter him.
    Classical, he thinks, is a good cue. Something classically Roman. Marius. No, Sarius.
    He doesn’t hesitate – the name is exactly what he was looking for. He enters it.
    â€˜Sarius, Ssssarius, Sa-ri-us,’ the name is murmured through the tower. ‘Welcome, Sarius.’
    â€˜Sarius? How boring! The boring ones die quickly. Did you know that, Sarius?’
    The gnome hops off the chest and as a parting gesture pokes his pointy green tongue out. It reaches down to his chest.
    Sarius follows him out of the tower, out into the sun-drenched meadow. Only when he sees the gnome limp off into the forest and disappear does he strap the shield to his back.

CHAPTER 5
    Sarius reaches the forest’s edge and spots berries growing in the shade of the trees. They’re glowing red like small round rubies between the furry