Frostborn: The World Gate by Jonathan Moeller Read Free Book Online Page B

before?” said Morigna before Caius and Jager could begin another one of their arguments. When Caius, Jager, and Kharlacht started arguing about theology, they would not shut up for hours. Even the normally taciturn Kharlacht would sometimes say more than two or three sentences in a row. 
    “Yes,” said Calliande. “Long ago. Over two hundred and thirty years past.”
    Rakhaag let out a doubting rumble. The lupivir sat on his haunches without any sign of discomfort. He had shifted to his more human-like form, which made him look a great deal like a large, naked man. “Human women do not live that long.”
    “I am the Keeper,” said Calliande. “Does not the great memory recall my scent?” 
    “The Staffbearer wields great power,” conceded Rakhaag. 
    “What happened when you encountered Rhogrimnalazur?” said Ridmark. 
    “It was near the end of the war,” said Calliande. Her blue eyes were distant as she gazed at the ashes of last night’s campfire. “The Frostborn and their armies advanced on all fronts, and the High Kingdom was in danger of collapse. Kalomarus and I and a few other companions traveled north to Cathair Solas, in hopes of asking the help of Ardrhythain of Cathair Solas.”
    “Just as the Keeper did during the war against the urdmordar,” said Gavin, “which led to the creation of the Magistri and the Swordbearers.”
    “I see you have been paying attention to Brother Caius’s lessons in history,” said Arandar with approval. 
    “We traveled through the northern Wilderland, following the River Moradel to Cathair Solas,” said Calliande. “There was a dark elven ruin along the river, a place called Urd Cystaanl.” 
    “Quinta claimed that Rhogrimnalazur resided there,” said Ridmark. “Apparently she still does.”
    “Rhogrimnalazur sent out arachar and spiderlings to take us alive before her,” said Calliande. “We fought our way free, but barely. Two of our companions fell in the fighting. We eluded the arachar, crossed the River Moradel, and continued north. I think Rhogrimnalazur lost interest in us, and Kalomarus and I continued to Cathair Solas.”
    “Where he became the Dragon Knight,” said Gavin. 
    “Yes,” said Calliande, her eyes still distant. 
    “Just what is the Dragon Knight?” said Mara. “I have heard the story all my life, but…well, no one seems to know what the title meant.”
    “Before the elves split into the high elves and the dark elves,” said Calliande, “before the elven kindred even walked this world, there were dragons. You saw one of their skulls in Dragonfall. They died out long ago, but before they did, they took the last of their magic and placed it into a sword. The high elven champion who wielded that sword was called the Dragon Knight.”
    “What happened to it?” said Mara.
    “I don’t know,” said Calliande. “I…think I removed my memory of it for some reason.” 
    Morigna let out a groan. “After all the effort we went to recovering your memory from Khald Azalar, you still have not reclaimed all of it? Perhaps in the ancient legends of the Greeks, this is how Tantalus felt in Hades when the boulder rolled back down the hill yet again.” Caius snickered at that.
    Calliande showed no reaction to the barb. “I must have had a reason for it, but I did not bother to inform myself of it.”
    Mara shrugged. “Perhaps you wanted to keep the power of the Dragon Knight’s sword out of Shadowbearer’s hands. And your stratagem did succeed.”
    “At great cost,” said Calliande. “And thanks to you all.” 
    She was right about that. Still, once Calliande had recovered her memory, Morigna had half-expected the Keeper to become arrogant and commanding, to start ordering them about like servants. Instead, she seemed…exactly the same. More confident, certainly. More humble. A bit haunted, as if she could now remember horrors she had forgotten before. Yet for all that, Calliande now seemed more…complete. As if Morigna