Greyrawk (Book 2) by Jim Greenfield Read Free Book Online Page A

agile and favored two identical swords; identical except for a blue gem in the hilt of his right one and a red gem in the hilt of the left one. His love of ale contributed to his soft mid-section and a wider girth than he needed. The chiseled looks of Loric Greyrawk were not Kerreth Veralier's, but he was content in who he was. His father was said to be half Men, but his mother had been all Zidar, one of the oldest but long dead races on Landermass. His shaggy brown hair and blue eyes would allow him to fit into most Men communities without notice if not for his huge size and ferocious appearance. His thick mustache was braided into two strands twisted into his beard and he favored a helmet with horns of some forgotten creature. The beast's head was carved just above the brim of the helmet adding menace to Kerreth's countenance where no extra was necessary. But the most striking part of his appearance was the two short tusks pushing out from his lower lip, a legacy of his heritage.
    Moria Albalen's father had also been Men, but her mother was a Daerlan, Taina Talos, daughter of Altair Talos, the founder of the Talos Company. Moria's feline features were framed by short brown hair. Her skin was a lighter olive than most Daerlan and she smiled more than her mother's kindred.
    "We need to go to Castle Greyrawk," said Loric. "I feel an awakening is going to happen soon."
    "An awakening?" asked Moria. "What is that?"
    "The Celaeri are trying to return to this world," said Loric. "Centuries ago they were defeated by armies of Men and faded into a shadow existence without further interaction in our world. If they return they will try to conquer Amloth again. We mustn't let it happen."
    "Aren't you part Celaeri?" asked Hobart. "Are you sure you don't want them to return? Did you do something you regret now?"
    "Hobart! No, think a little deeper for once. I am only part Celaeri, not even good enough to be included in their councils. Better than Men, but not as good as Celaeri."
    "So let them return," said Hobart. "Where's the harm?"
    "Yes, but you don't understand about the Celaeri."
    "I think you had better explain the Celaeri to us," said Kerreth. "Keep in mind that if we decide to go, there are only six of us here, the others cannot reunite with us for many months. Taina is leading a mission to south Wierland. They may already be there by now."
    "I know, but I must do something. The Celaeri ruled the eastern part of Amloth for countless years. When Men crossed the sea and began to make their homes in Cresida, the Celaeri enslaved them. When the kingdoms of Anavar were strong enough they defeated the Celaeri and liberated the slaves. The Celaeri moved northward, abandoning their ancestral homes. As centuries passed Men recalled the Celaeri as faerie creatures with enchanted music, but little else. The Celaeri are bound to their ancestral homes and if they spend too much time away they begin to change into shadowy creatures."
    "Shadowy creatures? What do you mean by that?" asked Kerreth.
    "I've never seen it myself, but I heard the Celaeri elders speak of the 'Shadowed Ones' in hushed voices and when they saw me, they fell silent. I did notice that the population seemed to be shrinking over the years and there seemed to be plenty of young ones around to keep the population growing. No one spoke of it, as if the Celaeri that vanished never existed."
    "And that's all you know? How can we help if we do not know what there is to do?"
    "I know. It something I feel in my stomach, a foreboding. It's worse than the knot I felt in my gut twenty years ago when Aryar Greyrawk died. Celaeri blood connects us all. My hands shake and I'm afraid to sleep lest the Shadowed Ones come in my sleep."
    Kerreth shook his head. "I know you haven't been drinking that much. Let me discuss it with Elberra. We will need all six of us. Your words do not comfort me, Loric."
    "The Celaeri may have withdrawn as Men spread over the land," said Loric. "But the Celaeri