Hemlock And The Dread Sorceress (Book 3) by B. Throwsnaill Read Free Book Online Page A

spells and economy.  There is a store of these resources in the City, but it won’t last forever.  We can’t afford to lose access to this region.”
    “Who will guard the tower if we leave to fight Jalis?” asked Renevos, fumbling for his glasses as they dislodged from his long, upturned nose.
    “We will leave a small force behind and rely on the Senate to back us up if there is a surprise attack,” said Gwineval.
    “Samberlin…” hissed Hemlock, Renevos and Miara nodded in agreement with Hemlock’s implied suspicion of the man.
    “I know, I know.  But he’s cast his lot with us over Jalis already.  Wh y would he change his mind?” said Gwineval.
    “Samberlin will do whatever he perceives to be in his best interest,” said Miara.
    “No,” said Gwineval, “he acts in the City’s best interest.  I believe that.”
    “Not me,” said Hemlock.
    “It isn’t material, anyway. We will leave sufficient force behind to make the tower secure.  And we will lock it down until the main force returns.  Even Samberlin and his knights wouldn’t be able to siege the tower if so guarded.”
    “What about Samberlin and Jalis together?”
    “And how would they accomplish that when our march would cut off Jalis’ advance on the City?  Hemlock, you can patrol in the air for us with Penelope.  That should reveal any unexpected movements on Jalis’ part.”
    “ Uh, let’s discuss my role in this.  I, uh,” stuttered Hemlock, lowering her eyes.
    Hemlock heard a dull slap and knew that Gwineval had slapped his forehead in frustration.  “Why do I know I won’t want to hear this?” he murmured.
    “I’m going to take Tored and my sister to find my mother on a nearby world.  I won’t be able to join your attack.”
    She heard the groan of feet from a heavy chair as it thrust along the wooden planks of the floor. Gwineval, now standing, shouted at her, “Have you lost your mind?  With all of our enemies on our doorstep, you would abandon us?  Again!”
    Hemlock felt inflamed by the accusation and met Gwineval’s accusing stare . “I’ve decided to indulge my sister’s wish to see our mother one final time before the coming war.”
    “And what makes you certain that the war won’t be lost in the interim?”
    “Gwineval,” said Miara, motioning for him to sit, but Gwineval ignored her.
    “Remember the last time we stood in the cavern below the tower and you gave me a Wand?  You asked me to choose between trusting you to lead us and taking my fate into my own hands with the Wand.  I chose you, remember?  I chose your leadership over my own.  And this is how you repay me?”
    “That W and wouldn’t have helped you.  You know that!”
    “I most certainly do not know that!  I took your word for it, but what value is your word when you seem to go back on it whenever it suits you?”
    Hemlock felt her anger rising to meet Gwineval’s, but she tried to control herself.  A thought came to her, unbidden, and she gave voice to it without hesitation. “Remember the child of Amarank who we discovered in the chamber where we found that Wand?  You never saw it, but Renevos was there.”
    “You mean that abomination kept alive by the magic of the Wand?  Yes, I remember the tale.  But what of it?”
    “The child spoke to me before it faded away.  It told me to think about what had given it its power.  It was the product of a union of the lines of the First Wizard and the Imperator.”
    “And?”
    “It implied that I needed to understand something about that union.  And I think I do now.  I need to do the same thing, I think.  I need the power of the lines of the Imperator and the First Wizard to defeat DuLoc.  Since the blood of the First Wizard runs in my veins , I only lack that of the Imperator.  But we know one who descends from that line.”
    “No, Hemlock,” whispered Gwineval, “you can’t mean Falignus—he perished in the northern desert over a year ago?”
    “That’s the