INBORN (The Sagas of Di'Ghon) by J. Lawrence Read Free Book Online

even when each of them burst into in momentary cerulean light. Thaniel wondered if the soldiers noticed the arches were getting brighter the higher they went. He could tell, even with his eyes closed.
    At the top of the tower workers had just finished hanging panels of heavy chain mail from thumb thick iron loops off some sort of iron contraption. The intricate cage butted right up to the heavy stone ceiling ring that encircled the blue dra fresco. Men hastily gathered up their tools and spare iron links, all the while casting nervous glances at the picture of the dra overhead.
    Behind the walls of chain, a group of five big men, led by Hobb, the master blacksmith, jerked on the interwoven panels, heaving with all of their collective might. One by one they tested each of them until finally, at his grudging nod of approval, he dismissed them all. The big men wriggled out of a small flap in the chain that formed the only way in or out, and didn’t waste any time making their way off the top of the tower. One of them literally ran down the path. Hobb muttered a curse when he heard the crash of someone dropping a few tools below.
    Thaniel’s eyes followed the scaled path. It led through the two small flaps and spiraled right into the exact center of the top of the tower. There inside the walls of chain and directly under the fantastically painted blue fresco, sat a large white dais.
    Irkhir started explaining what was expected of him when the time came. All Thaniel essentially had to do was go up on the dais and kneel or something. Then, supposedly the dra would come.
    Thaniel looked up at the blue fresco. No matter where he stood the dra in the painting looked like it was staring hungrily at him.

Chapter 1 1
    Dais
    Finally, Lisella Ontar reached the top and strolled into view, resplendent in flowing crimson, a red jewel dangling in the middle of her forehead like a bright red sparkling warf’s egg. Her hair was pulled back into one tight bejeweled braid. Her face devoid of any emotion at all, she regarded Thaniel with a slight nod. Then, with a regal flourish, she turned and peered down over the edge of the tower on all sides.
    The entire chamber was filled with crimson clad soldiers. At the base of the tower men stood shoulder to shoulder. Even the spiraling path was filled right to the top, where men of the First stood waiting.
    She raised her hands.
    “I am Lisella Ontar, the Bloodborn ruler of Ontar Hold.”
    In response, the chamber reverberated with the thumping of axe and spear handles on stone.
    “Today we are all equals, equals in that destiny has chosen us all to stand here today as the Caller’s witnesses.” More thumping.
    “The dawn of the glory of Ontar will be a night remembered,” she paused to look around again, “for a thousand generations.”
    The stone beneath his feet actually vibrated with the hammering of thousands of battle axe handles and short spears.
    She waited, head high, until the applause subsided before she continued. Lisella Ontar pulled a necklace over her head. A bejeweled key, as big as her hand, swung back and forth in her grasp. She bent over and shoved it into a hole Thaniel hadn’t noticed before that moment.
    Hobb , the master blacksmith, cringed when she had to use two hands to twist it. The man didn’t breathe until a metallic clang sounded throughout the chamber. Bits of ice shook off the tower and great domed ceiling, making it seem like even the great chamber offered its blessing on the momentous occasion. As every eye watched, the center of the ceiling where the blue dra fresco stared down at him, separated into ten equal parts and slid back into hidden recesses.
    “Who here will be worthy of the blood of Ontar?” She screamed it over and over as the receding panels revealed a starlit night sky. She ran around the top of the tower, looking every bit the leader of a bunch of axe wielding warriors.
    Her soldier’s response was deafening. A battle cry raged from every