Kingdoms in Chaos by Michael James Ploof Read Free Book Online Page B

goin’ to take him out. They’re all under his control, right? Ye cut the head off the dragon, you needn’t worry ‘bout the tail.”
    “This isn’t a game,” said Krentz with a mirthless laugh. She indicated Dirk and Chief. “We cannot stand up to his power.”
    “You ain’t gotta stand up to it for long, just gimme enough time to get me blade into him.”
    “Krentz is right,” Dirk put in before Krentz had a chance to erupt. “We cannot defeat him. We should enlist the help of the one spoken of in the spirit world.”
    “I ain’t followin’ the lead o’ no damned spirit less it be o’ me own kin, and I see it with me own eyes.”
    “So that’s it? You hold the figurine, so you decide the road, against our vote?” Krentz glided toward her slowly.
    Raene tossed the pheasant bone and Chief flew to catch it. “You look tired, you should get some rest.”
    Krentz’s face dropped. “DO, NOT. Dare. Dismiss. Me.”
    “You two need to stop,” Dirk warned, trying to keep the peace.
    Raene and Krentz stood mere inches from one another. The dwarf stared up at her with a smug grin. She took the wolf figurine from her pocket and held it to the side. “Back to the spirit world, Krentz.”
    A furious scream escaped Krentz as she turned to mist and swirled into the figurine.
    “You shouldn’t have done that,” said Dirk. Raene had never dismissed either of them without their expressing a desire to rest.
    “She’s bein’ unreasonable. And she ain’t never liked me from the beginnin’.”
    Dirk noted that she didn’t put the figurine away. He trod lightly. “She likes you just fine, but she’s worried that you’re leading us to our doom.”
    “And what be your mind?”
    He eyed the figurine. “You are the bearer. You have the power to summon us between realms, but you are not our master.”
    She looked disappointed. “This ain’t about masters and slaves. It’s about stoppin’ a dark elf wreakin’ havoc across Agora.”
    “To you this is about revenge. We have expressed our concerns, our vote has been cast. We would see Zander fall as well, but we should enlist allies in this endeavor. We should travel southeast to—”
    “I ain’t bein’ led to Elladrindellia by a damned dark elf .” She pointed a shaking finger. “Ye two be searchin’ out this old sorcerer ‘cause she done created the figurine, and ye be wantin’ to be free o’ it.”
    “Of course we want to be free…it seems you feel otherwise.”
    Raene took a deep breath and regarded him thoughtfully. Finally, she raised the figurine. “I need to be alone.”
    “ Raene… ”
    She sniffed nonchalantly, yet was unable to meet his eyes. “Back to the spirit realm, Dirk Blackthorn.”
    “Raene!”

Chapter 11
The Old Ardenians
     
     
    Zerafin sat beside his sleeping mother’s bed on the balcony overlooking the thousand falls. The morning mists covered the city, and crystal shards and stone columns jutted out across the smoky landscape. A rainbow was growing in the air just above the falls, but he found no beauty in it. He looked upon his mother, she who had been so strong her entire life, now thin and frail, lips chapped and cracked, and skin like dry paper wrapped around bone. Her eyes were sunken, and once proud ears bent beneath their own weight.
    Most of the elders were sick or dying, and even the younger and stronger of the elves knew that they, too, were now mortal. The second age of the elves had ended with the Taking, and now, the once fierce and powerful people cowed to the thought of death. The human natives of Old Arden had been pressing their attacks across the gulf of Arden. Once, not long ago, the elves would have defeated them easily. Now, however, without magic and with the knowledge that they could so easily die, the elves had become quite timid.
    Zerafin left his mother sleeping. They had talked over his plans, and, before falling once more into slumber, the queen mother had agreed. They needed to leave Agora.