Shadowblade by Tom Bielawski Read Free Book Online Page A

the dark wizard smiled. He allowed his apprentices to fumble through the words of power they would need to control the dead warriors for a moment before intervening. Now was not the time to practice, that would come later. Now was the time to show the people of this village that they were not safe, that the awesome powers of darkness were loose in the countryside and they should look for greater protection where they could find it. To that end, if they chose to find it in the forces of the army of New Ilian Nah, so much the better.
    Using the dark power of the Shadow Sigil, Shalthazar took over command of the dead beings and marched them into the wilderness where a special place of power had been chosen. This place was an ancient burial mound that could be entered through a small opening that was just below the level of the ground.
    The previous day his apprentices crawled down through the small opening and entered the mound where they made the necessary preparations for a powerful spell. It was a very large mound that extended nearly fifteen feet below the surface and fifteen feet above. Inside the circular mound were rows of peacefully resting corpses. On the floor were a number of chests with treasures and other items belonging to the buried. The apprentices created spells of warding around the mound to protect it from intruders and grave robbers. In the open space inside the mound, a large circle had been made with stones and markers placed at intervals within the circle. The mound itself had become a focal point for the power of the Tides.
    Shalthazar sent his mind’s eye, powered by the Shadow Tide, into the mound to inspect the work that had been completed by his very able apprentices. Everything appeared in order and he was pleased.
    “Apprentices, send the corpses into the mound and make them lie down inside the prepared circle next to each marker. Ensure the proper Sigils are applied to their heads.
    “This is a powerful spell and we will be using it to create the corpse golem. This will be a large giant-like construct, comprised of mortal remains and held together by the power of the Shadow Sigil.”
    “A fearless construct that will create terror in the hearts of our foes!” said Urelis.
    “I will conduct this spell, but the three of you will all focus on harnessing the Tides. Once a sufficient amount of Tidal power has been retained, I will begin the spell. You will all continue to gather the Tides until I say you are finished.”
    When each of the three nodded their understanding, the wizard and his apprentices began their spell.
    Shalthazar felt exhilarated by the raw power that was being channeled through the burial mound and was pleased to learn that he could use one of these mounds as a focal point to increase his hold over the power of the Tides. The ancients who used these burial mounds typically created them at the behest of a tribal shaman or other primitive cleric. These early magic-wielders were unskilled in the ways of the arcane and their magic was fairly weak. Without the discovery of the knowledge they would need to enhance their skills, the primitive magic-wielders used what was available to them in nature to power their spells. In many cases burial mounds, dolmens, and stone rings, were placed at locations that were a natural crossroads of Tidal forces or other magical energies and their placement had the effect of intensifying that power.
    This one had been placed near a confluence of naturally flowing rivers of the invisible Shadow Tides leading Shalthazar to believe this tribe had worshipped Umber long, long, ago. In any case, it seemed that Commander Coronus’ assessment had been correct. The state of fear under which these fresh corpses had been harvested charged them with Tidal power, and their placement inside the mound was creating a powerful vortex of energy.
    Thunder crackled and rivers of the Shadow Tide flowed about the Sigilists, charging them with the awesome power. The four