The Gates of Night: The Dreaming Dark - Book 3 by Keith Baker Read Free Book Online Page A

last day and never noticed it, and gravity had suddenly returned. The light from the glowing inscriptions faded, and Lei let out a deep breath. Her breathing was still a little ragged, but her expression remained calm. It appeared their journey was over.
    He turned back to the drow woman. “You!” he said. Daine’s sword was still in his hand, and as his anger swelled within him he could swear that the hilt grew warmer in his hand. “So, you still want to die?”
    Though unarmed and outnumbered, the dark elf showed no signs of fear. She met his gaze; he kept his blade level, ready to strike at the first motion. Atlast, she spoke. “This man of metal speaks truth,” she said. “This is not the death I seek. Where is the storm of razors?”
    Harmattan?
“We left him behind when we fled the monolith, and he’s not getting out.”
    “Then let us return!” she said. “If it is your enemy as well, let us fight together once more. Let us face our destiny together!”
    “Or we could not return, leave him trapped in the monolith, and go on to live long and fruitful lives,” Daine said.
    The woman hissed. “You are a warrior. You fought the firebinders. And yet you would walk away from this enemy?”
    “For now,” Pierce said. “Only a fool fights a foe he knows he cannot defeat, and we have found no flaw in his armor. This one is our prey, and in time he will fall, but this hunt will be a long one.”
    “Then I will join you,” the woman said. “I must defeat this creature if I am to find my way to the final land. Let me fight by your side, and I may forgive the wrong you have done me.”
    We saved your life, ungrateful wretch, Daine thought. But they were in an unknown land, and whatever her flaws, this woman was a skilled warrior. “We accept your gracious offer,” he said. “What was your name again?”
    “Xu’sasar,” she replied. “A child of the scorpion, blessed by three moons.”
    “How do you feel about ‘Xu’?”
    The woman hissed again. “You outlanders despoil all that you touch. I suppose that it is only natural you should destroy the beauty of my name.”
    “Xu it is, then. I’m Daine. This is Pierce.”
    “And I’m Lei.” The darkwood staff flashed in the dim light. The thrust caught Xu’sasar directly in the throat, and the staff struck with tremendous force. The dark elf flew back against the wall. Lei had pulled her staff from her pack while the others were talking, and now she stood next to Daine, the point of the weapon leveled at the drow. Daine could swear he heard faint
singing
, a beautiful voice just on the edge of hearing. “If you change your mind about dying, let me know.”
    Xu’sasar was crouching against the wall, ready to spring, and Daine thought the battle would begin all over. Then the dark elf relaxed.
    “Well met, weaver Lei,” she said. “When we next do battle, let us fight on equal terms.” She turned back to Pierce. “So, man of metal, where does our hunt begin?”
    “Right here,” said Lei. “Welcome to Thelanis.”

T
he planar transition was completed successfully, but this vessel has suffered considerable damage
. In this instance, Shira’s insight was unnecessary. A web of fine fractures spread across the ceiling, and powdered glass and crystal shards littered the floor. The lines etched into the floor still burned with mystic light, but that radiance was faint and flickering, and many of the sigils scattered around the chamber had faded completely.
    What is the impact of the damage?
Pierce thought.
    Any attempt at further travel would likely result in the destruction of the vessel and all aboard
.
    Lei had apparently come to the same conclusion. “Let’s hope we’re in the right place, because I don’t think this hunk of crystal’s going anywhere soon.”
    “What was that?” Daine said, running a finger along the crack on one of the walls.
    An attack by some form of predator native to the ethereal plane
.
    I thought there were no