The Legend of Vanx Malic: Book 02 - Dragon Isle by M. R. Mathias Read Free Book Online

ogres’ attack thus far. By all reports, the beasts were no more than a novel threat. They weren’t hammering at the gate with a battering ram or trying to scale the wall; they were throwing rocks at the barrier and howling out wildly while those who ventured too close were shafted by the archers on the wall top. They had, however, savaged most of the people and property unfortunate enough to have remained outside the barrier.
    “I apologize for being so rude in open court, my lord,” Quazar spoke sincerely. “Had it not been completely necessary, I wouldn’t have spoken over you so.”
    “Very well, very well.” The ruler of Dyntalla waived his hand dismissively. “Just tell me why you cut me off. Was it because I was about to reveal where the Blood Stone actually is?”
    “Very perceptive.”
    “Enough of that, Quazar. I’ll have you flogged for insolence if you keep up the mockery.” The duke joined Quazar at the balcony rail. “Is this to do with Duke Martin?”
    “Again, very perceptive,” Quazar smiled sarcastically. The duke’s brows furrowed, but only for a beat or two. A smile split through his trimmed gray beard then and he chuckled. The two had been serving King Ravier Oakarm for a handful of years or more and they were familiar enough with each other to drop the pretense of rank and station every now and again.
    “I’d not like to be in his boots when Ravier arrives,” the duke said.
    “Nor I,” Quazar agreed. “But it’s not Humbrick I’m interested in at the moment. That advisor who never leaves his side—Coll is his name—he he concerns me.”
    “The one you saw poison Commander Aldean?”
    Quazar nodded. “He’s a Darkean if I’ve ever met one. But I’m not sure he’s about much.”
    “It’s a pity you couldn’t save Aldean. You can’t testify to anything you saw while spying on a Parydon noble.”
    “The black-souled wretch must have suspected a spy or he wouldn’t have misnamed his poison so purposefully.” Quazar didn’t like being duped, and was sure it showed in his expression.
    “What should we do?” Duke Elmont finally asked.
    “Obviously, he is curious about the Blood Stone. I think a trap might be in order.”
    “Speaking of that fargin rock, why are those beasts still after it if it’s on the way to Dragon Isle?” The duke looked miffed as he continued. “A good score or more of our hardest-working men, not to mention several whole families of herders, were left outside the walls to fend for themselves. No doubt they met their end in a most heinous fashion.”
    “That’s what I meant when I said the stone was more powerful than I first thought,” Quazar explained. “It has left a residual trail. Not a faint trail, either. A lingering path for them to follow.” The wizard shrugged. “I’d guess the beasts would run straight into the sea to follow it, but who’s to say. The ocean’s salinity does strange and unpredictable things to all that is magic.”
    “Do you know a way to get rid of this lingering—whatever it is?” The duke’s tone was serious now. “If the new reports are true, there will be a formidable number of the stupid bastards piling up outside the wall soon, and if they figure out that they’re big and strong enough to bust it down, they’ll probably try.”
    “Are they?” Quazar asked. The idea that the ogres might be able to actually breach the gate had never occurred to him.
    “I’m not foolish enough to tell you no. If the history of warfare has taught me anything, it is that the unbreachable eventually gets breached, and the unstoppable gets stopped.”
    “That’s not what I mean,” the wizard said, shaking his head. “Do you think that here and now those ogres can breach the western gate? That is what I am asking you.”
    “It’s doubtful. They aren’t organized. I don’t think they’re intelligent enough to make a battering ram or scaling ladder, but if they keep getting shafted under the wall like they