The Quest (The Hidden Realm Book 5) by A. Giannetti Read Free Book Online Page A

wound.”
    “How can you be so cold and indifferent to her suffering?” responded Elerian incredulously at the Dwarf’s words. “Anthea showed you nothing but kindness and in return you would callously condemn her to days of unnecessary torment.”
    “Do not mistake my logic for a lack of sympathy,” replied Ascilius grimly. “I care more for Anthea than you can imagine, but I know better than to let my love for her cloud my judgment as you have done.”
    “Then let each of us make a separate attempt at a rescue,” suggested Elerian impatiently. “Tell me the way to Tyranus and I will fly there. You and Dacien can follow on foot with as many companions as you wish to bring.” As Elerian waited for Ascilius’s response to his suggestion the maimed hand that he had seen in his orb appeared again before his mind’s eye. His desire to be off at once intensified as he imagined the searing pain that Anthea must have endured from each wound and the cauterizing fire that followed it. 
    “We have the best chance of success if we stay together,” Ascilius replied, interrupting his grim vision. Taken aback by the Dwarf’s rejection of his plan, Elerian suddenly lost control of his temper.
    “Enough of the cold logic of your stony hearted race!” he shouted angrily. “Tell me the way to Tyranus!” Ascilius’s face darkened with anger at Elerian’s insult, but he made no answer to his demand, maintaining, instead, a flinty silence. Engendered by Ascilius’s stubborn and, to his mind, unreasonable refusal to divulge the location of Anthea’s prison, a hot, unreasoning fury suddenly blossomed in Elerian’s mind, and his gray eyes took on a dangerous, frantic gleam better suited for an enemy than a friend.
    “Tell me the way, you miserable, obstinate creature, or I will force the information from your stubborn lips!” he threatened furiously
    “Until your commonsense is restored, I will say nothing more to you,” replied Ascilius angrily, red motes floating in their depths of his dark eyes.
    “Where was your commonsense when you blew the horn in the vigilarum of Ennodius,” demanded Elerian sarcastically, his voice still raised, and his gray eyes growing brighter, as if a fever burned within him. Without warning, he suddenly lunged at Ascilius with the speed of a panther.
    “Tell me what I want to know, or I will part you from the beard that you prize so highly,” he shouted as, seizing a braid of the Dwarf’s long beard in each hand, he began to tug vigorously on them, as if he intended to tear them out by the roots. Bellowing in pain, Ascilius promptly dropped Fulmen and grasped Elerian by each of his wrists with his powerful hands. A furious contest punctuated by shouts and threats now ensued as he and Elerian strained against each other: pushing, tugging, and whirling violently about as each sought to master the other with strength that would have broken bones on a man.
    “Unhand my beard, you fiend!” Ascilius roared.
    “Not until you tell me the way to Tyranus,” Elerian shouted back. Despite Ascilius’s iron grip on his wrists, he gave a firm tug on the Dwarf’s captive braids that elicited another pained roar from Ascilius. Standing helplessly at a little distance from the two combatants, Dacien observed with dismay the violent argument that had erupted between Elerian and Ascilius.
    “This is no friendly contest such as I have witnessed between them in the past,” he thought to himself as he watched them struggle. “Elerian is overwrought as I have never seen him, and Ascilius is growing angrier by the moment. I must end this now before someone is hurt.” Taking out his dagger, Dacien held it in his right hand point up and pommel pointed down.
    “Whose side should I take?” he wondered uneasily to himself. In his heart he sympathized with Elerian’s desire to attempt the rescue of his sister immediately, but reason urged him to take Ascilius’s side, for the Dwarf’s plan to rescue