The Vlakan King (Book 3) by Jim Greenfield Read Free Book Online Page A

agents spotted the supplies movement I doubt if they could evaluate the potential magic of Mordyn's mages."
    Artus took his time to response, recalling all he had heard and read. Few travelers ever penetrated deeply in to the Mordyn society, dealing only with the gatekeepers, those trained to deflect questions. It had been many generations since the soldiers of Mordyn ventured beyond their borders.
    "There is not much information on Mordyn. They do have magicians. Blackthorne once fought against a Mordyn sorcerer named Berimar but few names are known to the outside world. The magicians tend to be mages or wizards. There are few sorcerers for I believe they are able to see Galamog's true nature and go mad. The sorcerers that exist in Mordyn would be extremely powerful to keep their sanity. The Mage Academy once counted a Mordyn sorcerer among its pupils."
    "What? You allowed one of them within your school?"
    "He was not learning secrets but honing skills he already had. His name was Pashar Bei and he fit in quite well with the other students."
    "Where is he now?"
    "I do not know. He left us five years ago. There are rumors but no facts regarding the current activities of Pashar Bei. He was the only sorcerer in Mordyn by his own account. At the time I had no reason to suspect him of lying, but with the recent developments it could be possible he was untruthful."
    "Can you not sense other magicians?" asked Armana.
    "If they are not using their magic, then I can only sense them when they are close by. Even using their magic, it would be a powerful sorcerer for me to sense him from Mordyn. There are few who have such power and even in his prime Gerrand was not one of them."
    "Not Gerrand?"
    "Not for so great a distance. If Gerrand was in Rhath I could sense his magic working. Gerrand may be able to detect magic from a greater distance but it is Blackthorne who wields enough magic to investigate Mordyn from a safe distance."
    "And he wouldn't do that."
    "No, he wouldn't. Blackthorne is a singular creature and will follow his own path. Only one person could convince him to help us and that is Kerreth Veralier."
    "Of the Talos Company? He really exists?"
    "Yes. I met him once in Toraba. Every bit of the stories are true. He is a fearsome creature. He stood a head taller than you and twice as wide. His arms are thickly muscled and he moves faster than a Daerlan. His reddish brown beard is braided and he has two tusks the size of my thumbs jutting upward from his lower lip. He wields two swords and his helmet is made of a skull of a creature that no longer walks on Landermass."
    "Even as the stories say," whispered Armana. "Why haven't I seen him?"
    "He goes where he is needed. He does not seek the company of Men for we are short-lived and pass through his life too quickly. He does not wish to become attached to such heartbreak. The Talos Company members live for hundreds or thousands of years. Although they walk Landermass as we do they are not in our world."
    "Will they aid us if Mordyn goes to war against us?"
    "Perhaps. If Galamog's involvement in the war can be proved, then our chances for their help increase. They tend not to interfere in mere wars, but if it is part of a larger plan and Jungeguds are involved, then they will come."
    "Can you get a message to them?"
    "I can contact Blackthorne," said Artus. "Although he makes it as unpleasant as he can. Actually Vicare Dimont is en route to Blackthorne's home. I can reach Dimont and he can speak with Blackthorne. It's worth a try."
    "Then do so. Despite Aulan's protests we will need all the help you can procure for us. I will have Nar Tomak speak with you to determine the best way to utilize your mages. If you have enough we can station them on Nantitet walls and join each of the companies Tomak sends out to battle."
    "As you wish. I prefer to have the mages work in pairs. I fear for their stamina if they have no one to relieve them. We really haven't determined how long they can