twisted walls of the castle itself. The dracoliche’s skeletal tail provided the precarious passage and was wide enough for five men to take at once. The dreadful beast’s carcass reared at an unseen foe, guarding the castle’s gate. The mighty bones of its wings were tucked in close to its tail and stretched nearly to chasm’s opposite side. The Liche Queen glided from her tower perch, descending to a seat upon the dracoliche’s shoulder. She caressed the skeletal shoulder with a slender alabaster finger.
“Keep watch for me, my love.”
The Liche Queen conjured an image of her throne room and disappeared into a flash of black light. She arrived in the cavernous hall smiling at the towering dais of polished skulls. At the dawn of her power, the dais was but a single layer of empty eyed bone. With each conquered kingdom the column enhanced itself, reaching upward to the vaulted ceiling. The morbid structure was of Her Majesty’s own design, an atrocity fashioned from the skulls of slaughtered mounts. It was a most enjoyable, postmortem swipe at her mother’s memory.
A pool of water, serene as a mirror’s surface, dominated the room’s heart. Braziers clinging to six petrified oaks painted Wakeful flame onto the still water, giving it an eerie emerald glow.
Her heels clicked hard on the stone floor as she circled the pool. Ten paces from the dais, a staircase of skulls mirroring the grisly column erupted from the floor. The Liche Queen took the steps two at time, skulls exploding into dust behind her. At the peak of the skull stairs, she whipped free the black cloak at her shoulders and claimed the newly materialized throne of skull and bone.
All round her, the halls of the Nekropolis brimmed feverish. Rumors passed freely among the slaves that Malachai had found ’ her’ . Scouts returning on weary mounts provided fiery confirmation of Sensheeri’s fall. But she would hear the news from her favorite. She would hear it from Malachai. That she was unable to reach Malachai’s mind through the Wakeful curse was a manor of small concern. Perhaps the little wretch was that powerful? No matter. There were other ways...
“Bring me the Echo.”
Two giant hooks descended from the darkened ceiling on chains thick as a giant’s forearms and splashed into the water, shattering the calm surface. A moment later a muffled clunk and more ratcheting sounds. The hooks re-appeared carrying a ring of roiling magma, a wagon’s length across. Steam hissed from the enchanted artifact as it became fully exposed to the cool air.
“Malachai, my most favored. Heed your Queen’s call.”
The ring of molten rock brightened, illuminating the hidden corners of throne room, revealing a number of hidden Wakeful guards. The Echo reached across the void of space and time voicing the Liche Queen’s call. Malachai’s visage appeared in the circle soon after, painted in the same rolling volcanic shades. His fiery silhouette stepped down from the Echo, walking onto the pool’s boiling surface. Malachai’s image genuflected and steam sizzled from his knee. “What is thy bidding, Highness?”
“You disappoint me, Captain,” the Liche Queen said, “Was I not clear on my orders? Were you not to contact me the instant you had the girl?”
Despite the great distance separating them, a shiver climbed Malachai’s spine. “Highness, I have the abomination in my presence as you’ve commanded. There were... complications.” He bowed meekly, hoping to soften whatever blow came next.
She brushed a raven colored lock from her lips and smiled. “Complications?”
The fiery silhouette softened, relieved by the smile. Malachai started to explain. The Liche Queen was on her feet in a second, running down the staircase of skulls. She seized Malachai’s blazing image by the throat, impervious to the scorching heat. “Complications like burning one of my villages to the ground? Fool! You may be Captain, but I am Queen! Queen , Malachai! Do
“Keep watch for me, my love.”
The Liche Queen conjured an image of her throne room and disappeared into a flash of black light. She arrived in the cavernous hall smiling at the towering dais of polished skulls. At the dawn of her power, the dais was but a single layer of empty eyed bone. With each conquered kingdom the column enhanced itself, reaching upward to the vaulted ceiling. The morbid structure was of Her Majesty’s own design, an atrocity fashioned from the skulls of slaughtered mounts. It was a most enjoyable, postmortem swipe at her mother’s memory.
A pool of water, serene as a mirror’s surface, dominated the room’s heart. Braziers clinging to six petrified oaks painted Wakeful flame onto the still water, giving it an eerie emerald glow.
Her heels clicked hard on the stone floor as she circled the pool. Ten paces from the dais, a staircase of skulls mirroring the grisly column erupted from the floor. The Liche Queen took the steps two at time, skulls exploding into dust behind her. At the peak of the skull stairs, she whipped free the black cloak at her shoulders and claimed the newly materialized throne of skull and bone.
All round her, the halls of the Nekropolis brimmed feverish. Rumors passed freely among the slaves that Malachai had found ’ her’ . Scouts returning on weary mounts provided fiery confirmation of Sensheeri’s fall. But she would hear the news from her favorite. She would hear it from Malachai. That she was unable to reach Malachai’s mind through the Wakeful curse was a manor of small concern. Perhaps the little wretch was that powerful? No matter. There were other ways...
“Bring me the Echo.”
Two giant hooks descended from the darkened ceiling on chains thick as a giant’s forearms and splashed into the water, shattering the calm surface. A moment later a muffled clunk and more ratcheting sounds. The hooks re-appeared carrying a ring of roiling magma, a wagon’s length across. Steam hissed from the enchanted artifact as it became fully exposed to the cool air.
“Malachai, my most favored. Heed your Queen’s call.”
The ring of molten rock brightened, illuminating the hidden corners of throne room, revealing a number of hidden Wakeful guards. The Echo reached across the void of space and time voicing the Liche Queen’s call. Malachai’s visage appeared in the circle soon after, painted in the same rolling volcanic shades. His fiery silhouette stepped down from the Echo, walking onto the pool’s boiling surface. Malachai’s image genuflected and steam sizzled from his knee. “What is thy bidding, Highness?”
“You disappoint me, Captain,” the Liche Queen said, “Was I not clear on my orders? Were you not to contact me the instant you had the girl?”
Despite the great distance separating them, a shiver climbed Malachai’s spine. “Highness, I have the abomination in my presence as you’ve commanded. There were... complications.” He bowed meekly, hoping to soften whatever blow came next.
She brushed a raven colored lock from her lips and smiled. “Complications?”
The fiery silhouette softened, relieved by the smile. Malachai started to explain. The Liche Queen was on her feet in a second, running down the staircase of skulls. She seized Malachai’s blazing image by the throat, impervious to the scorching heat. “Complications like burning one of my villages to the ground? Fool! You may be Captain, but I am Queen! Queen , Malachai! Do
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