belonged outside.
He had riches enough now, but how was he to use them to fulfil his vow? Where does one go to buy an army? he thought, and he idly scratched his name on the balcony with one claw. What is the first step?
Metallic clanking and Targesh's grunts of satisfaction made Adalon think of the armoury. He took the magical keys from his pocket and looked at them, feeling their magic. In such a short time, they had found so much. What else could be hidden in such a place? The castle may hold something that would be of more immediate use against Queen Tayesha.
But at what cost? a voice whispered at the back of his mind.
Adalon bowed his head, deep in thought. He heard his father. ' Wisdom comes in knowing when to act, and when to build strength. Watch, listen, and learn before acting. '
He knew that three young saur were no match for the might of Thraag, even with the riches they had found. The desire to fulfil his vow burned inside him, but he knew that the time for taking action was not now. This was the time to gather themselves, find allies, explore the wonders of the Lost Castle. Strike when ready, not when rushed. Let not the hot blood rule the mind , the Way of the Claw advised.
Adalon nodded, his course clear. Wait, plan, then move with care and stealth. Build strength gradually. Strike when ready.
It was not the course his heart desired, but it was the course that his head said was right.
He glanced at the door and wondered where Simangee was. She had walked her riding beast to the courtyard, but after laughing at Targesh's performance she'd left to explore on her own.
Adalon looked up at the sun. It was nearly midday.
'Canter, steed! Canter!' Targesh's voice echoed from the courtyard. Adalon smiled at his friend enjoying himself so much.
A noise made him turn. Simangee stood in the doorway, shaking, her eyes wide. 'It's begun,' she said, then collapsed.
'Targesh!' Adalon shouted. He thrust the keys into his pocket and hurried to Simangee's side.
Adalon had carried Simangee to her bed by the time Targesh appeared. 'Is she all right?'
'I don't know. Can you get her some water?'
'Aye. Root broth, too.'
'Good.'
Simangee opened her eyes soon after Targesh left. 'I found the chamber of power.' She swallowed and grimaced. 'The book said it would be in a tower. It took me time to find which one.'
'The chamber of power,' Adalon repeated. What was taking Targesh so long?
'Where the A'ak made most of their magic. It has many, many bottles of magic potions. And looking glasses right around the walls.'
'Mirrors?'
'More than mirrors. Through them the A'ak could see what was happening outside this valley. They could spy on all the seven kingdoms.'
'Oh.' Adalon sat up straighter.
'I could not control the mirrors. Their focus swooped and roamed, and would not go where I commanded.' She closed her eyes and tears leaked from them. 'I wanted to find Hoolgar.'
Adalon knew that Simangee respected the old scholar, but until now he had not realised how much. With all the seven kingdoms to see, she had first tried to look for the saur who had taught her.
Her eyes sprang open. 'Sleeto, Adalon, do you remember Sleeto?'
'Yes. Of course.' Adalon's fears for Simangee were renewed. Why was she talking of their childhood playground? Was she delirious?
'The Queen is sending troops to Sleeto. The construction of the great fortress is to begin in earnest. They mean to enslave the villagers and once the citadel is made, the invasion of Callibeen will be launched.'
Adalon closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
Simangee lifted herself up and grabbed Adalon's arm. Her eyes were blazing. 'We must stop them, Adalon.'
She crumpled to the bed.
Adalon stroked her forehead for a moment. Targesh arrived. 'Asleep?' he asked, concern plain on his broad face.
Simangee opened her eyes. 'No. I feel like my bones are made of rubber.'
'The cost of magic,' Adalon muttered. 'Weakness? A small price, this time.'
Simangee
He had riches enough now, but how was he to use them to fulfil his vow? Where does one go to buy an army? he thought, and he idly scratched his name on the balcony with one claw. What is the first step?
Metallic clanking and Targesh's grunts of satisfaction made Adalon think of the armoury. He took the magical keys from his pocket and looked at them, feeling their magic. In such a short time, they had found so much. What else could be hidden in such a place? The castle may hold something that would be of more immediate use against Queen Tayesha.
But at what cost? a voice whispered at the back of his mind.
Adalon bowed his head, deep in thought. He heard his father. ' Wisdom comes in knowing when to act, and when to build strength. Watch, listen, and learn before acting. '
He knew that three young saur were no match for the might of Thraag, even with the riches they had found. The desire to fulfil his vow burned inside him, but he knew that the time for taking action was not now. This was the time to gather themselves, find allies, explore the wonders of the Lost Castle. Strike when ready, not when rushed. Let not the hot blood rule the mind , the Way of the Claw advised.
Adalon nodded, his course clear. Wait, plan, then move with care and stealth. Build strength gradually. Strike when ready.
It was not the course his heart desired, but it was the course that his head said was right.
He glanced at the door and wondered where Simangee was. She had walked her riding beast to the courtyard, but after laughing at Targesh's performance she'd left to explore on her own.
Adalon looked up at the sun. It was nearly midday.
'Canter, steed! Canter!' Targesh's voice echoed from the courtyard. Adalon smiled at his friend enjoying himself so much.
A noise made him turn. Simangee stood in the doorway, shaking, her eyes wide. 'It's begun,' she said, then collapsed.
'Targesh!' Adalon shouted. He thrust the keys into his pocket and hurried to Simangee's side.
Adalon had carried Simangee to her bed by the time Targesh appeared. 'Is she all right?'
'I don't know. Can you get her some water?'
'Aye. Root broth, too.'
'Good.'
Simangee opened her eyes soon after Targesh left. 'I found the chamber of power.' She swallowed and grimaced. 'The book said it would be in a tower. It took me time to find which one.'
'The chamber of power,' Adalon repeated. What was taking Targesh so long?
'Where the A'ak made most of their magic. It has many, many bottles of magic potions. And looking glasses right around the walls.'
'Mirrors?'
'More than mirrors. Through them the A'ak could see what was happening outside this valley. They could spy on all the seven kingdoms.'
'Oh.' Adalon sat up straighter.
'I could not control the mirrors. Their focus swooped and roamed, and would not go where I commanded.' She closed her eyes and tears leaked from them. 'I wanted to find Hoolgar.'
Adalon knew that Simangee respected the old scholar, but until now he had not realised how much. With all the seven kingdoms to see, she had first tried to look for the saur who had taught her.
Her eyes sprang open. 'Sleeto, Adalon, do you remember Sleeto?'
'Yes. Of course.' Adalon's fears for Simangee were renewed. Why was she talking of their childhood playground? Was she delirious?
'The Queen is sending troops to Sleeto. The construction of the great fortress is to begin in earnest. They mean to enslave the villagers and once the citadel is made, the invasion of Callibeen will be launched.'
Adalon closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
Simangee lifted herself up and grabbed Adalon's arm. Her eyes were blazing. 'We must stop them, Adalon.'
She crumpled to the bed.
Adalon stroked her forehead for a moment. Targesh arrived. 'Asleep?' he asked, concern plain on his broad face.
Simangee opened her eyes. 'No. I feel like my bones are made of rubber.'
'The cost of magic,' Adalon muttered. 'Weakness? A small price, this time.'
Simangee
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