The Tomb of the Dark Paladin by Tom Bielawski Page B

who carries it, the Fyrbold. You shall know it when you see it." The god was intentionally holding something back and Shalthazar needed to know what it was. But he knew he would not catch Umber off guard. He would have to find his answers another way.
    "How goes your own campaign, my Master?" said the wizard, as he rose unsteadily to his feet.
    "My war goes as it should. My host is poised. You had better be ready to do your part when the time comes, wizard."
    "Indeed, my Master. I have only to seek the allegiance of the ogers and my host will be ready."
    "The ogers," said Umber softly. "They had better swear allegiance or their consequences will be dire indeed. And what of my other host, Shalthazar?"
    "All is going according to plan, my Master. I will begin the trials of the new soldiers on the morrow." Shalthazar had grown to detest his master, he wanted only to answer Umber's questions and end this encounter. The dark god was always very careful to reveal nothing to Shalthazar beyond the very limited scope of their encounters. Umber never gave the wizard any freedom to move and always held their meetings in different, and completely barren, places. Umber must know Shalthazar was capable of deducing much from even a few very limited observations.
    "With them at the vanguard of your army, you shall be unstoppable!"
    "My Master, things with your brother seem unpredictable and Arnathia is on the brink of its own destruction."
    "My brother may seem irrational and beyond the reach of logic at times, but you may be certain he always knows what he is about."
    Shalthazar was growing frustrated with Umber's evasiveness. "Arnathia is still loyal to Q'raz, that will be unlikely to change even with the chance that the empire will disintegrate. Can we count on your brother to do his part?"
    "My brother is not to be trusted. The Hurkin Horde will be our insurance against his treachery, I want them in position to strike Arnathia in the event of treachery; they will be my reserve, so to speak."
    "The Horde is a formidable weapon indeed." Shalthazar paused, processing the conversation. "My Master, forgive me, but are you concerned for what Arman Sul may do should he learn the truth of your identity?"
    "Arman Sul is no longer relevant. You may cut ties with him when you find the Everpool. I no longer need him, nor do I need his army. You have what you need for your new army and the Hurkin Horde. Should you acquire the ogers as an ally, there will be nothing Arman Sul can do to stop you."
    "Yes, my Master," said Shalthazar. The wizard was concerned with the god's unwillingness to consider what the effect of severing ties with Old Nashia would be on his troops. There would very likely be dissension in the ranks and Shalthazar would have a problem on his hands. The wizard suspected that the god was incapable of considering such ramifications, a trait that the wizard himself had once been guilty of. This was not a point that was worth addressing with Umber.
    "I am sending you an advisor. His name his General Medov," growled the dark god. "He will help ensure you are fully compliant with my battle strategy."
    "General Medov?" Shalthazar grimaced. Medov was a ruthless tactician and the Commandant of the Elite Guard, the assassins' service of the Frost Elf leadership. "Are the clans united under one leader?"
    "They are," said Umber, simply. Shalthazar wondered what Elvish dynamics prevented the powerful tribes from uniting and raining hell upon the rest of the world. Whatever the case, it seemed they were indeed united. Throughout the history of Llars, when the tribes of Erestonin were united they often plunged parts of the world into chaos. Frost Elves were ruthless warriors and had been powerful users of the Shadowtide before Zuhr banned all use of the Sigils. Shalthazar began to suspect that this was Umber's way of bringing Shalthazar's apprentices under the dark god's control.
    This was certainly a difficult turn of events. Shalthazar would have