Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“I won’t, my Lord.” I rise, lifting my chin. I will bring back The Heart of the Eclipse if it kills me.
I have no other choice.
1
Sylvanna
SORCERESS OF NOCTURNA
I see the Paladin coming from quite a distance, thanks to the Mirror of Far-Seeing. It is a shallow silver basin filled to the rim with oily black liquid. Some say it is the blood of a dragon—some say the slime left behind from the thousand years frost. I don’t know—my mother, who was a great sorceress before me, left it to me along with many of the other artifacts in my tower.
I have added to her collection over the years, of course. Among my possessions I can count the fabled Veil of Nyx. When worn over the eyes, it grants the ability to see into the spirit world and read the true nature of souls. However, care must be taken when wearing it that the spirit which lurks within the veil doesn’t take over the wearer’s mind. I use is sparingly, if at all.
I am also the owner of the Thornheart Grimoire. It is a living book of spells that bleeds every time it is opened. I must feed it a drop of blood or a single tear each time I use it and the spells within grow more powerful in proportion to my distress and need. For obvious reasons, I only use it in times of great necessity.
In addition to these artifacts, I own the Lantern of Withered Stars, the Crown of Hollow Bone, the Ashen Chalice, and too many more to name. But for this particular visitor—the Paladin riding so bravely to best me—I think I will need the Jewel of Knowing.
I climb the long spiraling steps of my tower until I reach the very top—here, just above my bedchamber and living quarters—is where I keep my collection.
I wander through the room, which is dark, for there are no windows. But each artifact has its own glass case lit from within by a single luminous moon crystal. The white, milky light coming from so many cases—for as I said, my collection is extensive—makes the room quite bright enough to see where I am going.
Not that I need much light. I, among the other High Born of my kind, have eyes which glow, allowing me to see in near pitch darkness if I need to. This is necessary here in Nocturna where a spell laid by a very distant ancestor ensures that we are a Kingdom of Night. Lest you should wonder about the practicality of such an arrangement, our plants and animals have all been magically modified to thrive in the moonlight. Our farmers grow abundant crops and so we do not suffer—in fact, we thrive.
Which is something our neighbors to the West in Solaris cannot abide. That’s where the Paladin who seeks me is coming from. They are a barbaric nation—a people who worship the burning sun in the sky first and their beloved GodKing second. They think we’re evil simply because we prefer the darkness.
Well, to be fair, that’s not the only reason they think we’re evil. I run my tongue over the tips of my fangs which are located where a human’s canine teeth would be. They give me the ability to drink blood, but I don’t need more than a small sip now and then—usually for magical purposes.
Magic is not free—it must be paid for. Blood is one way to pay. Hence, my fangs…which have been dry these many months while I have been without either a Blood-partner or a Blood-servant. I have been alone ever since I left my last Blood-partner, Kraven.
My mind shies away from the memory. I thought he loved me but in truth, he sought to Drain me. I barely escaped with my life and my magic intact. I prefer not to think of the details.
I know I’ll need either a new partner or a new servant soon, but who can I trust? No one in the City, that’s for certain. Likewise, I’m reluctant to take a servant. Who knows if the person I choose might be infected by Kraven’s dark magic? I don’t feel that I can trust anyone now—not after the man I called “Beloved” tried to take my life and drain my magic.
At the moment, though, I have other matters to worry about. The Mirror of Far-Seeing has revealed the Paladin is coming to do battle with me. Why? I don’t know yet. But I soon will.
I find the Jewel of Knowing in a glass case near the back of the room. It is a flat, oval-shaped gem with many facets about as big as my thumb. To wear it, I need only press it to my temple, where it will adhere and begin drawing knowledge for me. It will allow me to hear some of the thoughts and see into the memories of the one I focus on.