Asgoleth The Warrior: A Modern Tale of Sword And Sorcery (fantasy fiction books) Read Free

and lay still. The girl too gave a moan and fell to the ground in a dead faint and Asgoleth snatched up his sword and ran over to where they lay, ready to finish off the priest should he still live. He need not have feared. Deaths iron grip had already closed on the priest and he was now on his way to hell. He would never harm anyone again.
    Asgoleth's keen eye caught the glint of gold about the man's neck and he stooped and pulled free a golden amulet. The amulet bore the image of a hideous reptilian face and he felt a shudder of distaste. Was this an image of the dead priests god? Despite the barbarians mercenary lust for gold he threw the thing from him into the darkness where it belonged. It felt unclean in his hand and he wanted no part of it.
    He retrieved his dagger and wiped both it and his sword clean on the dead man’s robe. Then he strode over to where the girl lay. He knelt down beside her and gathered her up in his strong arms, brushing her foaming black hair away from her face.
    He saw at once, from the torn remains of her fine gown of Kossian silk and from the costly jewels entwined in her hair and about her throat, that this girl he had saved was no ordinary wench. His brow wrinkled in thought as he looked down at her. She looked familiar to him and he wondered how that could be.
    He was a common mercenary soldier while she was obviously a highborn lady; such as she did not mingle with the common soldiery. Then, like a thunderbolt, it struck him. He remembered where he had seen this beautiful young girl before. Six months ago, when he had been stationed at Fort Kronos at the mouth of the Agar pass, King Aractus of Torr had come to inspect his troops. With him had been his retinue of lords and ladies and generals and among their number had been the high priestess of Solus, the Goddess of Light and Life. This slim young girl was none other than that same high priestess.
    He looked down upon her and grinned hugely. Perhaps, after all, there was profit to be made from good deeds. For this girl held other titles too. Lying within the protection of his arms was none other than the Princess Amira, future queen of mighty Torr.

CHAPTER TWO
    The image of the man in the ancient mirror flickered and wavered but the tone of terror in his voice was clear enough.
    ‘My lord, forgive me I beg you. I tried to recapture the princess but whoever killed Alarr and Morius had taken her and vanished into the darkness like a ghost. I could find no trail to follow.’
    Demos listened to his servant’s words with mounting fury.
    ‘You fool! You have failed me and you know I do not tolerate failure.’
    ‘My lord, be merciful. I will do better.’
    But it was too late, Demos’ eyes glared at the image in the mirror and he slowly raised his hand. Upon his thin finger a ring, set with a strange red stone, began to glow and pulsate with increasing strength. Then a bright beam of energy sprang forth and was engulfed by the glass. Many miles away, in far off Torr, the hapless acolyte was suddenly enveloped in a glowing nimbus of red light. His flesh began to smoulder and blacken and he voiced a shrill, inhuman shriek of agony. Louder and louder his screams became until at last his image in the ancient mirror vanished in a grisly explosion of flesh and blood.
    In the sudden silence of his chamber the only sound was the harsh breathing of Demos. The glow of the ring faded away until once again it appeared to be only a brilliant yet ordinary gemstone set in a circle of gold. Demos spat angrily at the glass then began to pace up and down the chamber. His eye fell upon the gleaming steel and crystal rods of his creation and he cursed viciously. There lay the result of long years of occult study and labour, a weapon of such destructive power that it would give him mastery of the entire world. Yet there it lay, useless for want of a source of power.
    He knew that a fabulous gem called The Heart of Ra would complete his device giving him power