Dream of Legends Read Free Page B

forward into its full manifestation. It was an age that they were on the very brink of achieving. A new morning star was about to make its ascension, an important step in a much greater rising.
    All of the eyes in the hall were fixed intently on the Unifier, looking upon Him with a mix of both dread and anxiety. The godhead of the throng’s growing wealth and worldly power stood before them in the flesh, His sharp eyes sweeping over all. Each one of the emissaries from foreign courts felt as if the Unifier was personally regarding him or her. A subdued hush fell throughout the room, as all forms of conversation thoroughly ceased.
    With a clear voice that resonated all throughout the extensive hall, the Unifier finally broke the uneasy stillness.
    “The world must be united as one. The world can, and will, be as one. There need no longer be any barriers to divide us. We must finish our task of ridding the world of our enemies, so that the future can be ours … and ours alone. You know of what I speak. You know that this war we fight must not fail … or even falter.”
    The Unifier paused, looking about the great chamber with His piercing eyes of azure brilliance. He was exceptionally fair to look upon, if not considered unrivaled among men. Yet there was no disputing the choking fear that seemed to accompany Him in rarer moments such as these. The feeling was like looking out upon a vast mass of black thunderclouds spread across the length of the horizon, billowing as they approached, and poised on the verge of hurling barrages of lightning, and torrents of wind and rain, at any given moment. It was an ominous, intimidating sensation that swept over the hearts of the assembled emissaries, causing more than one of them to reflexively blanch in their stark sense of powerlessness and diminutiveness.
    The members of the elite assemblage were among the few in all of Ave who had become acquainted with this awesome, and foreboding, aspect of the Unifier. For many, especially those who were rarely around Him, the terrifying effect was inexplicable.
    Those who had spent more time in closer, more regular proximity to Him understood the effect much more implicitly, though they were no less afraid. If anything, the increased knowledge fueled their fear even more.
    It was a far different feeling than the one held by the common masses that had gained an opportunity to behold Him in person. The public had always been enraptured with His incredible charisma and comeliness. Mesmerized to feeling warm affection, they knew nothing of the intimidating side of the Unifier, the one that He chose to expose to the powerful that He expected binding obedience from.
    “My Darroks have been unleashed upon the Five Realms … the primitive, savage tribes to the east of Gallea,” the Unifier continued. “The Galleans have gathered together a great army on those borders, within the County of Talasae, and will soon surge forth to root our enemies out from those lands.
    “The armies of Ehrengard, Andamoor, and Avanor now move together against Saxany. Many of you know well of this aspect of our greater war. It marks the approaching end of an age, and the beginning of the new one that we will all embrace together. The Saxans and the Five Realms … those enemies will soon be of little worry or consequence.
    “The Midragardans are a different matter entirely. To bring Midragard under our authority, we must strike at them through the seas. Their lands lay far to the east, and deep to the south of here … to the far south of Kiruva, Gael, and Saxany. The wide sea is no small barrier. The seas are the heart of their power, and the soul of their people. And for that we must bring together the largest fleet that has ever been assembled on the oceans of this world. Ever!”
    The Unifier’s gaze swept the room again, searching for any sign of hesitation from the representatives gathered there. Only fear and acquiescence met His penetrating gaze. The