Possessing the Grimstone Read Free

to the Red Coast. The other rider would head north to the borders of Bhrungach, monitoring the on and off wars between the North and the South before heading past the Lake Lands to the Red Coast.
    Each rider would pass the other and head back to Cardoon, reporting if anything was amiss. The lands of the west and far south were out of the jurisdiction of the city boundaries; they were ruled by the Wivering of Gonnish and the people of the M’illium Fells. The Fells were great mountains of magic where the warrior mages of D’Elkyrie made their cloud-capped homes. Between Gonnish and M’illium Fells, many rolling green hills sprouted with a network of rivers and marshes. Yagmire Hills was the biggest of these, and was home to many Wood Sprites and Gnomes.
    Tolan rode on, galloping across the beach and making his way to the Lake Lands with its host of small villages and fishing towns. He wondered about the wall of mist and why it had always been there. What was it hiding? Was there anything beyond? No one had ever been through it. It was thought to be impassible. Not a single boat dared to sail into the wall for fear of never returning. Any trade or sailing expedition stuck straight to the coastline and traveled north to south, or vice versa. There was always the Baltha Sea, but no one in Cardoon had much use for it: it was only a trade route between the west and the island lands of Norrow.
    He looked back on the mist before riding out of its view. The land began to transform into fields, grassy knolls, and even a forest. He followed a path through Llewallen Forest and spotted his best friend in all the Circle Guard, Geyess, heading toward him.
    “Whoa,” Tolan called to his steed. He put his hand up to Geyess. “Good to see you, my friend.”
    “And you, as well,” Geyess said, pulling his horse to a stop. “How is your journey?”
    “Uneventful. And you? How do the Lake Lands fair?”
    “Quiet. The villages barely noticed me, and the raids from the South seemed to have stopped. At least for now.”
    “Very good. And what of Bhrungach?”
    “I didn’t get close enough to find out. You know what those Northerners think of us.”
    Tolan laughed. “That I do. They’d serve us spoiled meat and sour milk and call it good hospitality before showing us the door.”
    Geyess smiled. “I hope the Red Coast behaves itself on my pass.”
    “I feel it will.”
    “Those clouds of mist always make my blood run cold.”
    “Just don’t look them in the eyes…” Tolan smirked, and Geyess shook his head. “I am off to report back to the city.”
    “Safe journey to you.”
    “And to you. See you at home.”
    The two friends departed, and Tolan continued on his forest path. In the distance, he caught a glimpse of the first lake within the Lake Lands.
    ###
    The massive gates of Cardoon opened, allowing Tolan entry. He rode past the farmlands on the outskirts of the city. Peasants made homes in the fields, and sold their harvest once a week inside the city’s walls. They grew all manner of vegetables and fruit, and bred livestock for meat. Each knight that went out of the gate had to endure the markets and bazaars: all the peddlers lined up to sell food, clothes, wine, and jewels.
    Tolan moved through them all without losing a coin, and entered the city confines. He strolled into the first courtyard, and returned his banner to its rightful place upon the pedestals lining the pathway.
    He was greeted by the High Guardsman, Jorrel. “Hark, Tolan, what news do you bring us?”
    Tolan dismounted and shook Jorrel’s hand. “I saw lightning in the misty clouds of the Fifling Sea.”
    “Lightning?” Jorrel confirmed. “Was there thunder?”
    Tolan nodded.
    “Well, a storm over the sea is no cause for fret. It does happen from time to time.”
    “It has been quite some time since any thunder was heard in those clouds.”
    “True, but a natural occurrence, nonetheless.”
    “It wasn’t thunder.” A voice rasped behind