The Path of Destruction (Rune Breaker) Read Free Page B

dalliances with the help. In the Kimean Isles, it was just as likely the precursor to the maid becoming a test subject for some new spell that might turn her into a monster, or leave her in agony. He knew everyone who worked in the keep, and resolved to schedule things so that this Layaka person couldn't arrange any unfortunate accidents or false criminal accusations for the young woman.
    Crossius continued. “I trust the keep's garrison is still manned and operational?”
    “Of course, my Lord. Three dozen highly trained soldiers, backed by a corps of six military magi.”
    “Excellent. Order them to prepare to be reinforced. I will be bringing mercenaries onto the island via the teleportation array over the next several days. Have them on high alert: while I do this, the island will be vulnerable to scrying and enemy teleportation. Oh. And do you still remember the operation of the keep's magical defenses?”
    Tolere stared blankly, his mouth working on automatic. “Yes, my lord. A-are we at war?”
    “Good. Train three people you can trust in their operation and activate everything.” Lord Crossius's face remained just as impassive as ever as he spoke, like a mask. “And oh yes, war is coming. A power beyond the scope of your imagination is being brought to bear on this island.”
    Before Tolere could speak, Crossius was off and moving again, heading toward the central spiral staircase that serviced the keep. Along the way, he turned and pointed to the men carrying the tarp covered thing. “You. Come with me. I need to find a safe place for that.”
    Milfine followed after with Layaka not far behind. As she moved forward with a grace that seemed akin to floating, there was a faint scraping of clay over the stone floor. “'A great power is being brought to bear on this island'” She echoed sarcastically once they were out of earshot of the servants.
    “In no way is that a lie.” Crossius replied. “I only neglected to mention that 'here' is exactly where I want that power to come.”

Chapter 2 – The House in the Aether
    Three days out from Daire City found them beyond the hills that surrounded the city and on the grasslands to the south. There, the sun blazed down on endless, gentle slopes of grass kept short by the herds of wild horses, antelope, and thick-necked aurochs that roamed freely.
    Where the army had passed, the vegetation was trampled into the dirt, revealing the bones and gristle of herd animals taken by soldiers to supplement their rations. They were being picked over by sun scarabs: beetles the size of house cats with blue and gold carapaces. These in turn were preyed upon by koshi orms: winged serpents whose verdant scales glittered in the sun.
    The scarabs were harmless, but koshi orms that felt threatened by larger creatures employed a poisonous bite, so Kaiel steered the party slightly westward and out of the direct path left behind by the army. Once or twice, they caught sight of a small pride of spotted lions waiting out the heat of day beneath the rare tree growing out in the open, or mated pairs of moas; distant cousins of ornis birds like Miser, ahunt on the edges of herds.
    When they weren't eating or sleeping, Taylin stayed in the air, riding lazy thermals to keep up with the group with minimal effort. Her increasing silence over the past few days hadn't escaped Kaiel's notice, but every time he tried to talk to her, she said that she was still thinking.
    The only person who could fly to reach her had fallen similarly quiet, but for easier to deduce reasons.
    Ru floated along behind the mounts, legs crossed, robes dragging the grass. The artifact held his complete attention. The day Issacor was laid to rest, Ru told Kaiel that he'd made a breakthrough, and over the past few days, he'd grown increasingly excited and bizarre. He muttered nonsense phrases at the bauble, shook it, and at one point, poured the blood from a rabbit onto it. Such bouts of irrationality were short lived and