The Silver Tower (The Age of Dawn Book 3) Read Free Page B

danced in the air, walking with a purposeful stride. “Could this boy be the dual-wielder? Coincidence?”
    She started, slowly nodding. “That would seem likely, yes,” She said tapping a bloody fingernail on her lips, dotting them with bits of red.
    “A dual-wielder has emerged in this time and the Chains of the North are missing. This is not good, Alena,” he said, chains now whipping with fury along the walls, dislodging chunks of stone. A rock the size of Alena’s head pulled loose and fell with a crack behind her, stone fragments raining down on her shoulders.
    “He will surely be led to the Silver Tower if the whores don’t have him already. They will want to train him, release his full strength,” Alena said, standing and brushing grit from her skinned knees, paying the shattered boulder behind her a cursory glance.
    “You’re right. Proceed with the assault as planned, Alena, and do not fail. I will strip the flesh from the bones of every one of you if I have too,” Asebor hissed. Alena nodded quickly, opening her mouth to speak, but Asebor continued. “Do we have enough Equalizers?”
    “Not yet,” she said, shoulders sagging, titling her head to the side, highlighting her long neck. “One of the three Tower whores creating them for us has perished. One of the artifacts exploded mid-creation, taking her face with it.”
    “A pity,” Asebor said.
    “At least half of the army will be equipped with them. We won’t wait much longer, lest they discover the force. I will not fail you,” she said, meeting his eyes, pulling from the depths of her strength to hold his gaze.
    “The Tower must fall. I need to find Malek, he knows who the dual-wielder is. Where did that husk of flesh go?” The chains smashing against the walls fell with sudden lifelessness and then started curling around his arms.
    “Destroy the Tower, Alena,” he said, stabbing his dark finger at her. “No quarter, no mercy, no prisoners!” He smashed his spiked fist into his open palm.
    “Of course, my lord. I will break their bones!” She hissed through gritted teeth, eyes flashing with brilliance.
    He nodded imperceptibly and walked through the portal that shone with the amber of his lair, snapping shut as he stepped through.

Chapter Two
    A Midnight Stroll
    “I recall Lillian’s fire, burning bright and always surrounding me. I close my eyes and they’re wet with tears. The waves of the past pull me out to sea.” - The Diaries of Baylan Spear
    J uzo wrapped his long duster around his bony torso, crossing his arms, feigning an affectation of being cold. The wind harshly tunneled through the shop-lined street leading into the market quarters, tossing his gray hair over his head. He walked by candles burning in windows as people read, took evening elixir, and chatted with loved ones before drifting into the realm of dreams. Juzo rubbed at the back of his neck, leaving one arm tight across his body. His red eye shifted from side to side of the cobbled street, expecting an ambush from an intersecting alley. No ambush came.
    Midgaard was beautifully quiet at night. The street torches burned and sun relented the last of its burning fury. Juzo liked it better this way. At twilight, no one would jump at the sight of his eye color or ask him if he needed to see the surgeon. At night, he could wave to a passing man without him staring at him like he was a display in the Artifact Museum. But what use was there now in trying to make friends? The night, the enveloping darkness was his only true friend. It didn’t argue with him, or complain when he wanted to feast upon those foolish enough to tread in his domain. It felt like darkness was his only real ally.
    Have you forgotten about me already? The light-swallowing sword, Blackout whispered in his mind.
    “No,” he muttered, finger scraping along its leather wrapped handle.
    We must consume soon, our hunger grows.
    “Eventually, maybe later, I don’t know!” he said, turning a