The Soulblade's Tale Read Free Page A

but…twisted, corrupted. Warped, somehow.
    He took few steps, not wanting to get too close to thing. The power beat upon his brow, and Nicodemus drew on Heartwarden’s magic, using its power to sense the presence of spells. His mind reached out, probing the stone, testing the nature of the magic that bound it. 
    He gazed at it in amazement.
    The soulstone had been infused with raw life force. Out of stolen life force, Nicodemus realized. The warlock must have captured the life forces of his victims, feeding the energy into the soulstone to create a reservoir of power. But such a feat would take subtle skill. The warlock's powers had been strong, but crude. Nicodemus doubted that the orc had possessed the skill to create something like this. 
    So who had fashioned it? The warlock's master? Another warlock, one stronger and more skilled?
    Or worse, a dark elven wizard? An urdmordar?
    A footstep clicked against the marble floor. 
    Nicodemus whirled, raising Heartwarden. A shape in a hooded cloak came up the stairs and stopped. 
    "Name yourself," said Nicodemus. 
    The figure sighed, drew back the hood, and Nicodemus found himself looking at the face of Alexius, Magistrius of the Order. 
    A man known throughout the realm with his subtle skill at magic. 
    "I hoped you wouldn't have to see this," said Alexius.
    "Magistrius?" said Nicodemus, blinking.
    Alexius sighed again, shaking his head. "Why couldn't Arban have listened to me? There were any number of tasks suitable for a young Swordbearer’s Trial. Why did he have to send you here, of all places?"
    "You made this," said Nicodemus, pointing his sword at the soulstone, "didn't you? Out of stolen life force?"
    Alexius said nothing, his face tight with strain. 
    "And that's...and that's how you've been keeping Julia alive?" said Nicodemus. "You've been killing the travelers, stealing their life force, and feeding it to Julia." 
    "It was necessary!" said Alexius. "I had to save her. My family is gone, Nicodemus. My wife died of plague. My sons fell in battle against the orcs. Julia was all that I had left, all that I cared about." 
    Nicodemus shook his head. "But to serve an orcish warlock..."
    Alexius laughed. "Is that what you think? That I serve that wretched creature?" He strode to the altar and the glowing gem, holding his hand over it. "I found the warlock, I defeated him, and I forced him to serve me. He gave me the spells of blood sorcery that I needed. And I used that knowledge to save Julia, to keep the disease at bay. But still it was not enough. I needed more. Something capable of curing her. So I twisted the fragment of a high elven soulstone to create this...thing." He looked at Nicodemus. "You judge me? I did what was necessary to save her. You would have done the same, I think."
    "No," said Nicodemus, angry now. "No. I saw the corpses of the women, Alexius. Of the children. You murdered them, stole their lives to save Julia's."
    "If you truly loved her," said Alexius, "then you would understand."
    "Julia would not want to bathe in the blood of innocents to save her own life," said Nicodemus. 
    Alexius's face hardened. "Then you intend to tell Dux Arban?" 
    "I must," said Nicodemus. "This...this travesty cannot go unpunished."
    Alexius stepped closer. "Then you would let Julia die?"
    "Julia is already dead," said Nicodemus. "She was dead the moment the disease took her. What you've done...what you've done has given her a few months of additional suffering in exchange for innocent blood."  
    Alexius grimaced. "So be it. I will not permit you to threaten my daughter. I will not!"
    And the Magistrius Alexius drew a sword and jumped into the air, moving with spell-enhanced speed and strength. 
    Nicodemus just got his blade up in time. Alexius struck again, and again, his blade flickering and stabbing like a storm of steel. Nicodemus backed away, whipping Heartwarden back and forth in a frantic effort to block. Somehow he managed to keep Alexius from