poison ring he now wore.
He closed the ring’s tiny reservoir and stood up. He was stiff and his wounds ached. He would have to loosen up before the Half Elf arrived.
He wore black leather armor in place of his robes and a dark cape. Buckling his two short swords around his waist and adjusting his mask, the Dark One came around his desk. “Get the Queen and meet me on top of the tower, and, Siro, remember what we talked about.” The ugly little man nodded and went to get their hostage.
The Dark One climbed the steps to the top of his tower, he peered over the battlements and saw his creation coming towards the tower through the deep snow. He knew the fool would eventually come for the little whore. And he had come alone, it couldn’t be more perfect. “I will wait for you up here,” he called out.
He saw the swordsman look up at him then quicken his pace toward the ancient structure.
He hoped his plan would work or he would most likely be dead by the end of the day. He wanted to laugh out loud, he was nervous and tingling all over. He barely felt the pain of his scars. It had been a long time since he had been this excited.
Chapter 24
Kian ran forward and leaped onto the tower then immediately jumped again. The Dark One watched as the Half Elf bounded up the side of his tower. He was impressed by his work. Even the Circle of Thirteen could not have created such a creature.
Siro came up the stairs with the Queen and threw her down, unconcerned about the agonizing scream she let out. The Dark One quickly limped over to the hatch. “Good, Siro, now go below and do what I told you.”
The necromancer smiled and went back through the small hatch, leaving it open as he went down the stairs.
“Come, Majesty, time for you to be of some use.” The wizard pulled the Queen up by her hair. She let out a little scream as he positioned the small woman in front of him like a shield.
Kian smoothly vaulted over the battlements, pulling Malice as he gracefully landed on the tower’s rooftop. The blade’s uncommon features almost seemed to swallow the morning sunlight as he brought it to guard.
“It took you long enough to get here. I see you still have the sword you stole from me,” the sorcerer said.
“Release the Queen and stand against me like a man.”
The masked man shook his head. “Why, so you can come over here and cut me down? I think not, my friend, but I might be willing to make a deal. Right now my servant, Siro, I’m sure you remember him, is down below with Her Majesty’s infant son, if you try anything foolish, maybe you will save the Queen but her child will surely die. Now throw the sword over the side and get on your knees.”
Kian looked over the tower’s edge and then back at the wizard. The Dark One slowly pulled one of his short swords out and put it to the Queen’s throat. “You know I will do it, you do remember Gildor, don’t you?”
Kian’s lips tightened, he knew what the wizard was capable of. He dropped Malice over the side of the tower and got on his knees.
“Much better, my friend. I feel much more comfortable now.”
Kian’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not your friend. I did as you asked, now let her go.”
The Dark One slowly loosened his grip on the Queen. “Don’t forget, one word from me and the child dies.”
Kian could see the hatch to the tower was open, he had no doubt Siro was down there with the Queen’s baby listening to every word.
Raygan fell to her hands and knees. Kian could see she was in a great deal of pain.
The sorcerer waved his fingers and then clenched his fist towards Kian. A flaming bolt of green fire shot forward and struck the swordsman square in the chest.
Kian flinched, he looked down at his chest, nothing, the magical bolt hadn’t harmed him at all. He jumped to his feet glaring at the wizard.
The Dark One shrugged. “Forgive me, but a colleague of mine said you might be immune to magic, due to the dragon heart I put inside you, it seems she was correct.”
Dragon heart? What had this vile monster done to him? Kian’s anger began to build. He had been mutilated on the inside as