Song of Dragons The Complete Trilogy - By Daniel Arenson Page 0,185

throne in 482. Died in the year 489. His reign was peaceful and prosperous."

Gloriae leaned back and raised her eyebrow. "The king who tamed the Nightshades, the hero from the book, was a child? He died in childhood after a peaceful reign? That doesn't make sense."

Kyrie moaned. "Stars. We've been searching this graveyard for hours. I'm tired. Will we find no king to help us?"

Benedictus grunted. "I'm tired too, kid. Let's take a break. We'll eat what food we have."

They camped below Talin III's tomb and unpacked their supplies. They didn't have much. Lacrimosa had found some mushrooms a while back. Agnus Dei had managed to shoot two rabbits. They had pilfered turnips and some ale from a roadside tavern. They shared the food and drink, which left them still hungry and thirsty, and considered.

"We came here for nothing," Kyrie said.

Benedictus shook his head. "No, kid. We just have to go older. We've been exploring the newer tombs."

Kyrie snickered so loudly, a bit of turnip flew from his mouth. He gestured at Talin III's resting place. "New tombs? Benedictus, this is from the year 489. That was...." He counted on his fingers. "2,756 years ago."

Benedictus nodded. "2,766, actually. But our friend here is the third Talin the White. I say we find his father and grandfather."

They stood up, bellies still rumbling with hunger and throats still parched, and kept moving down the valley. Soon they reached tombs so old, they could have been mistaken for hills of scattered rocks. These tombs were mostly buried in the earth, only their roofs showing. Dead grass rustled around them.

Benedictus knelt by a stone roof which rose from earth, grass, and snow. He dug around it, tossing back dirt and snow, until he excavated the top of a doorway.

"Here, look," he said.

Faded letters appeared on the stone door. Unlike the other tombs, no gold covered these letters, and they were roughly hewn.

"King Talin the White," Benedictus read. "Wielder of Beams."

Agnus Dei leaned against the structure. "Wielder of Beans?" she asked. "Because if he has any beans around here, I'm still hungry."

Benedictus glared at her. "Agnus Dei, show more respect among the tombs of the dead. We finally found our man, and you can only make a joke? Let's dig."

They dug in the earth, until they revealed more of the doorway. However, no more letters appeared there, as had on the other tombs. The door was bare.

"Great," Agnus Dei said. "All the other kings had bloody epics written on their doorways. We finally find a match, and his door just has his name on it. Just perfect."

Benedictus nodded. "In the Gray Age, when Talin the White ruled, the tombs were simpler. It is only in later years that the kings of Osanna built great, towering tombs in the shapes of beasts and warriors, and gilded letters on their doorways. Let's step inside. We'll find more answers within."

Agnus Dei raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure, Father? Do you remember what happened last time we entered a mausoleum? You almost got a skeleton as a son-in-law."

Benedictus grunted. "Sometimes I think I'd prefer the skeleton to Kyrie."

A screech sounded above. The Vir Requis spun around to see ten nightshades in the distance.

"Into the tomb!" Benedictus hissed. "Before they see us."

He dug frantically, revealing the rest of the door. The nightshades shrieked, moving closer. The youths snarled.

"Don't shift!" Benedictus whispered through strained jaws. "They haven't seen us yet."

He leaned against the doorway and pushed. It didn't budge. Kyrie added his weight, they grunted and strained, and finally the door creaked. It took the twins to help too, and the door inched its way open.

"In, quickly!"

They scurried into the tomb. It was dank, cold, and dark. The nightshades screamed outside, louder now. Soon Benedictus saw their shadows in the sky outside.

"Did they see us?" Lacrimosa whispered, clinging to his arm.

Benedictus shook his head. "I don't think so. Their eyes must be weak in the day. We're safe."

Breathing out shakily, he surveyed the tomb. The chamber held jewelled swords, golden vases, a suit of armor, and stone chests full of gems. Golden coins covered the floor.

Agnus Dei whistled. "Nice little place Talin's got here. But where's the king himself?"

Lacrimosa pointed at a second doorway in the back of the chamber. "In there."

Benedictus stepped toward the doorway and pushed it.

Something screamed.

The doorway crashed open, and a creature leaped at him.

Benedictus fell back and raised his sword. The blade hit rusty rings of steel, bolts, and spinning wheels. It shattered, and a shard