Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,70

Prince was bowing in appreciation when Kepler made his move from the shadows. He rushed from the darkness and knocked my wife onto Ultonen’s horn, impaling her through the heart. I was told she passed instantly, and her eyes closed forever before she hit the ground. She was unable to manage even the smallest howl or yelp.”

“That’s terrible!” Sam exclaimed. “I’m sorry for your pain. Is there anything I can do?”

Mosley looked at Sam and forced a smile. “It has been 100 seasons, and as I have said, there’s nothing that can be done. Her soul is in a good place. I’m sure Keylom saw to that.”

Sam knew exactly where Luvera’s soul was, or at least where it was said to be. It was within the pages of the Book of Immortality, supposedly waiting for her chance to be reborn—but he said nothing to Mosley. It was clear the wolf did not know where souls were kept after they perished.

Sam’s mind began churning. “The Barbarian King must have had a reason to go after the horn ... something more than detecting poison. Any of his subjects could have tested his food.”

“The murder of the prince served three purposes,” Mosley replied. “He wanted the horn for its healing properties, and further, he wanted to show the unicorns they were vulnerable. They would learn that even with their magic, they could not stop him from killing their prince. The murder sent a clear message that the Barbarian King was to be feared. He intended for all unicorns to serve him … and to this day, the unicorns remain loyal to the king’s house.”

Mosley paused. He stared at his tail as he dealt with the pain the retelling of the story caused. After a moment, he curled up and gnawed at its tip, speaking between snips. “I can understand the king’s desire to rule. I was the leader of my own pack for many seasons and commanded three territories, so his desire to dominate is not foreign to me.”

“Okay, okay. I can also understand the king’s mind. Many men want absolute power.”

“Yes, but there is more to tell,” Mosley inserted. “I haven’t spoken of the effect the horn had on the king ... an unexpected effect. The barbarian desired the horn for its healing properties, as you know. But it wasn’t until much later that he realized he was receiving the benefit of an extended life.”

“That’s medically impossible,” Sam scoffed.

Mosley lifted his hind leg and scratched at his neck again. “Sam, your dull eyes are still focusing on the truths of your old homeworld. The packs here know a different truth. You must remember to open your mind. Many beasts living on the worlds governed by the Crystal Moon are magical. That said, the Barbarian King’s life was extended because of a magical benefit ... not a medical one.”

Sam struggled to wrap his mind around the thought. “How can this be true?”

“I speak fact, Sam. Do you doubt my sincerity?”

“No,” Sam rebutted. “It’s not that I doubt you.” He put his hands on top of his head and pulled his hair. “Okay, okay. Let’s just say, for argument’s sake, that everything you’ve said is true. If the Barbarian King had known about this benefit, he would’ve gone after the horn for that reason alone. How long will he live?”

Mosley paused long enough to sneeze. “The barbarians are an aggressive race. They fight amongst themselves for amusement and sport. When the king fought and was injured, he would use the horn. Once the barbarian understood the healings were making him stronger and younger, he intentionally hurt himself. He often retired to his chambers to secretly invoke the power of the horn. It’s not widely known how often he used it. In fact, only the gods and the king’s closest advisors knew the truth.”

“No way! Okay, okay. How on Earth...?” Sam paused. “I mean ... how on Grayham could a secret this big be kept from the world? The man is outliving his subjects. Don’t any of his advisors desire this benefit for themselves?”

“Of course they did, but the Barbarian King was influential, and he ruled through fear. He was careful not to allow the world to know. To ease his subjects’ minds, the king told them he had found a spring, and its water granted long life. He also told them the spring dried up when he revisited to collect more for his grandcubs. I would not know this if it was not for