By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,51

will take hours of preparation, but it will be well worth it. No man will ever want to turn his back on the empire for fear of the consequences.”

“Would this also include past traitors. Such as, say, General Edandir?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

*****

Ittonifer sat in his bedchamber staring at a bowl of water on his table, meditating on the spells that he had learned over the years. He had been too busy as a warrior and ruler to get too deep into magic, but he had learned some very useful spells.

The bowl’s water started to glow as sharp images of armored men riding on horses formed. Sanctus was marching.

Ten giants marched with them. Jalarn and his men should have moved faster rather than wasting their time devouring an elaborate meal in the middle of the forest. That dastardly Edandir had slipped into the coliseum and heard all of Malinor’s plans, but it was his brave little daughter that had won over the men from Hunter Forest.

Still, the giants would be no match for the formidable beasts in Ittonifer’s possession, let alone his prince’s spells. Malinor had the upper hand. General Edandir wouldn’t know what hit him.

Ittonifer would save the enemy general for the very end. He would make sure that Edandir would see everything that he lost before killing him.

Ittonifer’s army was ready. Save one.

*****

Late at night, Jalarn sat in the library memorizing the next set of spells that Aterun had taught him. They were just simple spells, of course. Not like the one he had spent most of the evening helping Aterun prepare for. Yet even for the less complex spells, one had to say each word with a certain emphasis, or it would go completely wrong. Like the tempest enchantment. The challenge and dedication of magic energized him.

The young general leaned back in his chair to take a break, closing his eyes for a moment.

Jalarn was serious about becoming both a great magician and a better general. It was the only way to become completely indestructible. One day he would even overpower Aterun and do things his own way. The better way.

He opened his eyes after a long yawn. Talya’s scroll was still lying on his desk. He hadn’t figured out what to do with it yet.

Either burn it in the fireplace and be rid of it, or taunt her with it before destroying it.

Jalarn would have preferred the latter option if he had more time. He wished that there were some way to sway Talya’s mind. She would have to let go of her ridiculous religion if she wanted to live. Too many gifted warriors had wasted their lives away because of misled beliefs. It baffled Jalarn to no end.

It was clear that the prince had destined Talya to be a part of Ittonifer’s superior army. Somehow, he would convince the headstrong sword maiden that his lord’s way was the only way to escape death now.

*****

Talya had grown tired of sitting alone in the silent darkness for hours on end. It was all so maddening. She would probably go insane soon. Her country was marching for war at that moment; Jalarn was still a lost soul; and she was forced to sit immobile within her enemy’s filthy cage, with nothing to do but stare at the walls.

I might as well still be unconscious. He did not listen to a word I said to him.

She had spared Jalarn’s life, but for what? His heart had turned cold long ago. Why would he listen to her now? He was a cold-blooded killer.

Then again, how was I any better? Besides, Uittan said that there is always hope. I have to believe that, too. God wanted me to stay in the forest for a reason.

Talya stood and paced within the narrow confines of her cell. Her spirit was deeply troubled. Jalarn had seemed slightly rattled by the fact that she had spared him, but it was not enough for him to listen to her. He had said that it was the devil that saved him. All Jalarn wanted to do now was recruit her.

And I nearly fell for it.

Talya shook her head. As the moments turned into hours, she started to see herself for what she was. Even after witnessing to the giants and seeing them give their lives to Jesus, she would have killed Jalarn had it not been for the vision.

She shuddered.

I don’t want to be like that ever again.

The suffocating silence was worse than the darkness. She had never felt so alone