By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,56
of bread. The lad wanted nothing more than to become a powerful magician and warrior.
“Was he not with you tonight in the lair casting a spell on General Edandir?”
“Yes. After much prodding from me. He did it to make up for his failure with the giants. Magic was the last thing on his mind before I all but dragged him to the cavern.”
Why would Jalarn be neglecting his evening lessons, of all things? He had been obsessed with magic just a few days ago.
“My nephew had better be prepared to explain, but first I have a task to complete.”
*****
Talya awakened to an echoing screech. The door down the hall had opened. It seemed like it had been ages since Jalarn had left. She had fallen asleep praying for him.
Talya sat up as a tall, masculine figure holding a lantern came to the barred door. It was not Jalarn.
Talya squinted, trying to make out the man’s face. He was much older, with long black hair. His angry black eyes and wicked scowl made Talya almost wonder if it was the devil himself.
Her heart pounded against her ribcage.
“Who are you?” asked Talya.
“You’ve met my nephew.”
“Ittonifer.”
He nodded.
A shiver ran down Talya’s spine and arms as she stared at the living legend. She’d only seen him that one time in the arena. But he’d had on his battle helmet. Here, in person, he seemed even more powerful.
Ittonifer moved to the side as a guard unlocked the door and brought a bowl of steaming soup into the cell. He set it down and left.
Talya eyed it suspiciously. She was famished, but she didn’t want to take it.
Ittonifer stared at her with a knowing grin.
“If I wanted you to be dead, you would not be breathing right now,” he said.
He had a point. Talya was starving, and the soup’s aroma was intoxicating. She suddenly felt dizzy as she slowly crawled over to take a sip from the bowl. It had been too long since she had eaten.
Ittonifer kicked the bowl to the side. Some of the soup splattered on her face. Talya winced as she wiped off the hot liquid with her sleeve.
“You will eat when you agree to listen to reason,” he said.
“Then I will never eat again!”
“The prince has been watching you, Talya,” said Ittonifer, “and so have I.”
She stiffened.
Devilish magic!
“You and Jalarn are equally matched with the sword. You met him in the forest and then spared his life. The prince willed it to be so.”
“That is a lie.”
“Silence! I would kill you where you sit if it were up to me, sword maiden. I know your backstabbing father all too well. Luckily for you, the prince has very special plans for your role here in Malinor. You are a fool if you throw away this opportunity. Many of my warriors would give anything to be in your position right now.”
Her stomach knotted at the idea of the countless other souls sitting where she sat at the mercy of Ittonifer. She was not going to submit to him. Which meant that pain was soon to follow. She knew that much about the man.
“I won’t listen to this any longer,” said Talya.
“Very well. Maybe after some… persuasion… you will change your mind.”
Talya didn’t like the sound of that. Her eyes widened as two soldiers walked into her cell. One carried a box and the other carried a pail of water.
Talya instinctively stood and held out her sword. She was so weak that one of them easily kicked her legs out from under her. She dropped her sword as she landed on her behind. One of the guards retrieved the weapon and gave it to Ittonifer. The other one grabbed her by the shoulders and dunked her head into the ice-cold water.
Talya screamed into the frigid liquid as her body trembled from the chilling jolt. She kicked at the soldier that held her, but he held her firmly in place until she thought that her lungs would burst. He yanked her out and she coughed, gasping for air.
“All of this ends if you will just turn away from your God, Talya,” said Ittonifer.
“Never!” she cried.
The soldier submerged her head again.
Oh Lord, I am going to die.
*****
In the ethereal beauty of the night, General Edandir stood atop a rocky hill that overlooked a great freshwater lake. Nothing energized him more than nature’s beautiful scenery. They had marched for yet another day. Tomorrow, they would attack the Malinorian Empire. He never slept very well the night before