Both of the women shiver when an icy breeze weaves through their legs, but a gust of warmth hits their faces to make them sweat. They watch as the Baron holds out his hands, one bathed in ice and the other in fire. Lightning crackles through his ebony hair while the earth rises over his booted feet. A dull hum emanates from the ancient warlord’s chest as a whirling abyss rises from his flesh. His elemental spells stream into the darkness, giving it a rainbow hue. With a gentle sigh, the Baron relaxes and walks away from the cliff. His creation remains hovering in the air until it stretches into a thin line that blinks out of the Chaos Void. The distant sound of a shattering barrier is the last anyone hears of the mysterious summons.
“I’ve dispatched a pet to gather any blood and scraps of Stephen that were left behind. Not that you would have been able to collect these pieces, your highness,” the Baron replies as he kneels next to Trinity. His hand is warm as it gently pushes on her stomach and forces the baby inside to return to its proper age. “My son’s influence has been lessened, so you and the child are no longer at risk. When you are rested, I will summon you to discuss what we will do about the other champions. It may be time to eliminate one of our enemies using the most brutal and long-lasting methods imaginable. Though that could be the grief talking and I am missing the bigger picture. Please forgive my confusion and future absence, but I need some time to think about everything.”
“I’m sorry that I didn’t save him,” Trinity says, standing to bow to her master. “I understand if you’re angry at me.”
“The thought of killing you has crossed my mind, but I need your people,” the warlord admits, a wave of aggression wafting off his body. He controls his anger and chokes down the deadly spell that is on his tongue. “I know you tried to talk him out of his journey, but you did side with the other channeler. My scrying showed that you protected her, which does not sit well with me. It is traitorous and you should be punished. Thank my unborn grandchild for my generosity and kindness.”
“Stephen made his own bed and I did what I could to survive,” the chaos elf argues, nimbly evading the grasping hands of Yola. She walks to the edge of the cliff and turns on her heels to face the scowling Baron. “You can’t deny that he was too far gone to save. If you had let him succeed then you’d remain trapped until he came to kill you. My loyalty is to my people first and to you second, which put Stephen in a distant third. I’m sorry, but he forced me to make those difficult choices. How can you even think of avenging that sadistic monster when he brought this on himself?”
“Because he was my son.”
The Baron fades away and the approaching storm pelts the rocky earth with lightning. Yola transforms her hair into a reflective shield as she hops onto Trinity’s shoulders. Crimson and sapphire bolts ricochet off the barrier, crashing into the distant mountains. The blows have enough force to jar Yola’s bones, which warns the former goddess that she is reaching her new limits. Picking up Trinity like a child, she races into the portal and closes it with a wave of her hand. Once they are clear of the Chaos Void, a screaming face appears in the maelstrom and fingers of lightning tear the ground apart. Demons retreat into their caves and decrepit castles, the rage of their immortal master greater than they have ever seen. By the time the Baron materializes next to the smoldering rocking chair, the entire realm is smoking and filled with craters that are crumbling along their edges.
“Because that sadistic monster was still my son.”
The adventure continues in:
Tribe of the Snow Tiger
The Mercenary Prince (Legends of Windemere Book 9) Page 41
