by Hooke, Isaac
He studied the former Black Sword uncertainly. “Maybe it has, it’s too early to tell.”
Ziatrice spoke up. “I don’t think so. I feel no different.”
He nodded. “That could have something to do with the fact you had a different Balor—Vorgon—wrapped around your mind when you were halfway between worlds, and so Banvil couldn’t curse you as he did me.”
“But you can already Break monsters, like Malem?” Abigail said, pressing Ziatrice.
“No,” Ziatrice said. “At least not anymore. That gift from Vorgon is fast fading.”
The night elf was acting all submissive now, unlike how she had just behaved in his mind. Hopefully it wasn’t just for show. He felt no deceit from her energy bundle…
“Then what of this army?” Abigail pressed. “You can communicate with them telepathically, obviously. You Broke them all, and now you’re losing them?”
“I only Broke a few,” she said. “And those members are already dead. All of the remainder swore allegiance to me after Vorgon conquered my mind. The telepathy I have with them is a link wrought of my dark magic. A ritual that involved each of them imbibing a small sample of blood.”
“They drank your blood?” Gwen said. “Eww.”
“You, too, should partake,” Ziatrice said. “It would do wonders for your complexion.”
“No thanks,” Gwen said. “I’m happy being green, thank you very much. Blue isn’t really my thing.”
The blue-skinned night elf merely shrugged.
“You’ll have to explain to me how this Breaker conquered the mind of the Black Sword sometime,” King Agantas said, coming to Abigail’s side. He turned his attention on Ziatrice. “But in the meantime, I’m wondering where you got these units? I assume Vorgon gave them to you? An elf queen would ordinarily command vastly different troops…”
“An elf queen,” Ziatrice said, her gaze becoming distant. “It seems like so long ago that the crown rested on my head. Three lifetimes ago. And yet it was only three years.” She shook her head and focused on the king. “I had an army of elven warriors and mages when Vorgon first attacked me. After I became a Black Sword, my army joined with his, fighting at the side of his dark host against the Alliance. I left that army under his command at the front lines when he tasked me with besieging Fallow Gate and intercepting King Goldenthall’s messenger. He gave me a smaller host of dragons and oraks—his preferred troops.” She paused, and tilted her head. “You know, it kind of feels like Vorgon is still there, in my mind...”
“Impossible,” Malem said. “I witnessed his withdrawal with my own eyes. What you’re feeling is me.”
The night elf arched an eyebrow. “How can you be sure it’s truly you and not the Balor that touched you? And you’re merely acting as his conduit... because as I said, the feel of you around my mind is very similar to the touch of Vorgon.”
He opened his mouth to answer, but then paused. He didn't really know. He and Banvil were intricately linked, he knew that much. Someday, he hoped to sever that link.
But not today.
“A Balor touched you?” Agantas said.
“I’ll tell you all about it later, like you said,” Abigail told her father.
The king chuckled. “What strange allies this war brings.”
Xaxia stepped forward. “So you say you’re losing Vorgon’s gifts?”
Ziatrice nodded. “My powers have diminished, and I no longer have the endless supply of vitality Vorgon granted me. I am... lesser.”
Xaxia glanced at Malem. “I think that’s her way of saying you’re weak.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” he agreed.
Gwen leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Will she sense us in her head when we, you know...”
“When we what?” he asked.
“Do the, you know... the—” Her voice dropped to something inaudible. She mouthed what looked like the words “wizz dang.”
“The what?” he asked.
“The wild thing,” Gwen hissed, cringing because she thought she said it a bit too loud.
The king raised a dragonly eyebrow in feigned outrage.
Malem smiled widely. “Probably. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
He glanced at Ziatrice, who pretended to be oblivious to the exchange, however from the amusement he detected from her energy bundle he knew she was anything but.
I thought you could only Break us by having sex? Gwen transmitted over their psychic link.
Yes, he told her. That and beating you to a pulp... you did notice I stabbed her, right?
Oh. I’ll take sex over a stabbing any day, thank you.
So will I, he sent.
He sensed Hastor nearby and rebound the black, using up half his slots. The dragon was still recovering, so he lent Hastor some of his stamina.
“Well, it’s time to return,” Agantas said. “Jayden, your group is responsible for transporting the bodies of the Metals who died here this day.”
Jayden bowed his head. “Yes father. And I just wanted you to know, the whole thing was my idea. Abigail had nothing to do with this. So when we return, any punishment you dole out should be mine, and mine alone.”
The king chortled loudly. The ground shook, and a nearby building collapsed, so intense was that laugh. “My dear prince, of course Abigail was responsible. She’s always the one behind your bad ideas. I do appreciate the show of loyalty and devotion to your sister, though. It warms my heart.”
Jayden inclined his head once again, seeming embarrassed.
“All of those who were part of Abigail’s little scheme will receive punishment,” the king said. “Don’t you worry. I’ll think of something suitable when we return. Perhaps... perhaps I will deny you from traveling to the front lines.”
“Traveling to the front lines?” Abigail said, sounding puzzled and excited at the same time.
“That’s right,” the king said. “I’ve decided to join the war on the side of the Alliance.”
“Tobias returned early?” she asked hopefully.
“No,” Agantas said. “He hasn’t returned. Your attack forced my hand, Daughter. Vorgon will never forgive us for the loss of his Black Sword. Even if I never returned, and my people completely disavowed any association with me, when Vorgon came this way, he would still attack our stronghold in the mountains with his host to enact vengeance.”
“I— I had to help… ” Abigail said.
“Yes, and you may have doomed Khaledonius in the process,” the king said. “But enough of that. What’s done is done. We fly!”
43
Malem stood on the walkway of the western parapet with Xaxia, Gwen, and Ziatrice. The dragon king’s keep towered behind them, while the sparkling city of Khaledonius sprawled before them.
Below, on the shoulders of Mount Ademan, the night elf’s army camped out, four hundred oraks strong, with a sprinkling of mages, and five surviving black dragons. Hastor was among them.
Bounder and Felipe were safe inside the stables. Malem had visited them upon returning, and was pleased that they were well fed, and seemed happy. Which was probably for the best, since they were probably going to board here long term, now. Though he hadn’t yet informed the Metals of his plans.
Abigail approached in human form with her brother. She was dressed in that familiar red dress with the gold trim at the bodice.
“You must have a whole closet full of the same dresses,” Gwen commented.
“Actually, I do,” Abigail told her. “It spares me the decision of picking out an outfit in the morning. An unnecessary waste of mental energy.”
“What news?” Malem asked the princess and her brother.
Jayden answered: “My father has officially issued his war proclamation. The collars of the most able fighters are being opened as we speak, using the temporary key. When that’s done, we’ll fly to Mulhadden to unlock our collars permanently, and then we’ll join the Alliance at the front lines, to the west of the Midweald. When w
e arrive, our vast numbers will blot out the sky, striking fear into the servants of Vorgon.”
Abigail giggled. “Oh Jade, you always did have a flair for the dramatic.”
“It’s not dramatic, I only speak the truth,” he said. “We haven’t flown forth in such vast numbers in years.”
Abigail became serious. “That is true.” She paused. “It won’t be easy.”
“Flying there, or fighting?” Xaxia asked.
“Both,” Abigail said.
“And you, Breaker,” the prince said. “What will you do?”
Abigail looked down at the question. He could feel the sadness emanating from her energy bundle. She was certain he was going to announce his departure again.
He couldn’t let that sadness eat her away like that. He didn’t have the heart.
Besides, Vorgon had personally threatened him. He would hunt Malem down, no matter where he fled, and he’d have to fight the Balor sooner or later.
And so he chose sooner, rather than later.
He’d been running his entire life.
It was time to stop.
It helped that he felt more powerful, more confident now, than ever before. If he ever confronted Vorgon, he thought he could at least challenge the Balor. Malem probably wouldn’t win, but he’d last a few rounds. And that would be good enough.
Maybe he could Break a few more half monsters along the way and even the odds.
Malem smiled grimly. “I will go to the front lines as well. I will fight.”
Abigail’s energy bundle glowed with sheer joy in his mind, and she couldn’t help wrapping a possessive hand around his right elbow. The touch wasn’t lost on the prince, judging from his disapproving expression.
It is not a happy thing we do, he sent her.
No, she agreed. But at least we’re fighting together. For the world. That’s all that matters.
He didn’t answer. He had his own reasons for going. Saving the world wasn’t one of them.
“I thought you weren’t ready to commit to a long drawn out war?” Gwen said.
“He is, now that he’s discovered he can use the Darkness that follows him as a weapon,” Xaxia commented. “At least, that’s my guess. Like you, I know little of what lies in his heart.”
“What was that anyway?” Jayden said. “That dark power you summoned in the streets of Fallow Gate? Was it the Balor my sister told me about? The Balor that hunts you?”
“Two Balors hunt me now,” Malem said. “But that would be one of them, yes.”
Jayden tapped one lip. “Strange, that this Balor would give you these powers and yet ever strive to destroy you.”
Malem chuckled. “I don’t think it gave me this power intentionally.”
“I’m in of course,” Gwen said. “There will be oraks to kill at the front lines. A legion of them.” She wrapped her hand around Malem’s other elbow. When the prince saw both of the women hanging onto him like that, the half dragon frowned.
“Father won’t be pleased when he learns you’ve bound yourself to this one,” the prince said.
“Then don’t tell him.”
“I don’t intend to,” Jayden told her. “But if you’re not discreet, he will find out. The walls have ears. And eyes.” He turned toward Malem. “I’ll see you on the front lines, then, Breaker. Good journey.”
“And you as well,” Malem replied.
He slumped slightly when the prince was gone. “So now the real fight begins.”
Not only did he face two Balors now, but two Darkness’s. The external, obvious Darkness, but also the blackness Banvil had awakened in his own heart. Namely: the thirst for power that binding these three women had roused in him. He wanted more, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever be satisfied. It didn’t help that Ziatrice was probably going to keep whispering temptations into his mind, enticing him to seize more power wherever he could take it. And then there was his sword. Ever tempting him to slay the half dragon he loved. Yes, it was going to be a difficult fight.
“You’re coming, too, Elf Witch?” Gwen asked.
Ziatrice shrugged. “Of course.” She gave Malem a sly look. “The Breaker and I have plans together.”
“Oh, really?” Abigail asked. “What sort of plans?”
The night elf smiled cryptically. “That’s between the Breaker and myself. But I must admit, it’s going to be amusing to watch the expressions of my fellow Black Swords when they see me fighting alongside the Alliance. And even more entertaining to watch the shock in their eyes as Wither and I hew them down.”
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Malem agreed, unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
“Wither?” Gwen asked.
“That would be her halberd,” he replied.
Abigail shook her head. “You all have weapons with names. I feel the odd one out.”
“You have a whole armory of magic weapons at your disposal,” Gwen said. “Why not grab one?”
“Because I’ll lose it the moment I transform,” Abigail replied.
“I got news for you, half dragon,” Xaxia said. “You’re always going to be the odd one out. Becoming a towering reptile that can breathe fire? Uh, yeah, that’s a bit odd.” She glanced at Gwen and Ziatrice. “Though not much odder than you two.” She narrowed her eyes at the night elf. “I’m still not sure we can trust this one.”
“I don’t trust you either,” Ziatrice said with a sugary smile. She glanced at Malem. “Can I eat her heart?”
“See!” Xaxia said.
“She’s just kidding,” he reassured the bandit. “I think.”
Ziatrice merely smiled at Xaxia, baring teeth that were filed into sharp points.
“What about you?” Gwen asked the bandit. “You coming?”
Xaxia pursed her lips. “Oh, hell. I have nothing else to do. So why not? I’m in. The armies of Vorgon have collected a lot of loot I bet. I plan to help them part with it all. Besides, if nothing else, tormenting the elf bitch will be worth the price of admission. Who knows, maybe I’ll get to watch her eat one of your organs.”
“It was your heart she wanted to eat…” Gwen reminded her.
Xaxia smiled. “Well I wish her luck with that. If she tries something, she and Biter will be having a private conversation. I have a hell of a time keeping the blade away from her as it is. Usually it thirsts for oraks, but whenever I draw Biter in her presence, the damn thing becomes downright voracious.”
Malem looked between the four women, and then nodded to himself. “All right. It’s settled then. We’re going to war.”
Thank you for reading!
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Afterword
Please help spread the word about Monster Tamer by leaving a one or two sentence review. The number of reviews an ebook receives has a big impact on how well it does, so if you liked this story I'd REALLY appreciate it if you left a quick review. Anything will do, even one or two lines.
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About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Isaac Hooke holds a degree in engineering physics, though his more unusual inventions remain fictive at this time. He is an avid hiker, cyclist, and photographer who sometimes resides in Edmonton, Alberta.
Get in touch:
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Acknowledgments
I’d also like to thank my knowledgeable beta readers and advanced reviewers who helped smooth out the rough edges of the prerelease manuscript: Nicole P., Lisa G., Karen J, Jeremy G., Doug B., Jenny O., Amy B., Bryan O., Gary F., Lezza, Noel, Anton, Spencer, Norman, and Trudi.
Without you all, this novel would have typos, continuity errors, and excessive lapses in realism. Th
ank you for helping me make this the best novel possible, and thank you for leaving the early reviews that help new readers find my books.
And of course I’d be remiss if I didn't thank my dear mother, father, and brothers, whose untiring wisdom has taught me how to outrun the Darkness.
— Isaac Hooke
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