BlackThorn's Doom (30 page)

He knew the last of his guards had either died or fled. There was nothing between him and his enemy, nothing but a heavy oak door with a weak brass lock that a determined child could force.

The door burst open forced from its hinges, a score of dark cloaked warriors rushed in, swords dripping blood onto the ornately tiled floor.

Bjorn looked at his hammer and tossed it aside. He knew to fight would be suicidal and despite his earlier bravado he suddenly found the prospect of death none to appealing. “I yield.” He said simply as the hammer struck the floor with a loud clang.

G’relg was beyond rational thought; he had drawn his sword and stood with his back against one of the marble columns that supported the roof above the balcony.

A young man strode confidently through the doorway. The warriors stepped aside allowing him to move forward. He was dressed in dark ring mail over a sheepskin jerkin. His dark curly hair was cut short with a broad streak of white stretching from his forehead to the nape of his neck on the right side.

At his hip he wore a long sword the color of coal. The pommel was worn and from the way his hand rested upon it every one knew he was well trained in its use.

His eyes were cold and when they fell on G’relg they narrowed menacingly.

“You!” G’relg shouted in recognition. In a rage he charged swinging his sword with all the might his fury could give him.

The ebon sword flashed through the air and in a shower of sparks it knocked G’relg’s blade from his hand and slammed it against the chambers wall.

G’relg stood staring at the man in stunned silence. He did so only briefly before collapsing onto the floor, his heart having been pierced by the dark blade.

Bjorn was speechless; he had never seen the killing strike. He could swear that for a brief instant the young man’s eyes had burned as if a furnace raged within his skull. “I yield.” He repeated once more.

Casius stared at him coldly. “Did you give the people of Kale the same opportunity for mercy?” He asked.

Bjorn was about to reply when suddenly the point of the dark blade was pressed against his throat. He wisely chose to remain silent.

The pressure relaxed as the blade was pulled back. “I will not kill you Bjorn.” Casius said. “The justice of the Mahjie will decide your fate. These are their lands now.” Casius turned and looked at Yoladt. “As the Se’estra’s first what say you?”

“Give him to the slaves.” Yoladt answered grimly. “It is by his hand that they have suffered.”

Bjorn shook his head and backed away. He knew he would die horribly, as had so many of them had died. He turned and before any could stop him, he threw himself from the balcony. He fell screaming, fifty feet to the courtyard below. His terrified cry stopping suddenly as he impacted the cold flagstones.

Casius looked over the balcony at the broken body below.

Yoladt came to stand beside him. “He chose the cowards way out.” He said simply.

Casius lived with the Mahjie for a year as they rebuilt their society on the lush green isle that had for so many years been the scourge of the sea, a place to be feared and avoided by honest men.

He made one last journey to Kale; where he found only the burnt remains of his village. He said his farewells at his mother’s grave and returned to Kesh.

He eventually married a cousin of Connell’s and sired his own sons and daughters. He grew to be a wise old man much loved by the people.

And as the years passed even his nightmares ceased, he had paid a high price for freedom but in the end he knew it had been well worth the cost.

Of Aethir and Marcos’s ring little is known. Many believed Casius had sealed them away, in some hidden vault deep in the bowels of the earth beneath the spire.

So ends the Chronicles of the Dark Sword.

Glossary

A

Aenos:
Small city south of Graystone in Lakarra.

Aderis Rendir:
Hero of lost Thelikor, slayer of the serpent Ysrex.

Ahalm Iban:
Herald of the Sahri.

Ahmed:
Nomads of the Gaul-Tyrian waste.

Ahmed Kai:
Nomadic name for the Gaul-Tyrian waste.

Aethir:
Greatest of the four swords forged by Ma’Rail also known as Blackthorn. Wielded by Thoron’Gil, lost following the breaking.

Aikinor:
Ancient god of the sea, patron deity of the Cytheran Raiders.

Aithas:
Warrior of the Mahjie.

Alagond:
Storm biter, sword forged by Ma’Rail. Carried into battle by Caen, Captain of the armies of man.

Alcedoria:
Island nation north of Ao'dan.

Amberoth:
City in the land of Morne.

Ameldor Plain:
Low lands in Kesh surrounding Red spire.

Amil Gallas:
Rock of the south watch, southern entry into the land of the Mahjie.

Amothteir:
Bell that is rung in Red Spire to welcome home a returning hero.

Amthur:
Evil King who once ruled Kesh.

Anatha Di:
Area of sand within the Gaul Tyrian waste that pulls anything that walks upon it down into the earth.

Anthail:
Warrior of the Mahjie.

Anghor:
Mountainous kingdom of fabled warriors. Its exact location a closely guarded secret, it lies west of the Gaul-Tyrian wastes.

Anghor Shok:
Warrior from Anghor, sworn guardians of the Tal’shear warders.

Ansell:
Village on the coast of Lakarra near the Copper hills.

Ao'dan:
Nation on eastern edge of continent.

Arkett:
Guardian of Amberoth’s well.

Armon’oth:
Bells of the Mahjie forged to herald the selection of the sword bearer.

Arn:
Island lying between Kale and Cythera.

Ash’Kelon:
Marcos’s real name among the Tal’shear.

Asua Tuell:
Mother of all trees, lies within the heart of the Nallen Forest.

Aytor, Stone of:
Artifact given to the Kings of man by the Tal’shear. It has the power to reveal all falsehoods with its light.

Balar:
Younger brother of Burcott Fullvie

Balhain:
Servants of Sur’kar, Tal’shear warders enslaved by his power.

Baln Longwyrm:
Lord of Kale and Founder of New Hope.

Bal’Trae Hills:
Low group of hills rising above the fork where the Evtor Wash and the Songart River meet.

Bel’Lendil:
North wind, sword forged by Ma’Rail. Carried into battle by Ce’Loth, Warrior of the Tal’shear.

Bel’Vir:
General who slew king Amthur.

Bjorn Ironfist:
Lord of Cythera also known as the Raider king.

Blackthorn:
Sword also known as Aethir.

Blackwatch:
Mountain range forming the eastern barrier to Tarok nor.

Black Trumpet:
Flower from which a powerful narcotic is made.

Braelin Wood:
Forest bordering the fields near Graystone.

Bri’Amor:
Lake to the west of Rodderdam.

Brymir:
Scarcely populated land east of Trondhiem.

Burcott Fullvie:
Veteran warrior of Trondhiem and lord of the largest house in the Landsmarch.

Cal’Arev:
Hill upon which the city of Rodderdam was built.

Caleph:
Small area of land on Lakarra’s western coast.

Carec Mountains:
Chain of mountains that run west from the Copper hills forming the northern wall of the Varsus valley. Also known as the Carec mounds.

Calriss:
Warrior of the Mahjie.

Carich:
Fortress that wards the Tro’marg pass leading into Brymir.

Carl Dunburrow:
Farmer who lives near Ansell.

Carthos:
Sparsely populated land south of Trondhiem on the shores of the Southern Sea.

C’arl Finnerson:
Keeper of the bridge across the Koran.

Casius Rhaine:
Son of Urold Rhaine ship thane of Kale.

Cewyn Rhaine:
Mother of Casius, Urold’s Wife.

Chaobol:
Legendary land in the far west, reputed to be the home of Warlocks.

Cias:
Stone Mason of Carich Keep.

Connell Malkor:
Prince and heir to the throne of Kesh. Superb swordsman unsurpassed by even his legendary father. Known as the eagle, for a brand he gave himself as a child.

Creators hammer: large asteroid that nearly destroyed Sur’kar during the war of the breaking.

Copper hills:
chain of low mountains on the eastern coast of Lakarra. Named for the rich veins of copper found there.

Cyndra:
Capital of Lakarra, located on the north east coast.

Cythera:
Island, home of the Raiders. A nation ruled by Ruthless cutthroats. They patrol the seas ransacking coastal villages and merchant ships.

Dal’Entor:
Fields south of the town of Tor on the edge of the Nallen wood.

Darkling Sea:
The void between worlds, space.

Darkwater River:
River that flows out of the copper hills into the sea, water is dark with sediments from the Mountains.

Dar’lea:
Death’s blooms, small golden flowers that grow only in Trondhiem. They can only be found on the graves of the honored dead.

Delin’ Tor hills:
Heavily forested outcrop of the Rahlcrag Mountains laying to the south of Timosh.

Demilion:
Statue before the entry into Red Spire.

Dragord:
King of Ril’Gambor.

Dulrich:
Cytheran Raider, member of G’relg’s crew.

D’Yana:
Man hunter and consort of Connell, Nicknamed Dy by him.

Easterling Marsh:
Swamp that lies between Trondhiem and Carthos, fed by the Waters of the Evtor Wash River.

Edwall:
Son of Lord Eyahn of Whiten.

Elain:
Wife of Gayn.

Elkrun:
City on the shores of the Darkwater River.

El’radrien:
Sacred hill in the center of the isle of Eol.

Elrendil:
Queen of Kesh, Mother of Connell.

Enchanter:
Human who wields the Phay’ge.

Eol:
Mist shrouded island of perpetual spring. It lies in the southern sea. Adopted home of the Tal’shear and Marcos’s refuge.

Eramat:
House of Hurin located on the northern shores of Lake Valdecar.

Evtor Wash:
River that runs north to south through central Trondhiem to the southern border. Beginning in the Delin’ Tor hills and ending in the expansive mire of the Easterling Marsh.

Eyahn:
Lord of the house of Whiten.

Fa’lain wood:
dense forest that surrounds the hill of Ga’ron.

Fel’Tuin:
Large bear that lives in the upper reaches of the Carec Mountains.

Fell Hound:
Huge wild dogs of the northern wastes. Not quite tamed they are often found in the company of Trolls. Used by Sur’kar as trackers they are relentless when pursuing prey.