Chapter List

efore them stood a slender man. Straight white hair covered one eye and a huge wickedly sharp pauldron sat upon the shoulder of one metal-encased arm. He was dressed in shades of purple and gray and wore a scabbard across his back which contained a massive sword. A blood-red amulet consisting of a single cut gem hung from his neck, glowing faintly.

“The sudden arrival of such powerful artifacts in Aventar was quite noticeable, but then I suppose you of all people would never miss a chance for attention, Vicereine Reina.”

He paused, raising an eyebrow.

“Jarthius, Legion Cryptic of the Ghost Rune,” the man directed his introduction to Cici with a gentlemanly flourish of his gloved left hand. “Pleased to make your acquiantance.”

Cici’s pale expression was motionless. She dared not even take a breath. Her instincts screamed “flee.”

“You won’t find what you’re looking for here.”

“Come now, Excellency. You and I both know differently. You may have spent generations secluded in Kulnas, but learning to lie well was obviously not among your studies. All that stands between the Ajan Myths and the obscurity of history is your surrender.”

“Sai Jarthius,” Reina replied. “Do you wish to do battle this day?”

White crystals began to gather on the ground. Cici felt frosty air on her arms. She backed away as Reina’s robes faded to a shade so black that Cici was certain she could see them absorbing the light from her Lantern.

Jarthius did not appear nervous or suprised. He simply regarded the wraith before him as if such encounters were an everyday occurrence.

“I prefer my battles to present me with some form of challenge, Excellency.”

“And the Legionnaires you’ve summoned lurking behind the stand of maple?” the Vicereine snarled, her voice twisting into a menacing hiss. “So help me, Cryptic, if you order one of those foul abominations into my presence I will plot my vengeance for a hundred years.”

“I would not presume to burden you,” Jarthius said, holding out his left hand, fingers spread as far apart as his strength would allow. He closed them into a fist abruptly, and darkened blood escaped from between his fingers, coating his hand and dripping. Glowing white sigils appeared on the ground around him, brightening until they formed long shadows through the trees.

And then the two opponents were gone.

Continue to Chapter Seventeen