“Khantil is right,” Aldain added. “Faerlyn would use any of us as pawns. That he would betray you is incontrovertible. Remember the Persecution, Captain. It is his way.”
“Perhaps,” Devrian admitted. “But his way may indeed be our only answer. We cannot let the Twelve succeed.”
“What has he shown you?” Jemorn asked weakly.
“A reining,” Devrian said.
“But we can’t get near enough to them,” Khantil said. “They’ve grown too strong.”
“A reining,” Devrian said, “of reiners.”
A momentary hush befell them. In the valley below, the voices of the Twelve grew louder.
“This is madness!’ Khantil said at length. “What you speak of is forbidden!”
“It is the only way left to us,” Devrian said. “What we take, we hold inside us, this we know to be true. What we rein becomes a part of us, if only for a brief while. Perhaps the Spire will punish us for such an act. Perhaps worse. But what do you think will happen when the Rogue’s vastum is complete? What will happen once they wield a power equal to the Spire of Mystics?”
Silence.
Devrian’s eyes fell upon each man. “You have all followed my command for many years. I served with your fathers, uncles and brothers. All were my family as are you. Never have I led you astray, and I swear to you now I lead you not into darkness. I lead you to the only salvation we have left to us. Now, who is with me?”
Slowly, one by one the reiners approached.
Devrian glanced once more into the valley and found what he feared would be awaiting him. Black eyes made polished by the glow of the vastum.
“Come near me,” Devrian said. “And pray that our redemption is sweet.”
“Perhaps,” Devrian admitted. “But his way may indeed be our only answer. We cannot let the Twelve succeed.”
“What has he shown you?” Jemorn asked weakly.
“A reining,” Devrian said.
“But we can’t get near enough to them,” Khantil said. “They’ve grown too strong.”
“A reining,” Devrian said, “of reiners.”
A momentary hush befell them. In the valley below, the voices of the Twelve grew louder.
“This is madness!’ Khantil said at length. “What you speak of is forbidden!”
“It is the only way left to us,” Devrian said. “What we take, we hold inside us, this we know to be true. What we rein becomes a part of us, if only for a brief while. Perhaps the Spire will punish us for such an act. Perhaps worse. But what do you think will happen when the Rogue’s vastum is complete? What will happen once they wield a power equal to the Spire of Mystics?”
Silence.
Devrian’s eyes fell upon each man. “You have all followed my command for many years. I served with your fathers, uncles and brothers. All were my family as are you. Never have I led you astray, and I swear to you now I lead you not into darkness. I lead you to the only salvation we have left to us. Now, who is with me?”
Slowly, one by one the reiners approached.
Devrian glanced once more into the valley and found what he feared would be awaiting him. Black eyes made polished by the glow of the vastum.
“Come near me,” Devrian said. “And pray that our redemption is sweet.”
Sneak Peek at The Barren Twelve
Copyright © 2012 Todd VanHooser
Questions? Just email me at toddvanhooser@yahoo.com
