A Dream of Mortals (Book #15 in the Sorcerer's Ring) Read Online Free PDF

she had expected, not
the main body of the Empire army. Had those leaders not brought all their men?
And if not, where could they be?
    She started to wonder: with its leaders dead, would
the Empire capital still defend itself?
    As Volusia neared the capital gates, she
motioned for Vokin to step forward and for her army to stop.
    As one, they all came to a stop behind her and
finally there came a stillness in the morning desert, nothing but the sound of
the wind passing through, the dust rising in the air, a thorn bush tumbling.
Volusia studied the massive sealed doors, the gold carved in ornate patterns
and signs and symbols, telling stories of the ancient battles of the Empire
lands. These doors were famous throughout the Empire, were said to have taken a
hundred years to carve, and to be twelve feet thick. It was a sign of strength
representing all the Empire lands.
    Volusia, standing hardly fifty feet away, had never
been so close to the capital entrance before, and was in awe of them—and of
what they represented. Not only was it a symbol of strength and stability, it
was also a masterpiece, an ancient work of art. She ached to reach out and
touch those golden doors, to run her hands along the carved images.
    But she knew now was not the time. She studied
them, and a sense of foreboding began to arise within her. Something was wrong.
They were unguarded. And it was all too quiet.
    Volusia looked straight up, and atop the walls,
manning the parapets, she saw thousands of Empire soldiers slowly come into
view, lined up, looking down, bows and spears at the ready.
    An Empire general stood in their midst, looking
down at them.
    “You are foolish to come so close,” he boomed
out, his voice echoing. “You stand in range of our bows and spears. With the
twitch of my finger, I can have you all killed in an instant.
    “But I will grant you mercy,” added. “Tell your
armies to lay down their arms, and I will allow you to live.”
    Volusia looked up at the general, his face
obscured against the sun, this lone commander left behind to defend the
capital, and she looked across the ramparts at his men, all their eyes trained
on her, bows in their hands. She knew he meant what he’d said.
    “I will give you one chance to lay down your arms,” she called back, “before I kill all of your men, and burn this capital
down to rubble.”
    He snickered, and she watched as he and all his
men lowered their face plates, preparing for battle.
    As quick as lightning, Volusia suddenly heard
the sound of a thousand arrows releasing, of a thousand spears being thrown,
and as she looked up, she watched the sky blacken, thick with weaponry, all
firing down right for her.
    Volusia stood there, rooted to her spot, fearless,
not even flinching. She knew that none of these weapons could harm her. After
all, she was a goddess.
    Beside her, the Vok raised a single long, green
palm, and as he did, a green orb left his hand and floated up in the air before
her, casting a shield of green light a few feet above Volusia’s head. A moment
later, the arrows and spears bounced off it harmlessly and landed down on the
ground beside her in a huge heap.
    Volusia looked over in satisfaction at the growing
pile of spears and arrows, and looked back up to see the stunned faces of all
the empire soldiers.
    “I will give you one more chance to lay down
your arms!” she called back.
    The empire commander stood there sternly,
clearly frustrated and debating his options, but he did not budge. Instead he
motioned to his men, and she could see them preparing another volley.
    Volusia nodded to Vokin, and he gestured to his
men. Dozens of Voks stepped forward and they all lined up and raised their
hands high above their heads, aiming their palms. A moment later, dozens of green
orbs filled the sky, heading for the capital walls.
    Volusia watched in great expectation, expecting
the walls to crumble, expecting to see all the men come crashing down at her
feet,