Dark Vengeance Read Online Free PDF Page B

said, they were unimpressed.
    â€œOur city is yet great,” Jalandral told them, “but not long ago was peerless, the mightiest city in all Niflheim! You remember, I remember, a time before nobles were hated! A time when they were great darklion leaders over us all, not feuding, lazy,
unworthy
preeners!”
    That awakened a rumble of muttered acknowledgments. Jalandral didn’t wait for it to die.
    â€œAnd I remember—surely you remember—a time when the Consecrated of Olone were wise, just, and admired by all, holy Nifl-shes whom all Talonar willingly obeyed and looked to for guidance! A time before our temple became a blood-drenched battleground of priestess slaying priestess and crone clawing at crone, all of them so lost and fallen from the grace of Olone that theyfought each other in nakedly self-serving ambition! A time when the very approach of a priestess awakened awe in us all, not wary fear!”
    The rumble was louder, this time, and held a note of gruff agreement. Jalandral flung his arms wide and bellowed, “
I want that greatness back!
I want a Talonnorn brighter than everywhere else in Niflheim, a Talonnorn that Ouvahlor will never
dare
attack!”
    The crowd was with him, now, but wary, their cries of agreement muted.
    They were still listening more than they were roaring along with Jalandral.
    â€œI want a Talonnorn where Nifl can feel
safe,
and dwell drenched in gems, as befit the citizens of the greatest city of all! I want a Talonnorn cleansed of decadence and sneering laziness and the powerful being casually cruel to all the rest of us!”
    The crowd agreed, loudly but still warily.
    â€œAnd I only know one way to
get
that Talonnorn!” Jalandral roared. “
I
will have to do the work to build it! I
ache
to get to work on building it! I weep that I cannot reach out and grasp that bright, great Talonnorn right now!
I must have that Talonnorn!
”
    This brought heartfelt shouts of approval at last; not many, but they were there, amid a rising din of excited talk and anticipation.
    â€œTalonar, I will bring you that Talonnorn!”
    The crowd roared their eagerness.
    â€œI will bring you that Talonnorn if you let me, proud people of Talonnorn! Yet I cannot do it if I must fight selfish, grasping-after-power crones and House lords and priestesses at my every stride! I must be Lord of Talonnorn, not just Lord Evendoom fighting against five other Houses and the priestesses of the temple, all of whom will want the city ordered
their
way—the corrupt, self-serving way that brought our city to this! Make me Lord, and I will serve you all!”
    Down in the forecourt, beneath the flapping Grim Skull banner, Paerelor Dounlar—who had been Lord Dounlar for so short a time he yet failed to turn his head and heed when one of his ownwarblades called, “Lord!”—looked grimly past a sea of Nifl warblade noses to catch the eye of Lord Klasrar Oszrim.
    They exchanged curt nods.
    â€œI have heard enough,” Paerelor snapped as he turned to look behind him, and thrust aside a tall Dounlar warblade standing in his way, “and more than enough.”
    His eyes sought and found the face they were seeking: Lord Morluar Raskshaula. The senior House Lord of Talonnorn wasn’t standing under his banner—and was wearing full and gleaming black battle-armor. Paerelor gave him a slow, firm nod, and saw it returned.
    He also saw Lord Raskshaula turn his head to a Raskshaula spellrobe, standing next to him, and saw that Nifl’s eyes glow with the power of a suddenly unleashed magic.
    Smiling, he turned his attention back to Jalandral Evendoom.
    This should be fun.
    â€œIf I am proclaimed Lord in Talonnorn—
if
you want me as your Lord, citizens of Talonnorn—I shall prepare a guard for our city without delay, and pay them well. They will keep our cavern safe, and be ready for foes seeking to strike at us from the deeper Dark. Then I