Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Two Read Online Free PDF Page A

creatures that entered our world were destroyed, a few still remain, but without the link to their realm they are much weaker than they once were. The creatures who inhabit these forests are from that time, left over from the great Dragon-Mage Wars millennia ago. It is believed the rift that was opened was in this general area, and these foul creatures constantly search for a way back home to their own realm, thankfully never straying far from this forest.
    To answer your question of what other creatures are out there, nobody really knows. There are a few books in the great library of the High Temple that describe various encounters throughout the ages, maybe when we arrive you could read about them.”
    Lusam had lots of questions regarding the Dragon-Mage Wars and the Gods, but remembered he had agreed to not ask any further questions  until Renn had finished, so he just nodded for Renn to continue.
    “That brings us nicely on to the question of who the man in the black robes trying to kill you was. He was a follower of Aamon, a necromancer, one of many in our lands sent to wipe out magic here. Magic has been in decline in Afaraon for a long time now. Nobody knew why fewer and fewer children were being born with the ability to use magic. As it turned out, around two hundred years ago we found out why. It wasn't that fewer children with the ability to use magic were being born at all, we discovered instead that the Thule Empire had been sending assassins to kill all newborn magi for decades, or even longer, we simply don't know for sure. They have a large network of agents hidden amongst our population, when they sense the birth of a newborn mage, they descend on the location and kill the child and mother.
    Two centuries ago a new secret order was formed to help ensure the continuation of magic in the land of Afaraon. They called themselves the Hermingild . They are mainly comprised of ageing magi, usually of limited magical ability. The word Hermingild actually   means: The all giving. Their only role is to sacrifice themselves at the exact moment a newborn mage enters this world, thereby masking the magical pulse of the birth with the larger pulse of their deaths. Asima, the woman you knew as your grandmother was actually in fact your mother's Hermingild. I'm afraid your mother suffered complications during your birth, and did not survive the process. Asima agreed to protect you and raise you as her own, she was to teach you the basics of magic and educate you in reading, writing and mathematics. She sent yearly reports to the High Temple on your progress, but when she died the reports obviously stopped arriving. When the High Temple noticed the report was overdue they sent me to look for you, so I could bring you back to complete your training.
    Your mother was a powerful mage, maybe the most powerful mage we have had for centuries. Her loss was felt deeply by our nation. Afaraon is almost defenceless at the moment, if the Empire knew how weak we are right now they would strike without hesitation. When I left the High temple they were already periodically sending small bands of magi to probe our defences. It's only a matter of time before they realise we couldn't possibly defend ourselves against an all out magical strike, even using the temples own power reserves. We simply don't have the manpower to use it effectively. If the Empire take the High Temple of Aysha we are all doomed. Our scholars have warned that if Lord Zelroth gained access to the power of the High Temple, and combined it with his own, it may be possible for him to re-open the rift, releasing his God Aamon back into our world, along with whatever other nightmarish creatures lurk there.”
    Renn leaned back against the log, waiting for a fresh barrage of questions to come from Lusam, but none came. Several minutes passed and still nothing. He began to think maybe he should have refused to answer any of his questions until they had reached the High