The Game of Fates Read Online Free PDF

believe this prophet?  And what is this Paladin’s Journal of which you
speak?”
    Lady
Karaba bowed her head and spoke in soft tones.  “Your lord misread the
prophecies contained in the record of the last Lord Kale.  I have read the
prophecy of Two-Toes as well.  It says nothing of the location of the stones of
power when they are found, only that their inheritors will be gathered to
Palacid at some future time.”  Lady Karaba shook her head in subtle
frustration.  “Karthan’s lifemate, Kiri, promised our mother that she would
destroy that book, but unfortunately she did not do it before she died.  Many
of the best Kale Gen warriors have died questing for the Kale Stone, including
our uncle and his two sons.  Because of the deep sorrow this search had caused
her, before my mother died I promised her that I would keep the Paladin’s
Journal.”
    Khazak
Mail Fist was visibly frustrated.  “You have had a book in your possession all
these years which tells where the Kale Stone is to be found?!  Who is this
paladin?  Was he a member of the northern gens?”
    Lady
Karaba could see that she had little support among the assembled warriors. 
Only Durik’s eyes looked at all supportive, but she continued anyway.  “The paladin
was a human from lands far to the north of here.  He called himself a Watcher…
a member of an ancient order established by The Sorcerer himself to watch over
the stones of power that He gifted to the races.”
    Lord
Krall’s face was incredulous.  “I would not believe the words of some meddling
outsider over the words of a prophet from our very own race, even if he claimed
to be The Sorcerer’s scribe himself!”
    Lady
Karaba bowed her head.  “The Paladin’s Journal is clear in its manner of
speaking.  The prophecies in the last Lord Kale’s record can be
misinterpreted.  I kept the journal from Karthan thinking that I could keep him
from questing for the stone again.  I see that in part I was right.  Because he
still had the record of the last Lord Kale’s final expedition, my brother read
what he found there and sent these warriors likely to their deaths instead,”
she said as she looked at Durik.
    Lord
Krall shook his head in frustration as his eldest son sat forward.  “Mother,
how could this human have discovered the location of the Kale Stone, down here,
far south of the human lands?”
    Lady
Karaba addressed her son, “The journal states that somehow this paladin had
access to one of the original eight stones of power, and using that he was able
to discover its location.”
    Lord
Krall held up his hand.  “Enough!  If Khazak says that there is a prophecy by a kobold prophet stating that the Kale Stone is to be found at Palacid,
then it is to be found at Palacid!  I will hear no more of this human or his
journal!”
    Durik
was not at all at peace with the decision Khazak and Lord Krall had made to
ignore the visions he’d had.  The conviction that the Kale Stone was to be
found under Demon’s Bridge still burned in his heart; he couldn’t deny it. 
    After
a few uncomfortable moments of silence, Khazak leaned forward in his chair
again and spoke.  “Lord Krall, since it appears that the stone is to be found
at Palacid, our race’s place of beginnings, Lord Karthan wanted to ensure that
your gen had the opportunity to send warriors with Durik’s quest group.  After
all, the finding of Palacid is a matter that concerns all the sons of the First
Sire, not just those of the Kale Gen.”
    Durik
looked hesitantly at his lord’s chamberlain.  Why hadn’t he been told that they
were going to ask for additional warriors from the Krall Gen?  After the
surprise of finding Lord Karthan’s sons and chamberlain back on the trail to
the Krall Gen, and now this proposal of a joint quest, Durik’s patience with
surprises was wearing thin.
    Krall,
Lord Krall’s eldest son, almost sprang out of his chair.  “Yes!”  He turned to
his father, “Father,