The Game of Fates Read Online Free PDF Page B

think of it!  A quest to the very heart of our race’s
beginnings!  Many are the stories of the power and magic that were once there! 
Think of what our trade caravans could bring back from such a place!”
    Lord
Krall raised a hand to calm his eldest son.  “I agree.  It sounds like a
perfect opportunity for prosperity or at least for resolving questions we’ve
all had for many generations now, ever since our ancestors left that place. 
With our trade routes expanding and our wealth growing, this may very well be
the perfect time for our gen to join in this quest.”
    “I
should probably mention the fact that the ancient writings state that Palacid
is warded,” Lady Karaba said.  “How will you gain entrance?”
    Khazak
nodded almost anxiously.  He had anticipated such a question and was pleased to
have the answer.  “Scrawled below the prophecy in this journal was a note
stating that the key to Palacid was to be found in the Hall of the Mountain
King.  Of course that key would have to be retrieved from there.”
    Khazak
watched with surprise the impact his words had on Lord Krall and his sons.  He
had stopped the conversation dead as they all stared at him with deep concern.
    “My
dear Khazak,” Lady Karaba finally broke the silence, “have you not heard of the
two great dragons who have recently taken up residence in the Hall of the
Mountain King?”
    Khazak
spoke as if he were confessing something half-heartedly.  “Our wolf riders
reported that they had raided the place, two large reds, one much larger than
the other.  Are you now telling me that they have come to stay?”
    The
four Krall kobolds all looked at each other uncomfortably.  Krall the younger
spoke first.  “We’ve not had scouts north of the mountains since Demon’s Bridge
was taken by a rogue hobgoblin out of the east lands and his northern gen
mercenaries.  But a trade caravan that paid their ‘tax’ said that the smaller
of the two was the male, and that he apparently has a home far to the north
that the pair of them disappear to periodically.”
    “I
would be very careful approaching the Hall of the Mountain King for any
reason,” Lord Krall said as he sat back, rubbing his chin in thought, the tip
of his tail flipping thoughtfully beside him.
    “I
can assure you that we will move with the utmost of caution,” Khazak said, “and
that we’ll only enter when both dragons are not present.”  He raised an
outstretched hand to Lord Krall.  “It is agreed then?” he asked.
    After
a final moment’s thought, Lord Krall slowly began to smile.  He slowly raised
his hand to grasp Khazak’s.  “Yes!  Our gen shall join the quest for Palacid.”
    “Then
it is settled,” Khazak said as Durik wondered who would be going with his
company from the Krall Gen.  He was not at all happy about the revelation of
dragons living in the Hall of the Mountain King, and he began to think that, no
matter what Khazak thought, he and his company would thoroughly search the
Demon’s Bridge area before even thinking about approaching the Hall of the
Mountain King.
    “Now
the question is, with the gen’s council so concerned about the threat these
great ants pose, whom shall we send?” Krall said, referring to the massive
colony of great ants that Durik’s Company had discovered on their travels
between the Kale and Krall Gens. 
    His
father nodded slowly as he looked out the window at life in his gen unfolding
before his eyes.  “Yes, they will be reluctant to commit any of their warriors
to anything else, I’d imagine.  Hmm… perhaps some of the new warriors from the
Archer Guard’s ceremony the other day…” he mumbled out loud.
    Seated
in his chair, Morigar, who had been silent until now, raised his head and
stated loudly enough for all to hear, “I’ll go, father.”
    Lord
Krall turned around in surprise.  “What?!”
    Morigar
looked up into his father’s eyes, “I will go,” he said almost urgently.
    Lord
Krall