The Guardian Chronicles: Book 03 - The Dark Tide Read Online Free PDF

back Khalida” her master said in his deep, rough voice.  He smiled slightly at her, but it was clear that he had many troubling thoughts that held his focus elsewhere.  He shimmered slightly as though he was not completely physically present.
    “It is good to be back…I hope that you approve of me calling this meeting” replied Khalida to her clearly troubled master.  She craned her neck to try and catch his eye.  She wished she could give him a reassuring hug or at least a smile of encouragement.
    “I was going to call the council together myself, but it appears that I am not the only one with new information.  Ah and here are the others.”  His tone was light and welcoming which did not match the troubled look he had the first moment she saw him.
    Lords Neb and Keb appeared with simultaneous pops.  Ladies Hilzarie and Necia also appeared out of thin air within moments of one another.  There were joyous exchanges as they all welcomed Keb back.  He had somehow escaped from the clutches of the dark lord…they pressed him for details, but he said that they would have to wait.  He indicated that it would be brought up in the meeting.  Lord Adair cleared his throat to get their attention.  Silence fell and the guardians took their seats around the ornate table.  The feeling in the air was hopeful with Keb amongst them once more.
    “I welcome you all to this council…it has been far too long” began the eldest guardian.  “We have much to discuss and there are reports to be given.  However, I would like to give an account of what I have been up to…that is if no one objects.”  Silence met this statement as they all looked at him intently.  They clearly wanted to hear what he had to say.  Lord Keb bowed his head slightly and would not meet his master’s eye.
    “I was able to find out several things in my travels…the most important of which was Kana’s plans” he said with a small gesture to the empty seat.  “She has discovered one of my secrets with the aid of the dark lord Drogan.”  As one they all looked at the empty chair with disgust.  Even though many months had passed since Kana’s betrayal, some of the guardians still struggled to fully accept her treachery.
    “Drogan…has he escaped?” asked Lady Necia questioningly.  She did not like the sound of that…it should not be possible.  She had the most difficulty coming to terms with Kana’s breaking from the council.
    “No…he was released.  All of his minions were set free as well.  Kana’s doing.”  The guardian gave a small shrug as he said this.  His delivery was simple, yet the gravity of what he had shared bore down on each guardian.  This defied what they knew to be possible.  No one guardian should have been able to free even just one of the minions from the fortress.  It had required the entire council to lock away the dark lord and his followers.
    “What?  I thought it would take all seven of us to release them?  The magic barrier we created required all of us to construct it” Lady Hilzarie said with a worried look on her face.  She clearly understood the significance of this turn of events.  She clutched reflexively at her robes.
    “I am glad that you appreciate the magnitude of this development.  Somehow your fallen sister has acquired powers that have made her as strong as this council.  I have been unable to determine how this was accomplished, but at this point that no longer matters.  The secret she has uncovered is of the greatest concern from here on out.”  The redirect from the troubling notion of Kana’s ill-gotten power had an ominous feel that was clearly troubling the guardian though he had successfully distracted the others with the hint at even more dire news.
    “What is this secret master?” asked Lord Neb softly.  He could tell that the guardian was trying to redirect them away from Kana’s new found power which was beyond troubling.  He suspected that she may have