The Traitor's Tale Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Jonathan Moeller
Something I had said had caught her
attention, and even if she had kept it from her face some of the
excitement had communicated itself to her drones.
“A spell,” she said. “Then you are not trapped
here?”
I suddenly feared that I had told her too much.
“Does it matter?” I said.
“You are broken and twisted,” said Arlmagnava. “This
much is plain. You are going to your Keeper for healing, is that
not so?”
“If she will have me,” I said. “I…wish her to forgive
me for my crimes. To lift the curse upon me. Then I can die in
peace. I should have died a long time ago.”
“Perhaps there is another path,” said Arlmagnava.
I started at her, my mind racing. “You said you
fought the Keeper. You were surprised when you found me here on the
threshold of Andomhaim. You knew I had come from another world.
That means…you are not from this world, either.” I considered for a
moment. “You are a scout, a vanguard. The harbinger of an
invasion.”
“You are correct,” said Arlmagnava. “It is the task
of the Assembly of the High Lords to bring the cosmos to order, to
bind the lesser kindreds under our firm hand. Once before we
invaded this world, but were defeated by the Keeper. Now, after two
and a half centuries, the time is ripe for us to invade again. We
have moved into the threshold of this world. All we require is for
the traitor to open a gate for us, to allow physical passage for
our armies. Once open, the gate can be made permanent, and this
world will be added to the Dominion of the High Lords.”
“Why?” I said. “Why conquer this world?”
“Because it is necessary,” said the Frostborn woman.
“We are not gods, but we might as well be. The lesser kindreds are
disorderly and violent. We shall move from world to world in the
cosmos, adding them to the Dominion and bringing their kindreds to
order. This world is no different. When we conquer it, we shall
purge it of chaos, and the survivors shall be taught to follow the
order of the High Lords.”
“I have heard many such speeches from human tyrants
upon Earth,” I said. “They ended in bloodshed and madness.”
“Such is the fate of all who aspire to power they are
not worthy to wield,” said Arlmagnava. “We are worthy of the power
to order the cosmos, and we shall use it.”
“No,” I said. “If the Keeper opposed you, so shall
I.”
“Is it necessary to align yourself with the Keeper?”
said Arlmagnava. “Perhaps the power for your cure lies with us
instead of her…and you could receive that cure without groveling
and begging for forgiveness.”
I started to refuse, but then fell silent.
Something within that offer whispered to me.
“What do you mean?” I said at last.
“We wish to enslave all lesser kindreds for their own
benefit,” said Arlmagnava, gesturing with her sword. “Some,
however, are worthier than others. You have the ability to travel
from the threshold to the material world without the use of a gate,
something that for all our power we cannot do ourselves. You
successfully fought a patrol of locusari to a standstill, and your
fire magic would be powerful in battle. The campaigns to subdue
this world and establish it as a demesne of the Dominion shall take
at least a century, and your skill shall be useful. Swear to become
my vassal, and I shall remove your curse. More, I shall strengthen
your magic considerably and make you immortal.”
“And what,” I said, “would you want from me in
return?”
“Loyalty and the use of your ability to travel
between the material world and the threshold,” said Arlmagnava. “If
it can be taught to us, well and good. If not, you will be useful
as a scout. Serve loyally, and once this world is conquered you
will be granted a city or perhaps a province to rule as you see
fit. What say you?”
I hesitated.
It sounded…compelling.
For much of my memories were gone, but I remembered
my betrayal well enough. Part of it had been Mordred himself,
attention, and even if she had kept it from her face some of the
excitement had communicated itself to her drones.
“A spell,” she said. “Then you are not trapped
here?”
I suddenly feared that I had told her too much.
“Does it matter?” I said.
“You are broken and twisted,” said Arlmagnava. “This
much is plain. You are going to your Keeper for healing, is that
not so?”
“If she will have me,” I said. “I…wish her to forgive
me for my crimes. To lift the curse upon me. Then I can die in
peace. I should have died a long time ago.”
“Perhaps there is another path,” said Arlmagnava.
I started at her, my mind racing. “You said you
fought the Keeper. You were surprised when you found me here on the
threshold of Andomhaim. You knew I had come from another world.
That means…you are not from this world, either.” I considered for a
moment. “You are a scout, a vanguard. The harbinger of an
invasion.”
“You are correct,” said Arlmagnava. “It is the task
of the Assembly of the High Lords to bring the cosmos to order, to
bind the lesser kindreds under our firm hand. Once before we
invaded this world, but were defeated by the Keeper. Now, after two
and a half centuries, the time is ripe for us to invade again. We
have moved into the threshold of this world. All we require is for
the traitor to open a gate for us, to allow physical passage for
our armies. Once open, the gate can be made permanent, and this
world will be added to the Dominion of the High Lords.”
“Why?” I said. “Why conquer this world?”
“Because it is necessary,” said the Frostborn woman.
“We are not gods, but we might as well be. The lesser kindreds are
disorderly and violent. We shall move from world to world in the
cosmos, adding them to the Dominion and bringing their kindreds to
order. This world is no different. When we conquer it, we shall
purge it of chaos, and the survivors shall be taught to follow the
order of the High Lords.”
“I have heard many such speeches from human tyrants
upon Earth,” I said. “They ended in bloodshed and madness.”
“Such is the fate of all who aspire to power they are
not worthy to wield,” said Arlmagnava. “We are worthy of the power
to order the cosmos, and we shall use it.”
“No,” I said. “If the Keeper opposed you, so shall
I.”
“Is it necessary to align yourself with the Keeper?”
said Arlmagnava. “Perhaps the power for your cure lies with us
instead of her…and you could receive that cure without groveling
and begging for forgiveness.”
I started to refuse, but then fell silent.
Something within that offer whispered to me.
“What do you mean?” I said at last.
“We wish to enslave all lesser kindreds for their own
benefit,” said Arlmagnava, gesturing with her sword. “Some,
however, are worthier than others. You have the ability to travel
from the threshold to the material world without the use of a gate,
something that for all our power we cannot do ourselves. You
successfully fought a patrol of locusari to a standstill, and your
fire magic would be powerful in battle. The campaigns to subdue
this world and establish it as a demesne of the Dominion shall take
at least a century, and your skill shall be useful. Swear to become
my vassal, and I shall remove your curse. More, I shall strengthen
your magic considerably and make you immortal.”
“And what,” I said, “would you want from me in
return?”
“Loyalty and the use of your ability to travel
between the material world and the threshold,” said Arlmagnava. “If
it can be taught to us, well and good. If not, you will be useful
as a scout. Serve loyally, and once this world is conquered you
will be granted a city or perhaps a province to rule as you see
fit. What say you?”
I hesitated.
It sounded…compelling.
For much of my memories were gone, but I remembered
my betrayal well enough. Part of it had been Mordred himself,