Upon This World of Stone (The Paladin Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

lords,” Darius said slowly, “what will happen if that pestilence should reach the Mountains of the Winds.”
    Faces turned grim and heads were nodded at that. It had taken generations of warfare to wipe the Rock Goblins out of the Mountains of the Winds and free the Southlands from their constant raids. Goblins were renowned mountain warriors, and it would be a bloody business to once again dig them out of every hole and cave in the mountains.
    “The boasted cavalry of the Plains States did little enough against this host,” observed Argus harshly. “Why should we think our horse will fare any better?”
    “The power of the Southlands is in the size of its army, the training of its troops, and the skill of its officers,” answered Darius. “You shall show the world what happens when a rabble meets a true army.”
    “So many in Nargost and Kargos must have said,” sneered Argus.
    “And thus many traitors must have answered,” said Darius. “Brave men are fighting and bleeding and dying out on the plains, Corland, selling their lives to strip some tithe of power from the invaders, while you sit and talk away the precious hours they have bought you.”
    Argus bristled and rose involuntarily from the Iron Throne. “I will have blood for such an insult, Paladin. I…”
    “Silence, Argus,” Boltran commanded, and all were suddenly aware that having risen from the Iron Throne, Argus had temporarily forfeited his status as the Voice of Corland.
    Argus quickly reseated himself, but the lapse gave Darius his chance to press his argument.
    “Heed me now, Southland,” he said, not just to the lords but to all within the chamber. “As you value your cities, waste not a day, for this foe comes to smash through all walls and no stone shall hold you safe. As you value your people, waste not an hour, for the life-blood of human hearts is the real treasure this monster seeks from the Southlands. And as you value your lives, waste no more minutes, for every lung full of rhetoric and debate brings the enemy ten yards closer to your throats, and they bring the peace of death to end your argument and contention.”
    There was a surge within every heart within the chamber, heads nodding in recognition of the truth.
    “What of this castle-breaker, this Juggernaut?” asked Boltran. “What good can fine cavalry and bold hearts do against the likes of that?”
    “The Juggernaut is a terrible weapon,” Darius conceded. “But as with all things that move, it, too, must be fed, and should this food, this fuel be removed, the monster will stop. The fuel that propels this horror forward, my lords, is human blood.”
    There were gasps throughout the chamber, and every lord, save one, came to the edge of their seat.
    “The Free Lands are not rich in people, and so the supplies to feed the titan must be running low,” Darius continued. “If we can disrupt the fueling and force this thing to fight, it may stop before ever it reaches the Drift. But our first hope shall still be in the might of warriors.”
    Though he made no move, it seemed as if he had taken a step closer to the lords and his voice had grown in power.
    “If you would take my counsel, I would make three answers to the Northing threat. First, I would meet them on the open plains with all the power you can bring to bear. The Northings may have walked through the forces of the Plains States, but they have never faced the concentrated armies of the Southlands. Do not forget: Northings and Rock Goblins are warriors of the mountains and know little of war on the plains. We might well be able to strip the Juggernaut of its protecting army.
    “Second, you must send light cavalry around the flanks of the enemy army to rescue the prisoners being led to the Juggernaut. This is not just a matter of compassion and humanity. This is the food Regnar needs to fuel the monster. It has crossed nearly two hundred leagues already, and the supply of blood is not endless.
    “Third,