Wielder of the Flame Read Online Free PDF Page B

color with a natural pattern of jagged
blade-shaped stripes, amethyst in hue. His head was almost entirely like that
of a snake, snout instead of a mouth, and red slits for eyes, but still held a
hint of human features in it. He was dressed in the robes he always wore when
on official business. He was a Luminary, one of the most elite of titles, and
he made sure his look reflected that. All the other leaders and dignitaries
present were dressed similarly, but each with wardrobes that drew from their
own race’s style of apparel. His robes were extravagantly designed, byzantium
in color, inlaid with gold patterns. Over his chest and shoulders was a set of
decorations that was made from dragon bones fused together with black metal.
And finally, his four fingered reptilian-human hands held a black staff with a
blood red ruby at its top.
    The same ruby that all Luminaries and prominent leaders
possessed. A symbol of their loyalty to their Master and leader, the Great One.
    Sklan finished with the bird, mostly swallowing it whole.
    “You grahks are a repulsive race!” said one of the others
there on the balcony by the tables of meat, “There is a feast aplenty before
your eyes and yet you deem it insufficient.” 
    The fury within Sklan quickly rose. How dare a mere
appointee address a Luminary in such a manner.
    But the other individual out on the balcony was Duwarr, the
human Luminary, so Sklan withheld his anger. Duwarr was busy separating the
bone from one of the meats before putting it on his platter and did not hear
the comment. He had long black hair, pulled back from his face, and a face with
sharp features and dark eyes. He was dressed in a new style of semi-robes of
various colors. Sklan found human fashion very distasteful the way they were
always changing, never staying with something elegant and consistent.
    “You would be wise to watch your tongue,” Sklan hissed at
the young man, loud enough for Duwarr to hear.
    The human Luminary looked up and quickly assessed the
situation.
    “Aget,” he glared at his assistant, “Withdraw yourself, and
fetch me another goblet of wine.” Duwarr motioned for the young man to the far
end of the balcony, away from Sklan.
    “I apologize for whatever may have slipped from my
appointee’s mouth. Council has proceeded for too long today.”
    Sklan outwardly glared at him, but inwardly agreed with him.
    Their leader had been gone for some time now. In his
absence, tension had been mounting between the various races. It was not
uncommon for Tremos to leave on occasion, to go on tasks that his servants were
not powerful enough to complete on their own. But he was never gone for too
long. His stronghold was here, and his rising army within it. It was here that
most of his attention was focused. Planning and organizing until he decided the
time was right for them to march West. His faithful Luminaries were always left
to care for things. But the Luminaries had been running things for a long time
now without a leader. Without his divine and all-powerful guidance things had
become difficult. Sub-classes like goblins and gnomes had been at each other’s
throats and much dissention in between the lower and higher races had been
growing in general. Everyone had been preparing for war for what seemed like
ages now, preparing to fight and re-conquer the lands which had been taken from
them so long ago. Never had one of Tremos’s expeditions lasted as long as this
last one had.
    With agitation rising throughout the realm, the Luminaries
had decided to hold Council ahead of their usual schedule. The message had gone
out and they had gathered. But nothing was being resolved. With Tremos so long
departed, most of the Luminaries had begun to turn their attention towards
protecting their own dominions. They were quick to forget that Tremos had
gathered them all together when they were weak. Only together, under Tremos, in
all his power and glory, would they conquer Lyrridia. Not a single