Rogue Legacy by Jeffrey L. Kohanek (snow like ashes .txt) 📕

While it had grown dark outside, it was even darker inside the pavilion. Lyra stopped beside Cal, attempting to see beyond the slice of twilight leaking through the doorway. The dull glow of hot coals in a brazier at the center of the tent slowly gave shape to the interior.

Three poles, set at even spans, held up the high ceiling, while eight shorter poles supported the outer edge. One man stood in the center of the room, near the brazier. Seven cloaked men occupied chairs along one tent wall. Five empty bedrolls lay at the far end of the tent while crates, barrels, and a small table were arranged along the wall opposite from where the men were seated.

Lyra followed Cal further into the tent, gasping when she noticed the cloaked men’s eyes, glowing not with the bright sparks she saw when Cal performed his magic, but with a dull red that reminded her of blood, reminded her of Gilo. Shifting her gaze, she recognized the cloaked man who stood in the center of the room. Before him was a shirtless man seated on an oversized chair. Like the others, the man standing had eyes emitting a red glow. His expression shifted from surprise to a grin. Lyra felt a chill snake down her spine as he stared at Cal.

“Pascal. You came just in time to see us complete our army. Here sits the last man we must convert. This common soldier will soon be an unstoppable force.” Elias gestured toward the man seated on the over-sized chair, the only man whose eyes were not glowing. “If you intend to stop us, you’re too late. Nothing can stop the Holy Army now, nothing ever will stop it.”

“Why would I stop you?” Cal asked. “I’m here to help you.”

Elias frowned and glanced toward the other cloaked men. “Interesting. And why would you do that?”

Cal stepped closer. “It is time to draw the people of the world into Issal’s fold. With this army behind us, it will become obvious to the rulers that they cannot resist the Ministry any longer. The day has come where the Ministry will rule everyone, not just in Kalimar, but across the entire continent. Guided by our righteousness, we will erase the kingdoms of yesterday and build a new single empire – the Empire of Issalia.”

With narrowed eyes, Elias stared at Cal as the seven men seated did the same. After a long pause, Elias nodded.

“Very well. Let me see to this soldier, and then we can discuss what you can do to help our cause.”

Cal nodded. “Go on.”

Elias turned toward the man seated before him, a man of average height and build. The man’s wrists were bound to the chair arms, his eyes white with fear. However, the man said nothing. His gaze followed Elias as he reached toward the brazier and took hold of one of the two long rods sticking up from it. Lifting the metal rod, he raised it and Lyra noticed the twisted symbol at the end of it glowing orange. Elias pressed the hot metal against the man’s chest, and the man screamed in agony. When he pulled the rod away, the man’s skin smoldered, and he shook in pain. Elias grabbed the other rod and pushed it against the man’s skin, eliciting another scream, causing Lyra to cringe at the idea of that much pain.

The man shook and collapsed in the chair, fainting. Elias removed the brand and set the rod back into the brazier. He leaned forward and placed his hand on the man’s arm. The man’s body shook with a chill and he stirred, his skin no longer smoldering.

Another Arcanist stepped forward, his eyes glowing with bright sparks of energy. One of the two branded runes flared bright red and then pulsed as the glow faded. He then put his hand on the shirtless soldier’s arm as the man began to grow larger. The soldier moaned in agony. The moan turned to a roar and then a scream as he continued to grow in fits and bursts. By the time the process stopped, the soldier’s size had nearly doubled, and he towered over the other man, even while he remained seated.

Another cloaked man stood as bright red energy sizzled in his eyes. The other branded rune began to glow. The cloaked man grabbed the giant’s wrist as the glow faded. This time, the man shook violently for a bit, but remained quiet other than gasping for air. The cloaked man nodded and reclaimed his seat.

Elias stepped before the giant man and waved him forward. “Rise, my son. You are a Paladin of the Holy Army, able to crush mortal men who deny the might of Issal. Your words alone will strike fear into the hearts of those who oppose you.”

The man stood, bending at the waist to fit beneath the eight-foot high tent ceiling. With a nod, he accepted a massive shirt from one of the cloaked men and slipped it over his head as he walked toward the door. Cal, Lyra, and Garrett moved aside as the giant man ducked through the flap and stepped out into the twilight.

“That was our final soldier, Cal. Our numbers are now in excess of five thousand soldiers, each as strong as five men. Their very voices are forever infused with Fear, making it impossible for common men to stand against them.” Elias looked toward his brethren again. “Under the guidance of The Hand, the kingdoms that have resisted the Ministry will surely bend. Tonight, we depart for Sol Limar. Tomorrow night, we attack and defeat our first king, and with him, the kingdom of Kalimar.”

Lyra turned to Cal, seeking some sort of assurance. Despite Elias’ ominous statement, Cal appeared unaffected.

“Your plan is flawed, Elias.” Cal pointed toward the tent doorway. “Each of those men will now eat as much as three or four normal men. With five thousand of them, you must be burning through your food stores at an unbelievable rate.”

Elias frowned.

“How are you going to feed an army this size while on the road, Elias?”

“What’s your point?”

Cal smiled. “My point is that I’m here to reveal another discovery, one that will not only solve your logistics problems but can also give the Ministry every major city on the continent in just weeks.”

“What are you talking about? What discovery?”

Cal stepped closer to Elias, glaring at his red eyes. “I have discovered a means to travel instantly from one place to another, a magical gateway of sorts. It will enable you to travel hundreds of miles as simply as passing through that doorway.” Cal pointed toward the tent flap again. Every person present turned toward the flap in silent consideration.

Finally, Elias shook his head. “I don’t believe you. You can’t do that. Nobody can.”

Cal stepped closer. “I can, and I will.”

Cal turned and walked toward the door, but Elias followed him.

“What do you plan to do, Cal? They won’t listen to you. They won’t follow you.”

Cal stopped at the door flap. “I don’t need them to listen to me. When I show you, you’ll see that this ability will give you what you most desire. The Hand, and the Ministry, will see you as a hero. You’ll capture entire kingdoms in days, the