The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

That was news to me. “You meanAriadne?”

He nodded.

“You need to get her quickly then.Gather her and as many as you can. You have ten to fifteen minutesat best, and possibly less,” I told him.

The young knight blanched at thewarning, “It will take me that long to reach them and far longer toconvince them and bring them back.”

I glanced at Karenth, and he tiltedhis head in acquiescence of my unspoken order. Swelling in size hesprouted wings and lifted a surprised Harold gently in one hand.“Make haste,” I told him.

I had reached Penny bythen. She was back on her feet now, though she looked rather shaky.There was a look in her eye, something I hadn’t seen the lasttime. Defeat? Guilt? My mind circled, unable to read her clearly, but fromsomewhere deeper came another thought, Shame.

Ignoring my weaker self’s odd insight,I addressed her confidently, as a lord speaks to his servant,“There is little time. Karenth will return soon with whomever hecan carry. Take your children, your queen, and whoever else youwill and seek safety. There is only one place for younow.”

She cast her eyes downward, “Ofcourse, I will save our children.”

“Are there any wizards withyou?”

“The Prathions, Walter is insidealready, in the key chamber,” she said quietly.

“Good. As soon as they are within thewalls, have him activate the defenses. They won’t hold for longagainst Mal’goroth, but they might give you enough time to get themto your apartment,” I said firmly.

“Will you not come with us—Mordecai?”she said tentatively at first, and then with near tears when sherepeated my name, “…Mort?”

My emotions rose in a whirlwind offury inside me. Sorrow, loss, anger, and betrayal, they tore at me.Justified or not, she had rejected me before; I had come to termswith that. In her place I would have done the same, or so I hadtried to make myself believe. Her implied acceptance now threatenedto undo me.

Hardening my heart, I replied clearly,“My name is Brexus. The man you knew is gone. If you would honorhis memory, do as I bid you, nothing more.”

Her eyes were bright, welling withtears, but she did not cry. My Penny was a strong woman. “Mort,Dorian is...,” her voice choked before she could finish.

“I already know,” I said coldly. “Theywill pay for as much as I am able to make them, but it won’t beenough.”

“You have a plan?” There was hope inher voice. The sound of it was a cruel torment.

“No. I will fight and lose. Delay isall I can give you. Stay hidden, and perhaps you and the childrenwill survive. Where there is life there is hope,” I told herplainly.

“There is hope if you are with us,”she stated, baring her will now.

“I am already dead.” Turning away, Iwas glad that the helm had hidden my features. Tears wereimpossible for me, but my expression could only have wounded hermore deeply. My face and my voice were in perfect opposition to oneanother.

Several flying behemoths were arrivingalready. Karenth had been swifter than I expected. Gareth Gaelynwas with him, carrying as many as he was capable of. Doron andMillicenth had swelled in size and flew with them, carrying stillmore people. Most impressive of all though, was the Kritecktransport beast. Almost two-fold larger than Gareth, it had beendesigned to carry occupants. Its wide back was smooth except for avariety of ridges and protrusions that would make it easier for avariety of different forms to keep a firm grip. More than fortypeople clung to it now.

I spotted Peter Tuckeramong them. He and his sister Lilly were helping to unload thetwins. They were alive but unconscious. I went to him immediately,checking as I approached to make sure their hearts were beatingstrongly. They will recover.

My time was almost up.

“Peter,” I called loudly.

He was startled by the familiar voice.I hadn’t tried to disguise it as I had done previously. “Yes?” heanswered uncertainly.

I motioned to the man beside him, andhe took Matthew from Peter’s hands. Then I waved a hand for Peterto follow me. Stepping away I began talking rapidly, “You know thedagger you carry with you, Peter?”

His face blanched. Before he hadjoined my service, years ago, I had killed his grandfatherinadvertently. It had been an accident, but he had been very angrythen. He had even stolen one of the knives I had enchanted earlyon, a kitchen knife, discarded and forgotten, or so he had thought.Somewhere along the way he had learned that it would take anenchanted blade to pierce the shields I kept about me at alltimes.

I knew that he had long since given uphis desire to kill me. Peter was a good man. Over the years,working beside us, he had become a part of my family somehow. Nowthat Dorian was gone, there were few men I trusted as much as him.But he still carried the knife. It had been with him every day. Asign of his early intention, I knew it had become a symbol to himover time. It was precious. It represented his compromise and thebond of duty he had forged with my family.

“I have a knife, yes, my lord,” heanswered from habit, returning to his old manner of addressingme.

“I know the meaning of the knife,Peter. I always have. I know why you carried it, and I understandwhy you kept it, even after you decided never to use it,” I saidsolemnly.

Eyes wide, he blinked—twice. Nothinglike being told by your employer that he knew you had once plannedto kill him. I had no time to mince words, though.

Reaching into my pouch, I withdrew thegreen stone that Lyralliantha had given me. “Hand me the knife,” Iordered.

Mutely, he reached into his coat anddrew it out.

The pommel was plain round pewter.Using my fingertip and a bit of pure will, I dented the end of itand held the green stone against the indention. A quick spell fixedit in place. It wouldn’t last for more than a few weeks, but thenagain, it didn’t need to. “I am immortal now, Peter. The magic thatsustains me will keep me forever, unless it is undone. It’s aspellweaving, and normally only one of the ancient She’Har couldundo it, but