The Darkest Sword by Samantha Kroese (ebook voice reader txt) 📕

of the creature’s power was blood, torment, death. Some innocent soul rent apart to feed Rhadamanthus’s continued existence. Ashiyn wished he could just let his master rot away, but the monster still had the ability to kill him, even from a distance. Death was a minor annoyance, as he always resurrected, but it was painful and a waste of his time.

“Better. We will discuss your insolence another time.” His master’s red eyes became apparent despite the confusing shadows that cloaked him. The need and hunger within them were plain to see. “You will bring me a sacrifice.”

There went his plans for the evening. How was he supposed to succeed as King of this world if this idiot creature kept interrupting him? He had asked for power so he could use it for his purposes, not to be some errand boy for a fallen ancient mage. Many called them demons, but he knew better. Ashiyn had created this one many years before in an attempt to kill Rhadamanthus. Though his Master existed mostly between life and death Rhadamanthus was bound to the crystal and sustained with violence, blood, and souls. Irritation filled Ashiyn and he rolled his shoulders to try to ease the sudden tension. “Show me.”

The dark figure disappeared and took the storm of blood with it. The crystal pillar flashed with light, then green flooded into its depths. It revealed beautiful grassy plains with lazy sheep and cattle grazing under the watchful eye of the peasants. It panned over to a small village of poorly constructed stone hovels with thatched roofs. He hated peasants. They were always lost in their insignificant provincial lives. Most often they were the ones that fought back when he came to take them, thinking their miserable little lives were worth more than his power. If only they understood how the world would fall to even greater darkness without him there to control it. He tapped his fingers on the stone as he waited for it to focus on his target. He didn’t care about the workings of the village; he just wanted to see who his Master had marked for death this time.

The vision shot into one of the run-down houses and stopped. There, sitting cross-legged on the floor, were two children. Young twins, pre-adolescent perhaps, pale of skin and eye. They stared directly at him, as though they could see him. Irritation flooded through him again. That meant they had the gift of sight. They would know he was coming. At least they were young enough that maybe they were too foolish to hide.

The vision faded and the figure returned, but now it was making that disgusting inhuman noise of hunger and anticipation. “I would feast upon their innocent blood. Do not fail me.”

Ashiyn rolled his eyes, then turned and stormed back out of the room without another word or acknowledgement. He hadn’t failed yet.

He knew which town he had seen. Malk. It was not so far from here. He had even taken women from there from time to time or gone to visit them. He might even have thought the gifted twins his progeny, but they didn’t have his golden eyes. All his progeny had his eyes, although he wasn’t often careless enough to create them. They were immortals. Most lived their own lives and he barely kept track of them. Some though, like his firstborn son, continued to hold a grudge and hunt him. Though hunting an immortal was pointless. They could kill Ashiyn, but he would only come back more irritated.

As soon as he walked back into his sitting room, the portal vanished with a loud sucking sound. He tried to shake off his irritation. At least the violence would ease the pain in his head. It always did.

He took the time to visit the armory attached to his sitting room. He dressed, then donned his heavy black plate armor. Not that he would need it to take care of a few gifted children. He sharpened his broadsword before he put it in place on his back.

He stalked back through the bedroom. That stupid woman was still sitting there shaking under the covers. Again, the urge to kill her rushed through him and he clenched his hands. No. Not today. He was going to ease the pain with the children, the woman could please him later. “Get out, foolish woman. I’m leaving.”

She jumped to obey, scrambling for her clothing. She didn’t even bother to dress before she fled the room.

He watched her flee. She wasn’t unpleasant to look at. The brief appreciation of her bare body was all he allowed himself though. With a scowl he turned and went the opposite direction.

He stalked down the long halls of his labyrinthine castle. While his bedroom had a few spare windows, the rest of the castle was enclosed with dark stone with only torchlight to break the darkness. Only he knew how to navigate it. The massive castle was full of traps and deadly creatures to both discourage visitors and to keep those he wanted from escaping. Like that woman. She wouldn’t leave unless he allowed it. Her death to feed his power and his master’s hunger seemed a much more likely outcome.

He stormed out into the courtyard of the castle. The air outside was no less stifling, even though a hot breeze stirred it. Dark clouds rumbled above, and angry lightning provided flashes of light as he crossed toward the large stable. He didn’t need the light; he saw just fine in the darkness.

As he threw open the double doors to the stable there was a friendly neigh of a horse from deep within the shadows. The rustle of feathers and the stomping of hooves greeted him as he stepped inside. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see the massive winged equine trotting over to him.

He allowed himself one brief stroke of