David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb by T.C. Crawford (tools of titans ebook .txt) 📕

Whatever he wished, he got, or they would suffer his wrath. He almost regretted having to suffocate the pretty girl he chose last week, but she simply refused to give herself to him – a mistake that cost her not only her own life, but the life of her parents as well. Such a pity, he thought to himself.

A smile stretched across his face as he walked down the carpet across the throne room and towards the high double doors that led to the entrance hall. Once he reached the landing outside of the door, he descended the massive stairway down to the main floor.

When he reached the bottom, he swiftly made his way through the doorway that led to the dungeons and began his descent down the dark stairwell.

As he entered the guard’s chamber, the three men quickly shot up from their chairs and stood at attention, fists on their heart. The General quickly drew his blade and simultaneously slit all three of their throats in a single, swift movement before returning his blade to its scabbard.

The guards fell to the floor gasping and gurgling as the General continued his way into the dungeon without missing a beat.

A few members of the Wolf Guard were waiting for him in the dark hallway outside one of the prison cells, their keen, predator eyes reflecting back at him through the darkness.

The General motioned to have them open the door and immediately he entered the room. Inside was a single chair with a female elf sitting, chained to the chair. She looked up when he entered the room, terror in her almond-shaped eyes.

“Why have you brought me here? I have done nothing wrong. Our people have lived in peace for centuries.” she pleaded.

“It’s nothing personal, really. I just need you to give me a little bit of your magic. If you cooperate, I will let you go free.” replied the General with a casual smile.

The elf’s eyes suddenly went wide in disbelief. “My magic? I can’t give up my magic. That’s not how it works.” she stammered, alarmed by his request.

“No, not willingly I suppose. But that’s why I brought this” He pulled his hand out from his pocket and held up a small crystal. It looked as if it had been shattered and put back together, its body riddled with a thousand cracks like spiderwebs. He held his hand out for the girl to see what he had. At first, she didn’t recognize what he held, but then suddenly the realization hit her.

“That’s a Mystic Crystal! Where did you get that? I thought all of the ancient fragments had been lost?” she asked alarmed.

“Yes, that’s what I had thought too. Until I came across a traveler who had in his possession a shard of crystal that was unlike anything I had ever seen. When I finally convinced him to reveal to me where he had found it, I slit his throat and took his piece, then began excavating the area where it was found.

“At first, we found nothing, and I thought I had been tricked by the old man. But then, one of my men brought another piece to me, and one by one I found them. I spent the next several years having them painstakingly put back together, piece by piece.

He continued, “It was said that these crystals held mysterious magical properties, that they could siphon power from magical objects and store it for later use. Then it occurred to me, if I can’t get my hands on the orb of power to steal its precious magic, maybe I could siphon it from people.

“My plan began to take form. At first, I was going to use it against the Elders to drain away their power; however, I wasn’t so lucky to get them in my possession. So now I am forced to resort to other means to get the magic I need…” he looked hungrily at his captive, like a predator looks at his prey just before devouring it.

“You wouldn’t dare! If you do this, my people will not let it stand. They will come looking for me, and I assure you, once they find out what happened, you will have started a war you won’t be able to finish!” she glared defiantly, holding her head high as General Krauss stood before her idly playing with the crystal.

“Girl do not insult me with such petty threats. You have no idea of the power that I possess! When I am finished, all people will bow to me, their king, or they will die like the others. Now sit still, this won’t hurt….at least it won’t for long” he quickly slammed his hand with the crystal against the elf’s chest and she immediately began thrashing and screaming.

The crystal illuminated with an intense white light as it drained the magic from the elf. Slowly her screams began to fade as she started to lose consciousness, until finally all was silent, leaving the stone glowing with a brilliant white light before fading back to its original hue.

“Take her away and throw her body with the others”  General Krauss ordered.

Two of the wolves standing by the door walked into the room and began hauling away the dead elf.

General Krauss turned to the remaining wolf, “I need more. The amount of mystic magic I will need to open the rift is insurmountable. Tell your scouts to bring me as many as they can find, and quickly. We are running out of time. Midsummer’s eve is fast approaching, and the ritual has to be complete by midnight or our plans will be postponed until the next eclipse.”

“Yes, sire.” replied the wolf in his deep, guttural tongue. “I will personally see to it that we do not fail.” He bowed low and immediately set off at an alarming pace on all four legs, racing down the hallway and up the stairs out of sight.

General Krauss ascended the dungeon stairway with great strides, focusing his thoughts