The Heart of Alchemy by James Wisher (e book reading free TXT) 📕

turned and his smile faded. “Lord Valtan. Have you come up with a new strategy? It’s been nearly a year.”

“No. But Otto has returned and completed the Immortality Engine. He’s closer than anyone has ever come since I banished my former comrades. In another year, he’ll be unstoppable. Will you help me stop him before then?”

“Can he be stopped? We’ve tried everything you suggested and only made matter worse. Maybe it would be better to stay out of it and see what happens. He’s only one man in the end. He can hardly destroy the world on his own.”

“Do not underestimate the power of an unbound Arcane Lord. He may lack the power to destroy the world, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make life miserable for much of it.”

Eddred stood. “What do you suggest?”

“Go to the City of Coins.”

Eddred turned away in disgust.

“Hear me out. Hire mercenaries and travel into the desert. I have magic you can use to keep the undead at bay. I know where he’s going. You can beat him there and seize the item he seeks. It will buy time at least. Bring it to me and I can protect it. If you can kill him, so much the better.”

“If you knew where to find the artifacts, why not send us to find them to begin with?”

“Knowing where they are and claiming them are two very different things. All of them are protected. The danger is immense. If there were any other way to stop him now, I would gladly try. But this is the best I can come up with. Will you go?”

After a long pause Eddred said, “Very well, but after this I’m done. I want to live out the rest of my life in peace.”

“Thank you, Eddred. The whole world would thank you if they knew the threat they faced. I will prepare a map and transport it to your ship. The sooner you leave the better.”

Valtan vanished before Eddred had a chance to change his mind. If this worked, it was only a half measure. But a half measure was better than nothing. Deep inside, he feared he was only sending the king to his grave.

Even so, the chance had to be taken.

Epilogue

Otto allowed himself another full day of rest before heading to the hidden tower to report his progress to Lord Karonin. During his absence, it seemed Abby had learned some self-control as she didn’t scream nearly as much. And thank heaven for that. A brief conversation with Edwyn confirmed everything was progressing as well as possible with the business. As far as he could tell, his being gone for a year had done the empire not the least harm.

He found that both encouraging and a little depressing. It seemed he was no longer essential to the running of things. In truth, it was more of a relief. It let him move forward without having to worry about his base falling apart.

So after a fine breakfast he became one with the ether and traveled to the tower. When he appeared in the unchanging chamber, he found his master’s smiling, disembodied face filling her magic mirror.

He bowed. “I apologize for my long absence.”

“Your idea of long and mine are vastly different. More importantly, you succeeded.”

His brow crinkled. “How did you know?”

“When you placed the Heart in position, a ripple ran through the ether. I felt it even this far away.”

The burst of power had been so overwhelming up close, Otto hadn’t realized how far it extended.

“The pig Valtan would have sensed it as well. He will grow desperate now. You must be prepared for him to make all efforts to stop you.”

“He’s trapped in Lords. What can he do from there?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “But under no circumstances can you underestimate Valtan. We did, and look what happened.”

Otto nodded. He had no intention of underestimating anyone. “And the final piece?”

“The final piece isn’t a piece at all.” Seeing his confusion, she continued. “You must recover the instructions on how to weave the ether. Amet Sur kept it. He called the directions the Sanguine Scroll. It’s far more than just a manual. He hid many of his greatest secrets in the scroll. You can’t succeed without it. Even I don’t know all the spells necessary to complete the transformation. Why are you smiling?”

“I’m just pleased that I guessed correctly. My assumption was that Lord Sur would have wanted to keep the final piece under his personal protection. I’ve already sent an agent to locate his capital. My plan was to travel by portal with a search force, but now I wonder. If any undead snuck through, Garen would be in trouble.”

“Have no fear,” she said. “Undead can’t use a portal.”

Otto’s eyes widened. “Of course, the mithril.”

“Exactly. Amet may have had uses for his creations, but even he didn’t fully trust them. In fact, you can use the portal to generate an energy field that will repel undead for a great distance. There’s a book in my armory called Undead Creation and Domination. You should study it before you set out. But don’t take too long. The less time Valtan has to plot, the better.”

“One more question if I may. Do you know how to use someone’s true name to control them?”

“You’ve been dealing with the demon binders.”

“Yes.” Otto told her everything that had happened. “I don’t trust Lady White. If there’s some way to make sure she can’t betray me, I’d like to take advantage of it.”

“I’ve always thought giving power to your true name was a stupid idea, but they use them to make contracts with demons and amongst themselves. I suppose it must work for them despite the disadvantages. You need to prepare a gold amulet set with a mithril band in the center.”

An image of the amulet formed in the mirror where her face had been. He memorized the design.

“And when I’ve made the item?”

“Return here and I will guide you through the process of empowering