Spear of Destiny by James Baldwin (little bear else holmelund minarik .TXT) 📕

very clear that they don’t want to share. People like that don’t just ‘get better’, and if we can’t imprison them, the only solution is to put them down.”

“I don’t think you’re wrong. Just surprised by your confidence.” Nethres shrugged. “I don’t think I could really kill someone, even after learning how to fight.”

“It’s a trained skill, not a talent.” I shrugged. “The War taught me that there’s some people that just have to die, and Ororgael and Lucien are two of those people.”

“And Violetta?” Nethres asked.

“She’s not right in the head, but something about her is different,” I said. “She was a nice person when I first met her. Ordinary, kind of bubbly and friendly. But now, it’s like something sucked the soul out of her. I want to help her if it’s possible. The only alternative is euthanasia.”

Nethres considered that for a minute or two. “Yeah. I don’t remember her from the Trials.”

“She barely made it past the first round,” I said. “Came back to the camp clinging to her last HP.”

“That’d be why. I was already out.”

“Yeah. Well, I have a hunch that Baldr fucked her mind up somehow. Their dragons are corrupted, all twisted up and shit, and I’m wondering if something similar happened to Violetta. Some kind of brainwashing or magical corruption.”

“Tell me about it.” Nethres shook her head, her gaze wandering to the fireplace. “I’m glad you made it. And I’m sorry I was a bitch to you back then. Felt a lot of urgency to succeed.”

I snorted. “Don’t sweat it. There’s nothing you can say to me that my drill instructors haven’t already screamed in my face.”

“I bet. Same with my foreman.” She smiled faintly. “If you’re going to see the king of Taltos, do you think he’d be interested to hear my information?”

“Definitely,” I said. “I was actually going to ask if you wanted to tag along. It means flying on a dragon, though. We have to be there by this afternoon, and she can teleport.”

“I’ll leave Vedrfonir here, then. Sign of trust. My quazi’s the only friend I have now.” She finally picked up her coffee and threw it back like a shot. I opened my mouth to warn her, but it was too late—she hacked and coughed as she got a mouthful of the mud-like grounds.

“Yeah, you’re supposed to leave those in,” I laughed.

Nethres spat into her cup, then wiped her mouth on her sleeve. “Urrgh, I didn’t know they drink dirt in Vlachia.”

I laughed. “You leave the coffee mud in the cup. And, uh, you might not want to spit in the Volod’s coffee cups while we’re at the castle.”

“Ugh.” She gagged, taking a mouthful of water. “Think that’s the first thing I’ve tasted in Archemi that wasn’t good.”

“It’s more like a ‘stick your pinky out and sip’ kind of coffee.” I shrugged. “Anyway, if you’re ready to go, I’ll call the gang and we can get moving.”

“Thanks. I hope I can help.” Nethres got to her feet. “Also, congrats on your success yesterday. Seems a lot of people here like you. Don’t suppose you happened to beat Baldr’s ass when you fought him? That’d be nice.”

“Not exactly,” I said. “Though I didn’t let him defeat me, either. I noped out of the battle by chugging a whole lot of mana.”

“Probably for the best.” Nethres grimaced, her brow furrowing. “There’s some really screwed up people here. Maybe the blackout drove them crazy, I don’t know. You’re right about the vault thing. We might really be the only humans alive.”

“Yeah. We might just be.” I drew a deep breath, enjoying the feeling of air filling my lungs. “And if the rest of us work together, we’ll hopefully be able to stay that way.”

Chapter 30

The seat of power in Vlachia was Vulkan Keep: a cave castle built into Mt. Racosul, the towering black volcano that loomed over the black city of Taltos. Sheltered by the mountain on all sides except for one, it was the closest thing to an impregnable fortress I’d ever seen in Archemi. Even Solonovka, with its tiered twenty-foot walls, couldn’t hold a candle to it.

Normally, Karalti angled for the Parade Ground, the great red square which faced the Volod’s garrison barracks. But when we came out on the other end of the teleport, I was surprised to see us hanging over the Northern Gate of Taltos. My dragon let out a confused squawk as she glided forward, realized she was headed in the wrong direction, and dipped a wing to glide back around in the direction of the mountain.

“What the hell?” She broadcast to us. “I didn’t teleport us here! I was aiming for the castle!”

Beside me, Suri craned her head around the dragon’s neck to look forward at Mt. Racosul. “I’m pretty sure your answer’s over there, mate.”

Hundreds of dark-hulled airships stretched back and forward in a great convoy across the northern sky above Vulkan Keep, blotting out the noonday sun. Sleek, quick Bathory-class skirmishers patrolled the chasm that separated the castle’s gatehouse from the road leading up from the city. Hussar-class Destroyers hovered in front of the mountain, each one the size of a small passenger jet and bristling with weapons. One especially gigantic ship hung almost directly over the Parade Ground: a ship almost as large as a modern troop carrier, with a strange curved shield in front that made it look like a giant flying crossbow. Hundreds of smaller craft were in queue behind it, all of them flying the Corvinus banner: a black dragon on a red field, which hung from every mast like drops of blood suspended in the crowded, but orderly sky.

“Damn. Ignas is not fucking around.” I held onto the saddle with one hand, leaning out to gawk.

“Nope.” Karalti remarked. “He sure isn’t.”

“My god.” Rin put a hand