Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [100]
+++++
In another part of the Obsidian Ridge, Quinn looked down from the ceiling on a third patrol of sentries. They were traveling in groups of six now, but that didn't matter. They were all about to die.
Gathering his feet under him, he readied himself to pounce-teach them what it meant to feel helpless and terrified in their own home. He wanted Xeries to know that he was coming for him, wanted the man who had taken his love and terrorized his home to suffer for what he had done.
Silently dropping to the ground, he went to work on the sentries. The first one squealed in fright as Quinn's blades cut into it. The others had very little time to react.
When he had finished, he climbed back up into the cracked passage and moved on, leaving the remains on the floor as a warning to Xeries.
This was no longer about justice or even saving Erlkazar. It had become something more-this was revenge.
Chapter Thirty-One
Kleegor handed another crate full of Elixir to Talish and walked down to the end of the dock.
"Good to see you back up and around," said Talish. Kleegor nodded.
"I take it you don't want to talk about it." The half-orc grunted.
"Well, I told you not to throw it in her face. I told you I agreed with you, but you should've just-" Suddenly, the sky began to roil.
"Whoa, will you look at that." Talish pointed over Kleegor's shoulder.
The half-ore nearly dropped his crate of Elixir.
Huge gray clouds swept in from the east over Shalane Lake and the west over the Snowflake Mountains. The wind picked up, and the clouds coalesced over Llorbauth and the Obsidian Ridge. They swirled together, forming one massive, turning storm that blocked out the mid-morning sun.
The storm moved faster and faster, and its center stretched but like a long finger-a funnel of twisting air reaching for the ground. Where it touched, high up on the wall of the valley, the ground simply dried up. The grass, flowers, and trees instantly turned brown, shriveled, and died.
Bolts of lightning shot from the clouds. Where they hit, the dirt turned to sand, the stone crumbled and cracked, the puddles and streams evaporated. A tremendous clap of thunder shook the dock under Kleegor's feet.
"What's happening?" Talish had his hands pressed against the side of his head, shaking it in amazement.
"I'll tell you what's going on," said a voice. "The king has betrayed us."
Kleegor looked down from the building storm into the face of the Matron.
"My lady," said the half-orc, falling to his knees and dropping his head to the splinter-torn wharf.
The Matron approached the half-ore and the dark-skinned man.
"On your feet, Kleegor. You do not need to bow to me."
He did as he was told, getting back to his feet.
The Matron put her finger under his chin, lifting his eyes to meet hers. "I have come here, Kleegor, to give you my apology."
"I do not understand."
"You were right." The matron waved her arm back at the slowly growing storm as it continued to devour Llorbauth, turning the fertile land of the valley into little more than a desert. "We never should have trusted the king to do the right thing. His blind affection and shortsightedness may end up being our undoing. I should have listened to you, and now we have to make it tight."
The half-ore stood up straight. He puffed his chest out, feeling some of his previous courage returning.
"And how do we do that?"
"The king's betrayal has brought this destruction upon us. I had hoped to avoid it, but he leaves us little choice." She turned to look one more time at the valley being transformed into a barren wasteland. "King Korox must die. The palace must fall. Prepare your assassins, Kleegor. We take Llorbauth by force."
+++++
The walls hummed. The floor moved, and a low buzz filled the air, washing out the sounds of footsteps and doors opening.
Slipping out of the wall, Quinn perched himself behind a jagged chunk of obsidian. Settling in, he melted into the blackness, blending in and disappearing from view.
Below him,