Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2 Master Zhao
Chapter 3 The Blue Angel
Chapter 4 Magic
Chapter 5 On The Road
Chapter 6 A Harsh Lesson
Chapter 7 The Black Pill
Chapter 8 A Taste Of Magic
Chapter 9 Master Firehear
Chapter 10 Windsong
Chapter 11 Stages Of Magic
Chapter 12 The Wind Realm
Chapter 13 Opening A Realm
Chapter 14 A Breath Of Wind
Chapter 15 Drunken Masters
Chapter 16 The Valley
Chapter 17 An Unexpected Arrival
Chapter 18 Preparing For Battle
Chapter 19 The True Face Of Magic
Chapter 20 Aftermath
Chapter 21 Disguises
Chapter 22 Memories Of Murder
Chapter 23 A Difficult Choice
Chapter 24 Master Zhao’S Treasures
Chapter 25 The Journey Ahead
Chapter 26 Redwater
Chapter 27 Dinner With Enemies
Chapter 28 Unlikely Companions
Chapter 29 Stormleaf'S Gif
Chapter 30 Power Overwhelming
Chapter 31 Lord Jiang
Chapter 32 The Price Of Power
Chapter 33 The Estate
Chapter 34 Training With Lord Jiang
Chapter 35 Continued Training
Chapter 36 Body Refinemen
Chapter 37 Feast Of Treasures
Chapter 38 Faster, Higher, Stronger
Chapter 39 The Starmetal Sword
Chapter 40 The Magistrate
Chapter 41 Duel
Chapter 42 Revelations
Chapter 43 Breaking The Seals
Chapter 44 Newfound Power
Chapter 45 Lord Jiang'S Gifts
Chapter 46 Saying Goodbye
Chapter 47 Leaving Silvermere
Chapter 48 Ambush
Chapter 49 Wounds Of Battle
Chapter 50 The Bandit Fortress
Chapter 51 Senecio
Chapter 52 Looting Treasures
Chapter 53 Words Of Chaos
Chapter 54 The Old Man And The Trickster
Chapter 55 Panurge’S Punishmen
Chapter 56 Windblade
Chapter 57 A Way To Escape
Chapter 58 Prison Break
Chapter 59 The Prisoners
Chapter 60 A Clear Path
Chapter 61 A Change Of Plans
Chapter 62 Assaulting The Prison
Chapter 63 Resistance
Chapter 64 Facing The Archmage
Chapter 65 Birds And Dragons
Chapter 66 Leaving The Stronghold
Chapter 67 The Edge Of The Empire
Chapter 68 The Story So Far
Chapter 69 The Border City
Chapter 70 Darkfire
Chapter 71 A Small Figh
Chapter 72 Tournamen
Chapter 73 The Shadowblood Novice
Chapter 74 The Gray-Robed Lady
Chapter 75 Governor Eddarin
Chapter 76 Leaving The City
Chapter 77 Darkfire'S Ordeal
Chapter 78 A New Arrival
Chapter 79 Judgmen
Chapter 80 New Techniques
Chapter 81 The Arenas Of Hillfor
Chapter 82 The Victor'S Spoils
Chapter 83 An Unexpected Invitation
Chapter 84 Lunch With The Governor
Chapter 85 Amaya
Chapter 86 Searching For Answers
Chapter 87 Stoneheart'S Army
Chapter 88 Stonehear
Chapter 89 Zehava
Chapter 90 Unexpected News
Chapter 91 Darkfire’S Decision
Chapter 92 Before The Tournamen
Chapter 93 The Tournament Begins
Chapter 94 The Tournament Continues
Chapter 95 Defeated
Chapter 96 Snowcloud
Chapter 97 The Valley
Chapter 98 Oathbound
Chapter 99 Urgent Matters
Chapter 100 Running
Chapter 101 Questions
Chapter 102 Answers
Chapter 103 First Steps
Chapter 104 Crystals
Chapter 105 Blindsided
Chapter 106 Fighting Blind
Chapter 107 Shadowsigh
Chapter 108 Exposed
Chapter 109 The Bracele
Chapter 110 The Deserters' Fortress
Chapter 111 Fighting Dirty
Chapter 112 Assault On The Fortress
Chapter 113 Blood Magic
Chapter 114 A Debt Repaid
Chapter 115 Exchanging Knowledge
Chapter 116 Goldhaven
Chapter 117 Lord Sevaril
Chapter 118 The Formula
Chapter 119 Ingredients
Chapter 120 The Golden Hall
Chapter 121 Troublesome Treasures
Chapter 122 The Power Of Lies
Chapter 123 Truth Be Told
Chapter 124 Picking Treasures
Chapter 125 Windfall
Chapter 126 Rapid Training
Chapter 127 Leaving Goldhaven
Chapter 128 Injuries
Chapter 129 Smooth Travels
Chapter 130 A Familiar Face
Chapter 131 Stoneheart'S Misfortune
Chapter 132 Preparing For Battle
Chapter 133 Bloodlus
Chapter 134 Control
Chapter 135 Trus
Chapter 136 Forced March
Chapter 137 Contac
Chapter 138 Danger Illustrated
Chapter 139 Titan
Chapter 140 The Dragon
Chapter 141 The Tempering
Chapter 142 Destruction Realm
Chapter 143 The Tempering, Take Two
Chapter 144 Tempered
Chapter 145 Weakness
Chapter 146 At The Castle
Chapter 147 The Dragon'S Proposal
Chapter 148 A Decision
Chapter 149 The Eve Of Battle
Chapter 150 Bai
Chapter 151 Fighting An Army
Chapter 152 Novices
Chapter 153 Hunting The Survivors
Chapter 154 Riverbend
Chapter 155 The Next Mission
Chapter 156 Leaving The Castle
Chapter 157 Hiding The Evidence
Chapter 158 Eidaran Ruins
Chapter 159 Parting Ways
Chapter 160 Into The Ruins
Chapter 161 A Long Wai
Chapter 162 Enemies
Chapter 163 Fear
Chapter 164 Spirit Crystals
Chapter 165 About Dragons
Chapter 166 Journey To The Dragon Lands
Chapter 167 Chasing Dragons
Chapter 168 Dumber Than Rocks
Chapter 169 Unexpected News
Chapter 170 The Dragon'S Lair
Chapter 171 The Enemy Appears
Chapter 172 Plan Of Attack
Chapter 173 The Eve Of Battle
Chapter 174 To Fight A Dragon 1
Chapter 175 To Fight A Dragon 2
Chapter 176 To Fight A Dragon 3
Chapter 177 To Fight A Dragon 4
Chapter 178 The Best Way To Kill A Dragon...
Chapter 179 Dragon'S Blood
Chapter 180 Blood Crisis
Chapter 181 Blood Battle
Chapter 182 Leaving The Blood Pool
Chapter 183 Escape Plan
Chapter 184 Dragon'S Fligh
Chapter 185 Dragon'S Ruin
Chapter 186 The Way Back
Chapter 187 Unexpected Allies
Chapter 188 Iron Mountain Adepts
Chapter 189 A New Plan
Chapter 190 The Road To Uvar
Chapter 191 Setting The Trap
Chapter 192 Facing A Master
Chapter 193 Hunter
Chapter 194 The Way Back
Chapter 195 The Edge Of Victory
Chapter 196 A Final Deception
Chapter 197 The Iron Mountain Camp
Chapter 198 Toward The Valley
Chapter 199 The Valley'S Gate
Chapter 200 The Patriarch'S Palace
Chapter 201 Barrier
Chapter 202 The Patriarch
Chapter 203 The Patriarch'S Summons
Chapter 204 A New Path
Chapter 205 A Long Journey
Chapter 206 Into The Valley
Chapter 207 Alder'S Farm
Chapter 208 An Invitation
Chapter 209 Houses Of The Ninth Valley
Chapter 210 A Change For The Worse
Chapter 211 Unreasonable Demands
Chapter 212 A Small Demonstration
Chapter 213 Show Of Power
Chapter 214 Bad Teacher
Chapter 215 The Thousand Cuts
Chapter 216 Training Days
Chapter 217 The Road Ahead
Chapter 218 Hidden Estate
Chapter 219 A New Approach
Chapter 220 Insigh
Chapter 221 Recovery
Chapter 222 Reunion
Chapter 223 Snowcloud'S Potions
Chapter 224 Snowcloud'S Departure
Chapter 225 Return To The House Of Swords
Chapter 226 To The House Of Flames
Chapter 227 A New Teacher
Chapter 228 Forms
Chapter 229 Form And Function
Chapter 230 Brightblade'S Vow
Chapter 231 The House Of Shadows
Chapter 232 A Step Into Shadow
Chapter 233 Shadow And Swords
Chapter 234 The House Of Seals
Chapter 235 A Small Bit Of Talen
Chapter 236 A New Teacher
Chapter 237 Reunion
Chapter 238 An Agreemen
Chapter 239 A Palace Of One'S Own
Chapter 240 Brightblade'S Background
Chapter 241 A Final Night Of Res
Chapter 242 The First Day Of Training
Chapter 243 Effor
Chapter 244 Destruction Essence
Chapter 245 A Brief Respite
Chapter 246 Shields
Chapter 247 Ambush
Chapter 248 After The Battle
Chapter 249 Questions Of Power
Chapter 250 Questionable Plans
Chapter 251 A Fruitless Search
Chapter 252 Facing The Elders
Chapter 253 Offending An Elder
Chapter 254 Brightblade'S Challenge
Chapter 255 The Dueling Grounds
Chapter 256 The Duel
Chapter 257 A Fight To The Death
Chapter 258 Aftermath
Chapter 259 The Matriarch'S Plans
Chapter 260 Treasures
Chapter 261 An Heir'S Estate
Chapter 262 Gifts
Chapter 263 Festivities
Chapter 264 Effor
Chapter 265 Brightblade'S Fortress
Chapter 266 A Small Wager
Chapter 267 Brightblade'S Orders
Chapter 268 Leaving The Valley
Chapter 269 Essence Remnants
Chapter 270 An Obstacle
Chapter 271 More Than Remnants
Chapter 272 Demons
Chapter 273 A Short Goodbye
Chapter 274 On The Road
Chapter 275 Hunter
Chapter 276 Amydon
Chapter 277 The Fall Of Amydon
Chapter 278 A Quiet Place
Chapter 279 A New Foundation
Chapter 280 The Final Stretch
Chapter 281 A Break
Chapter 282 The Caves Of Amydon
Chapter 283 The Hidden City
Chapter 284 Karanos
Chapter 285 The Mines
Chapter 286 Trash And Treasure
Chapter 287 A Step Into Shadow
Chapter 288 Darkness
Chapter 289 The Shadow Realm
Chapter 290 Amid The Ruins
Chapter 291 Shards Of Living Shadow
Chapter 292 A Fitting Weapon
Chapter 293 A Small Bribe
Chapter 294 To Leave A Dying World
Chapter 295 Homecoming
Chapter 296 Hidden Treasure
Chapter 297 Waiting For A Sign
Chapter 298 Departure
Chapter 299 Into The Ligh
Chapter 300 Redhill
Chapter 301 Pursui
Chapter 302 Training Ground
Chapter 303 Hunters
Chapter 304 Recruits
Chapter 305 Pills
Chapter 306 Thieves And Robbers
Chapter 307 Facing A Hunter
Chapter 308 Into The Battlefield
Chapter 309 Suffering
Chapter 310 A Knight Of The Imperium
Chapter 311 A Choice
Chapter 312 Searching The Battlefield
Chapter 313 The Fores
Chapter 314 Studying The Forms
Chapter 315 Preparation
Chapter 316 The Road To Esran
Chapter 317 The City Of Esran
Chapter 318 A Steward'S Aid
Chapter 319 Leaving The Borderlands
Chapter 320 The Border
Chapter 321 Into The Imperium
Chapter 322 Advice
Chapter 323 The Fate Of Refugees
Chapter 324 A City Of Tents
Chapter 325 The Wolfsblood Company
Chapter 326 Arrival
Chapter 327 A New Deal
Chapter 328 Imperial Politics
Chapter 329 Battle Approaches
Chapter 330 A Taste Of Battle
Chapter 331 The Spoils Of Battle
Chapter 332 Lord Kadun
Chapter 333 To The Mines
Chapter 334 What Lurks Below
Chapter 335 Into Darkness
Chapter 336 Diggers
Chapter 337 Battle
Chapter 338 Three Monsters
Chapter 339 The Blood Ruin
Chapter 340 A Warm Welcome
Chapter 341 Studying Strategy
Chapter 342 Weapons And Training
Chapter 343 A New Tool
Chapter 344 Unwelcome Company
Chapter 345 Provocation
Chapter 346 Down Below
Chapter 347 A Small Disturbance
Chapter 348 A Lord'S Mercy
Chapter 349 Prison
Chapter 350 Prison Break
Chapter 351 Breaching The Defenses
Chapter 352 Defending The Gate
Chapter 353 A Knight'S Power
Chapter 354 Lord Rannoc
Chapter 355 Outrage
Chapter 356 The Strength Of Lords
Chapter 357 An Offer
Chapter 358 Revelations
Chapter 359 The Desolation
Chapter 360 Rannoc'S Orders
Chapter 361 Citizenship
Chapter 362 Sleepless Nights
Chapter 363 A Foundation
Chapter 364 The Road Back
Chapter 365 A Deb
Chapter 366 Settling Debts
Chapter 367 Broken Company
Chapter 368 An Exchange
Chapter 369 Preparations
Chapter 370 Breakthrough
Chapter 371 Delivery
Chapter 372 A New Journey
Chapter 373 An Unwelcome Invitation
Chapter 374 Challenge
Chapter 375 A Duel
Chapter 376 Facing A Knight, Again
Chapter 377 Words Of Warning
Chapter 378 What Lurks In The Bligh
Chapter 379 A Quiet Departure
Chapter 380 The Road To Sacrifice
Chapter 381 A Storm Of Blood
Chapter 382 Behind The Walls
Chapter 383 A Sea Of Shadow
Chapter 384 Reaver'S End
Chapter 385 Newcomers
Chapter 386 A New Plan
Chapter 387 An Old Friend
Chapter 388 An Imperial Knigh
Chapter 389 The Knight'S Apprentice
Chapter 390 Knight'S Watch
Chapter 391 Comprehension
Chapter 392 Master Of Shadow
Chapter 393 Finding Enemies
Chapter 394 The Missing Piece
Chapter 395 Reunion
Chapter 396 Decisions
Chapter 397 The Wolfsblood Army
Chapter 398 Enlightenmen
Chapter 399 An Unwelcome Gues
Chapter 400 The Oath
Chapter 401 An Invitation
Chapter 402 The Dangers Ahead
Chapter 403 Into The Desolation
Chapter 404 Suppression
Chapter 405 Confrontation
Chapter 406 Arrival
Chapter 407 The Archon'S Summons
Chapter 408 The Master'S Bloodline
Chapter 409 Bloodlines
Chapter 410 The Ruiner'S Temple
Chapter 411 Assassin
Chapter 412 The Citadel
Chapter 413 Fruits Of A Poisonous Tree
Chapter 414 The Strength Of Bloodlines
Chapter 415 A Path Forward
Chapter 416 - A Simple Task
Chapter 417 - Breakthrough
Chapter 418 - Final Preparations
Chapter 419 - Into Harm'S Way (1)
Categories Genre: Action, All, Fantasy, Ongoing, Xianxia, Xuanhuan Status: Ongoing ______
Total Chapters in book: 419
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 419 Page No. 418 Page No. 417 Page No. 416 Page No. 415 Page No. 414 Page No. 413 Page No. 412 Page No. 411 Page No. 410 Page No. 409 Chapter 332 Lord Kadun
Chapter 332 Lord Kadun
"Tastes like water to me." Gar looked at the bottle in his hand with disappointed eyes, then drained it in a single swig and cast the empty bottle aside.
The captain shook his head in disapproval. "This is the finest wine the Imperium has to offer. Just one bottle can buy you a farm." He took a sip from his own bottle, then frowned. "Though it's more subtle than I would have expected."
They sat atop the wooden wagons they'd taken from the defeated Darians, some miles away from where the battle had taken place. And as the mercenaries around them feasted on the Darians' supplies, Arran could not help but frown in wonder at what they'd discovered.
He had expected to find simple supplies — food and drink for the troops, and whatever else a small army needed. Yet while the wagons held plenty of rations for the soldiers, they also carried large amounts of luxuries.
There were fine wines and brandies, sets of silken clothing, jewelry and gemstones, and many other valuable goods besides.
Arran wasn't the only one to wonder at this. Holding up a red silk dress, Lasha frowned deeply, then asked, "Why did they bring all this?"
"To bribe the borderlanders into joining them," Captain Kaleesh replied. "A few small luxuries are a small price for years of service from a Body Refiner or skilled craftsman."
"We didn't get anything for joining Kadun," Gar pointed out. He'd found another bottle of the supposedly exquisite wine, and after speaking, he drained half of it in a single gulp. This time, there was a hint of appreciation in his eyes, though Arran suspected this had more to do with the wine's value than its taste.
"I expect that our host brought some valuables, as well," the captain said. "Though nothing as grand as this — Lord Kadun cannot afford to waste his wealth so carelessly."
"You mean he's poor?" Lasha gave the captain a questioning look. "Of all the Lords we could have joined, you picked the poor one?"
"I wouldn't call him poor, exactly," Captain Kaleesh replied. "But it's true that Lord Kadun's wealth falls short of his peers'. Which is exactly the reason I chose him."
Lasha made an ugly face. "You don't like us having nice things?"
The captain shook his head. "A Lord like Rannoc would have showered us with trinkets," he explained, "but he would never have agreed to my terms. We would have spent years earning our freedom, rather than months. But Kadun…" A sly smile flashed across his face. "Kadun is a different matter. He cannot pass up an opportunity like this — even with a deal any other Lord would take as an insult."
Arran looked at the captain with curious eyes. While he understood the man's reasoning, the more he heard, the more he wondered how Captain Kaleesh knew so much about the Imperium.
"How did you learn all this?" he asked. "In the borderlands, people barely know anything about the Imperium. But you…" He did not finish the sentence, instead glancing at the captain with narrowed eyes.
"I spent a long time preparing this," the captain replied. "Even when I built the Wolfsblood Company, it was with the goal of one day learning the Imperium's most treasured methods and techniques. Naturally, I made sure to know anything that could aid me in my purpose."
"Captain likes planning ahead," Gar said. He paused to take another swig of wine, then continued, "Always has. Usually works out well enough."
Arran nodded, though he remained unconvinced. From what he knew, mere planning could not explain how the captain knew so much about the Imperium. Secretive as the Darians were, learning all this in the borderlands would be nigh impossible.
But whatever the explanation was, he knew he would not learn it tonight.
After a day filled with battle, the mercenaries were eager to celebrate their victory, and they feasted with abandon, laughing and jeering as they drank priceless wines and dressed in the Darians' fine silks.
Yet the soldiers, camped out several hundred paces away, showed little sign of joy. While a handful joined the mercenaries in their festivities, most of the soldiers merely watched with dark looks.
And no wonder. While the mercenaries had suffered only minor losses, the soldiers had not been nearly as fortunate. A good fifth of their number had fallen in battle, and that many again had been wounded.
Yet as Arran considered the soldiers' losses, another question emerged in his mind.
The soldiers were all Body Refiners, most of them every bit as strong as the mercenaries. And if the Darians had such forces at their command, it made no sense for them to value the borderlanders so highly.
He pondered the question for some time, but try as he might, he could not figure out the answer. Whichever way he looked at it, even the entire Wolfsblood Company should hold little value to the Imperium's Lords.
Curious for an answer, he approached Captain Kaleesh.
"I have a question," he said. "About the Imperium."
"Another one?" The captain faced him with a raised eyebrow. "What is it this time?"
"Why do the Darians need us?" Arran gestured at the soldiers in the distance, and continued, "They have plenty of Body Refiners. Why not send them into the mines?"
A small smile crossed the captain's face. "I'm glad to see that at least one of my commanders has a modicum of curiosity," he said. "But the answer to your question is simple. No self-respecting Darian would ever let himself be sent into the mines. Every single one of these soldiers would sooner face an army by himself than lift a pickaxe."
The answer did little to satisfy Arran's curiosity. "But why?" he asked. "With such numbers, there must be some who are willing to work in the mines."
The captain responded with a firm shake of his head. "Despite what the church says, this is an empire built on battle, not toil. Any true Darian is expected to prove himself on the battlefield. The weak remain soldiers, while the strong become Rangers, Knights, or even Lords. But to become a common laborer…" He sighed deeply, a dark expression crossing his face. "To Darians, there is no greater disgrace than that."
"Then what about the crafters' guilds?" Arran asked.
"Their leaders and soldiers may be Darians," the captain replied, "but the guilds rely on outsiders for labor. In that sense, they are much like the Imperium itself — the Darians rule and do battle, while outsiders do the work."
At this, Arran suddenly understood why the Imperium was so generous in accepting the borderlanders into its lands. And it wasn't out of kindness or charity, as he'd briefly believed.
Rather, the Imperium needed the outsiders' labor to function.
The thought caused Arran some pause. He'd thought the Imperium was like the Empire, where all but a few people were commoners — farmers, villagers, and others without any powers worth noting.
But if all true Darians were Body Refiners and soldiers, then the strength the Imperium commanded would be utterly terrifying.
Captain Kaleesh smirked as he saw Arran's dumbfounded expression. "Beginning to understand, are you? The Imperium holds strength that few forces in the world can match. You may be a decent fighter, but in the Imperium, we are like wolves in a forest full of dragons."
Arran nodded absently, his thoughts already turning to the conflict between the Ninth Valley and the Imperium. If what the captain said was true, then the Ninth Valley's situation was even more dire than he had imagined.
"But that's enough talk," the captain continued. "We won two victories today, and I will not let the night pass without celebration. Come, let's join the others!"
Arran reluctantly followed the captain as the man returned to the other mercenaries, where he loudly joined in with a bawdy song about a farmgirl and her horses.
The mercenaries' celebrations lasted well into the night. Although they had suffered only minor losses, all realized that they could easily have been among those few who had fallen. In battle, a single moment of bad luck was all it took to lose one's life.
And that they hadn't been among those unlucky few was cause enough for celebration.
But even as the mercenaries drank and feasted to their hearts' content, Arran's thoughts kept wandering to the Imperium. Even now, he found it difficult to believe that all true Darians could be Body Refiners.
In the Empire, Body Refiners were rarer than mages, and a commoner could go a lifetime without meeting a single one. Yet if Captain Kaleesh was right, the Imperium held untold numbers of them.
Night had long fallen when the sounds of celebration within the camp came to an end, but even so, Arran lay awake for several more hours. And even when sleep finally found him, his dreams were filled with endless armies of Body Refiners.
The next morning, the column departed in silence.
Although the tension of impending battle was gone, there was a gloomy mood among the soldiers, as beside the road now lay dozens of graves that held the bodies of their fallen comrades.
The mercenaries had been more fortunate, but most of them remained silent as well. Although they'd spent the night celebrating their victory, they could sense the soldiers' mourning, and few of them were so discourteous as to disturb it.
But more days of travel followed, and gradually, even the soldiers regained some of their spirits. They understood that they had only barely avoided a far greater catastrophe, and although they did not go so far as to celebrate, relief was plain in their eyes.
Meanwhile, as they traveled, Arran spent most of his time with his own group of mercenaries. Sometimes he practiced with them, and other times he merely listened as they spoke.
Any doubts they'd had about his leadership had disappeared when they watched him face a Ranger, and now, they shared their stories with him eagerly.
Arran found himself more surprised than he should have been at the paths that led them here. While some had been mercenaries or bandits, others had been members of obscure sects of Body Refiners, with others still whose path had been little more than a series of lucky coincidences.
Yet what they all had in common was that they'd seen plenty of battle and adventure. In the borderlands, at least, there was no other way for a Body Refiner to gain power.
A week of travel passed slowly and quietly, with the column following the road through the hills and forests of the Darian countryside. Occasionally, they passed by towns and villages, but they stopped at none of those.
And as they advanced, Arran gradually grew more comfortable with the idea of leading the group of borderlanders. Perhaps he wasn't as experienced in leading troops as the other commanders, but when it came to experience in battle, few could match him.
But then, a week after the battle, Arran suddenly Sensed something through the bond he shared with his concealed sword — three other pieces of Living Shadow, moving along the road toward their group.
A shiver went down Arran's spine as he Sensed the distant power. He understood that these would be Lord Kadun's reinforcements, but he hadn't expected there to be a Knight among them, much less three of them.
Still, there was nothing for it but to continue. His Living Shadow sword — still shaped like an iron bracelet, much to its dismay — had no concerns about Arran's wards holding up, and so far, its judgment had been flawless.
Moreover, Arran had spent months maintaining the wards, with his sword's Sense constantly alerting him to any weaknesses they held. That constant practice had improved his skill greatly, and by now, even his own sword had difficulty seeing through the wards.
The column came to a halt some minutes later, and as it did, Captain Kaleesh motioned for his commanders to join him.
His expression unusually serious, he said, "We'll be summoned in a minute or two. When that happens, follow my lead. And don't say anything — not unless you're spoken to. Understood?"
Arran and the other commanders nodded without objection. From the look in the captain's eyes, this situation was a more dangerous one than the battle against Rannoc's forces had been.
As the captain had predicted, a soldier came hurrying toward them barely a minute later.
"Captain," the man said, his voice unexpectedly respectful, "Lord Kadun requests your presence."
The captain gave the man a friendly nod, apparently not the least bit surprised that Lord Kadun himself had appeared. "Lead the way," he said in a calm voice.
Yet although the captain seemed unconcerned, a tremble of unease went through Arran's body at the soldier's words. Suddenly, he realized he would be facing a Lord rather than Knights.
It was a test he knew he would have to face sooner or later, but he hadn't expected to face it quite as soon as this.
Still, he was as prepared as he could be. His wards should conceal his Realms, and while he might not be able to hide all his physical strength, it was a normal thing for a Body Refiner to conceal part of his power.
If all went well, Lord Kadun would barely even notice his existence.
Arran took a deep breath, then set his jaw and suppressed his concerns as he followed behind Captain Kaleesh.
They reached the front of the column only moments later, and as they arrived, Arran could not help but marvel at the sheer power that stood before him.
Two Knights stood at Lord Kadun's sides, clad in dark armor and with starmetal swords and Living Shadow daggers on their belts. Both of them radiated power, and although neither of them moved, Arran could see with a single glance that both were every bit as powerful as the Knight he'd met months earlier.
But the two Knights were only part of the Lord's company, as behind him stood a group of roughly fifty men and women. And while Arran could not be certain, he thought all of them were Rangers. Many of them had starmetal weapons, and even those who didn't exuded the confidence of powerful warriors.
But neither the Knights nor the Rangers could compare to their master.
Lord Kadun was a plain-looking man, with long dark hair and a face that was neither ugly nor handsome. His height was only barely above average, and although he was muscular, he wasn't overly large.
And yet, when Arran laid eyes on the man, he felt something very close to terror surge through his body.
With a single look, he could tell that the Lord's body held a terrifying amount of power. Despite the man's unremarkable appearance, there was something about him that suggested that he had a strength that dwarfed even Crassus in his full draconic form.
Arran had long wondered whether he could match a Knight, but he had no such questions about Lord Kadun. In an instant, he knew that this was someone who could kill him without effort.
And at the man's side, there was a full-sized Living Shadow sword.
The only thing that kept Arran from panicking was his own sword's disdain at the Lord's weapon. Whatever power it might hold, the executioner's blade thought it only barely worth noticing.
Arran regained his composure just in time to see Captain Kaleesh kneel before Lord Kadun. Without hesitation, he followed the captain's example — as much as he disliked bending the knee, this Lord was someone he would not dare offend. Not before his strength increased greatly, at least.
Lord Kadun looked at the newcomers for several moments, not a word leaving his lips as he studied them the way a farmer might appraise a horse. Then, at a calm pace, he walked toward the captain and his commanders.
"My new subjects," he said in a cold voice. "Already, you have caused me no small amount of trouble."
Total Chapters in book: 419
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
______