The Godlost Land (51 page)

“So what now? Six are down and six remain? What do we do?”

“We continue to do exactly what we are now doing boy.” Dina finally turned to face him. “You return to your work and give serious thought to accepting one of the thirteen into your life. You should have done it already. After all, if the Circle are hunting you it means that they now know who you are and what you can do. And you will finally accept a patrol to protect you. And we will return to the war.”

It was a dismissal, and Harl couldn't help but feel a little put out by it. In fact for a moment he had even thought about arguing and telling the wizard that she was wrong. That the Circle had no idea he'd crafted the longbow. But he knew there was no point. Plus there was the fact that Erislee apparently didn't want to talk to him. That had to be a good thing.

“High Priestess, Mistress.” Harl nodded to them as was proper and turned on his heels to leave and make for home.

But then he had another thought as he walked up the stairs into the sunshine. Maybe this would be a good time to head into town and buy himself some new clothes? After all, he seemed to be going through them at quite a rate. And if the women caught him in a state of undress many more times there would be trouble. Nyma would certainly be upset. It seemed that she found the thought of him being caught naked in his pit by her sister particularly upsetting.

Outside he quickly found Nyma putting some new recruits through their paces with the swords. Teaching them the proper swings and footwork. It was basic stuff. The sort of thing that every soldier should learn in his first days of training, and probably not the stuff that a skilled warrior like her should be spending her time teaching. But it was necessary. With so many recruits now joining the army ever since the High Priestess' amazing victory, every fort they had had to take on some of the basic training. Besides, Nyma had been at a loose end, stuck in the fort with him for three days as they'd waited for the High Priestess to arrive.

In another week or so these dozen soldiers would be on their way to Glass River to complete their training and join the army. At that time no doubt another dozen would be waiting to take their place. And there would be many more behind them.

“Go! Practice on your dummies!” Harl dismissed the recruits with a wave of his hand. Did he have the right to give the recruits orders he wondered? Harl didn't know. What he did know was that they immediately obeyed him – after all he was the town wizard – and Nyma stared at him, looking a little vexed. He thought she looked cute like that though.

“You know they have a lot of work to do.”

But she wasn't quite so sure of her facts when he walked up to her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and kissed her thoroughly. And after the first few heartbeats she didn't resist at all. Even though she knew he was laying claim to her publicly. Not even when there were a few quiet jeers in the distance.

“They do, but you have a little less to do than before. White Tail is gone and the soldiers guarding the dungeon can resume their teaching duties.” He stopped kissing her so he could give her the good news, but he didn't step back the tiniest bit or let her waist go free.

“Really?” She seemed surprised and started hastily checking the sky in case it was about to turn black.

“Really. Six down, six to go. And I've been sent away. So to celebrate I thought we could wander into the town, and I could buy some fresh robes. Then we could stop for a meal in the alehouse before we wander home for a quiet evening.”

But it wouldn't really be that quiet. They both knew that. A month was a long time apart and they both had needs.

Before she could think of arguing any further Harl started escorting her out of the fortress, his arm still firmly wrapped around her waist. It was time he decided to be a little bit more commanding in this courtship. To make it clear to one and all and most especially to Nyma that they were together. And strangely she didn't seem to object. In fact she seemed to be quite happy to be shown off by him. Though she did tell him that they would be returning shortly to have a cup of tea with her sister before they went home.

Much later though, when she was snoring away contentedly beside him and he lay in bed staring at the ceiling and finally feeling at peace with the world again, it occurred to him to wonder – had he been the one showing her off, or had she been showing him off? He had a funny feeling that things might not be quite as he'd imagined. His father had always said as much. Women were far more clever than men in such matters. Still, his father had never been unhappy in his marriage and Harl's mother had made sure he never would be.

There were worse fates that could befall a man.

Chapter Forty One

Terellion was happy as he sat in the dungeons staring at his proudest creations. For what seemed like the first time in ages he was enjoying himself. Which was why he'd visited them every day since he'd realised the incredible truth. The breeding had taken and at least two of the furies were showing the signs that they were carrying offspring.

They weren't big yet, but there was definitely a noticeable bulge where there should be. And he had hopes for the third as well. Maybe it was only his imagination, but he thought he could just see the start of a thickening around her waist. All in all it was a cause for celebration.

After so much bad news, with the war going so badly and half of the Circle dead, he needed something to celebrate. Especially when the day before he had learned of White Tail's passing – the hard way. He too had vanished from the world without Terellion knowing – just like Maynard. And that scared him. That they should be fine one second and then dead the next without apparently dying was wrong. The others had at least experienced the shock and pain of dying no matter how briefly – and he had felt it. But White Tail and Maynard had simply vanished before their part of the binding had broken.

White Tail's death had been different though. At least in one way. For three days before he had died he had somehow been removed from Terellion's sight. Not completely. He could still feel his presence. But he couldn't seem to talk to him. He couldn't seem to hear the faun's thoughts. Something had been blocking them.

It stank of magic. Powerful magic. Some spell or enchantment that he didn't know. And he liked the thought that he didn't know it even less than the other. That if there was magic out there powerful enough to kill Circle wizards without them even experiencing death let alone the fear of it, that was a direct threat to him. How could he protect himself against what he couldn't see coming? Even after the previous day's shock had worn off and he had stopped bleeding and his head had stopped hurting, that realisation had left him with a sick taste in his mouth.

And then there was the other thought that plagued him – he was also convinced that it had something to do with the wild eyed barbarian who had slaughtered Alenda Goldeneyes. He had no evidence of it. Only the reports of White Tail as he had told him that he was getting closer to the man. And to this accursed arcane smith who was supplying his enemies with high quality weapons. A traitor wizard in his view. One of many who didn't understand the importance of what he was doing. But he would – before he died.

Terellion didn't know how the barbarian could be involved. Barbarians had no magic, let alone enough to block the thoughts of a Circle wizard from him. But he was still half convinced it was his doing somehow. That the barbarian had set out on a course to destroy him through his wizards. Maybe that was just fear talking. But still he knew, the barbarian had to be silenced.

Sadly that would have to wait he supposed. Until he had destroyed this accursed High Priestess and her army. Until then he would have to content himself with other pleasures.

Pleasures like these three pregnant beauties. And they did bring him joy every time he saw them. He felt like a child with a present in front of him, waiting to be unwrapped.

It was more than just intense curiosity to see what sort of monster dropped out of the furies that drove him. It was the understanding that in the bellies of these three he had the beginnings of a new beast army. Whatever came out of them would be more than simply human. It would be more than chimera too. And if they had even a little of their human father's intelligence they would make useful soldiers. Most importantly, they would be his soldiers. He could command them. In time they would become his army. That mattered.

It had always angered him that he could not control the chimera directly. That it had to be done through the demon king's thralls. But that had been part of the deal. A part that the demon king would not shift on. Xin was not about to give Terellion his armies to use as he wanted. While they might be an army he could use, they were first and foremost the demon king's food gatherers. He was never going to allow such a vital task to be placed in someone else's hands. So the demon king had insisted on retaining control.

Of course the demon king had never realised that Terellion could control his thralls directly and through them his armies of beasts. But these offspring, they would not be Xin's. They would be half human. And he would be able to control them himself! This was only the beginning, but in time he hoped, he would have his own beast army. And then he would make the world his.

Was it time he wondered? Time to start the breeding program properly? Or should he wait to see what sort of offspring was born? They could be stillborn. They could be defective in some way. They might be beyond his control.

Or they could be everything he dreamed of.

Either way, was there any point in holding back on the breeding program? After all, the furies weren't doing much at the moment. Their specialist skills weren't needed. And there were plenty of prisoners in the cells awaiting execution. A few that had been captured and who were being interrogated. There were also some worthless civilians around as well. They might as well make themselves useful. And there were currently over a hundred furies in pens across the city, though most were under the temple. If they worked hard he could have all of them with child in three months. And Xin wouldn't even complain because every kill the furies made would provide him with his precious food.

Or alternatively, and the thought filled him with excitement, he could do it himself. Soon! That was the other joy that was filling him. Lucara had said that soon they would have the first of the answers. That the latest translations the demon king had sent them would finally be enough. And the first of the answers was immortality! Terellion had insisted. When he had it, when he was young and vital again and beyond the reach of death, he wouldn't need to keep searching for the living essence any more. He wouldn't need anything. And he would celebrate.

Why not begin his celebrations with the furies? Why not plant his seed in them and have a race not of half human furies, but half wizard furies? After five long years that glorious day was now only weeks away. Maybe only days away. And if it was so close, why should he waste these glorious vessels by planting inferior seed in them? Now that he knew the breeding would take, they should have the best that was available. It was his duty after all.

Sure he also wanted to have a harem of exquisite human women and he would have them too in time. He would not restrain himself ever again. That was their purpose after all. As far as he could tell it was the only reason women even existed. It was also why he'd replaced the last lot who'd all stupidly killed or damaged themselves jumping off the balcony. But the more time he spent with the furies, the more he was beginning to see how the attendants paled in comparison. They were weak and soft. Placid and doe like. He should start with the furies. Because they would in time become the mothers of his army. The attendants would at best have wizards, and most of them would be a poor imitation of him and would take eighteen years to mature. But these, they would be something more. Half fury, half wizard and completely under his control. They would grow fast and they would be magnificent! They would conquer the world for him.

“Bring her.” Terellion gave the command to the thrall watching her, knowing that if he was going to do this he was going to begin with one in particular. Varrious' pet.

Varrious of course wasn't there. Terellion wanted his pet, not him. And he still couldn't risk controlling him and having Xin find out. So Varrious had simply been told to hand his pet over to one of the other thralls for a few hours, and he had agreed without protest for once. But then he no doubt thought he was going to get a full and detailed report in due course. And he was a weak man – frightened by his pet.

Apart from that the demon thrall seemed sickened by the thought of what Terellion wanted to do to his pet. He was happy not to be present.

Maybe he actually had some affection for the creature? Terellion could understand that to an extent. She was pure seduction. Deadly beauty. But she was also an animal. Animals were there to be used. Like horses women were there to be ridden – though in different ways. The man should have known that.

Then again, maybe it was jealousy. Maybe Varrious wanted her for himself? That made more sense to him. Although if he did then Terellion had to wonder why he hadn't already had her? Fear maybe. He was a small man – maybe he'd let fear stop him doing what he wanted to do. Terellion though wasn't going to let such a thing stop him. Once he had his immortality, nothing would stop him.

Terellion didn't know what it was about this particular creature that was so beguiling. She, like all her sisters, was perfect. Tall and elegant, exotic, seductive and deadly. But he knew one thing about her – he had to have her
first
. No matter what else happened he wanted her. And he was going to have her. If it took him until the end of time he would have her.

The thrall guided her across to him with a thought and followed at a discreet distance. He could control her – and he had to. Terellion had instilled within him the absolute understanding that nothing was more important to him than making sure she was calm with him. More than calm, completely accepting. But as Terellion stepped forward to touch her he knew the man wasn't really needed. Not anymore. The exotic creature was completely relaxed with him. Though she couldn't speak or understand language any more than most animals could, she knew him as her sire. He felt that in her. He saw the submission in her yellow eyes. She understood his power.

Impulsively he kissed her on the cheek, his lips almost brushing those deadly venom laden daggers in her mouth, and he brushed her vipers out of the way to do it. She was deadly beyond all others, but not with him. In him he knew, she saw her true master. Her stallion. By the gods he was looking forward to riding her!

“So what do you think my dear?” He put an arm around her waist and gestured with the other at her three sisters. “The next generation, waiting to be born. Half human, half fury.”

“Does it please you? Do you envy them? Do you yearn to have one of your own?”

Of course she did! He knew that even though she couldn't say it. After all, she couldn't say anything. And she probably didn't understand many of his words. But she understood that her sisters were with child. And she was a woman of whatever sort. Women could never pass by others with children without wanting their own. It was one of the reasons they were weak. So easily controlled.

“Soon you will.” Terellion put his hand on her flat stomach and started rubbing it gently. “Soon this will be as big and round as theirs. But the baby inside you won't be just half human. It'll be half wizard. The most powerful wizard of the mind in the five kingdoms! And soon I'll be an immortal. Then I'll give you my child. And one day it'll be the child of a god! These other ones will envy you.”

It felt good telling her that. And strangely it was the first time he'd told her the truth of his ambitions. He thought he should have told her before. He should have let her know how fortunate she was much sooner than this. But for some reason he hadn't. Maybe it was because he hadn't wanted others to know? Or maybe it was simply because that day had seemed so far off.

Not that any of those around him would talk. The guards outside the door to the dungeon were completely loyal to him. They would do whatever he told them to do. They had no choice. And the thrall was the same. He had no idea at all what was happening, save that he thought he had been commanded to do it by his master. He actually had – he just didn't realise who his master was. And when he went back and reported to Varrious about what had happened, he would tell that irritating first thrall exactly what Terellion wanted him to. He would believe it as well.

As for Varrious, he probably guessed something of the thoughts running through Terellion's mind. But only a little of them. He simply wasn't that clever. And anyway, when he did finally understand, it would be too late. He would be dead.

“Not long now until I have my immortality and you have your baby. Not long until I'm riding you properly. And you will be ridden. Day and night.”

How much she understood he didn't know. Of his words he thought probably not a lot. But of his intentions he suspected she understood everything. And she was pleased with them. She hid it well behind her calm demeanour, but he knew he could see satisfaction in the way she looked at him. Desire too. But that he understood.

Women were simple creatures. And they were liars. They said they wanted soft words and pretty flowers, and all those things. But they didn't. They wanted a powerful man! They wanted to be dominated! They wanted a man to take complete control of them. And the truth was that the stronger a woman was the more she wanted that. That was why the soldiers had died. They had been too soft. Too scared and timid. Well, he would never be that. He would command them as their lord and they would fall at his feet!