Rogue Legacy by Jeffrey L. Kohanek (classic reads .txt) 📖

Cal walked purposefully across the meadow, forcing Lyra and Garrett to move quickly to keep up. Giant soldiers roamed the field beneath the pale light coming from the mysterious planet overhead. The soldiers clustered around wagons, furiously eating whatever the wagons held. Gazing up, Lyra found the slightest hint of light to the west, beyond the purple peak hovering over them.

Upon reaching the western edge of the field, Cal stopped at a patch of dirt halfway between the tents and the dark maw of the cave. He took a long breath and nodded, as if reassuring someone – perhaps himself.

“Nightfall is upon us, so the soldiers will continue to emerge from the cave and the tents. The remaining daylight was the only reason more weren’t outside earlier.” Cal faced Garrett. “Have your sword ready and swing it whenever you hear one of those monsters speak. Their voices create an irrational fear and the sound of the blade counters it. The charm I created will help protect me, but I can’t afford any lapses in concentration, not for what I’m about to attempt.”

Garrett looked down at the sword, rotating the blade as if he were seeing it for the first time.

Cal turned toward Lyra. “This is going to make a lot of noise. I expect Elias and his overzealous fools will rush out when they hear it. However, I can’t allow them to know how this works, so I need you to keep them away until I’m finished.”

Without waiting for a response, Cal turned and began drawing something in the dirt.

While Cal did his thing, Lyra turned to face the field. A massive group of soldiers emerged from the mouth of the cavern. One giant pushed another, and a scuffle ensued. Even the sound of their distant grunts reaching her evoked a sense of irrational fear until the whirl of Garrett’s magical blade banished it and replaced it with a calm confidence. When she turned toward him, their eyes met and he nodded.

Lyra realized that she held her dagger, her knuckles white as she gripped it. It wouldn’t do much to stop one of the monstrous men, but having the weapon ready made her feel better.

The soldier’s scuffle ended, and the mob continued their advance toward the wagons, joining others who had finished eating. Lyra felt thankful that she and her companions remained unnoticed.

More groups of towering soldiers emerged from the caves and headed toward the waiting wagons, while other soldiers, likely the officers, emerged from the tents surrounding the clearing. The men barked orders and began to organize groups, each containing a few hundred soldiers. All the while, Garrett kept his sword moving, ensuring that the fear-charged voices wouldn’t affect Cal or Lyra.

The hair on Lyra’s arms suddenly stood on end as a tingle vibrated across her body. A red glow lit the area, emitted from something behind her. Turning about, she discovered a shimmering shape in the air, twisting and swirling as it grew larger. Along the edges of the doorway, red energy crackled, similar to what she saw in Cal’s eyes while he used magic. By the time the portal stopped expanding, it stood five strides across and nearly as tall.

Shouts arose from the east side of camp, drawing Lyra’s attention toward Elias and the other Arcanists standing outside their tent, pointing toward the portal. The cloaked men marched across the field with Elias in the lead. Lyra turned toward Cal, finding him still in deep concentration. Recalling his instructions, she ran to intercept the oncoming Arcanists.

When she reached them, she held her hands up to block them, but Elias shoved her aside.

“Out of our way, girl!”

Lyra recovered and scrambled to block their path again. “Cal requested privacy. He said…He said that if anything disturbs him, the whole thing might unravel.”

Elias’ brow furrowed.

“Unravel?” Pax asked.

“Yeah. You know, come apart.” Her arms made an outward motion. “Since he’s using so much energy, it coming apart would be really bad.”

Lyra bit her lip and waited. She had no idea how magic worked, but she hoped it might give them pause.

“We can feel the power he’s using. What is it? What’s he doing?” Elias demanded.

Lyra glanced back at Cal and found Garrett still standing beside him, his blade singing as he cut slow strokes through the air.

“Like he said, he’s making a doorway to Sol Limar.”

Elias moved to circle around her, but Lyra shifted into his path. He stood almost a head taller than she. Being stronger and armed with magic, she wasn’t sure what she could do to stop him.

The man stared at her for a moment and his gaze shifted, looking past her. Lyra jumped when Cal tapped her on the shoulder. She held her hand to her chest, her heart thumping from the start.

“Sorry.” He nodded toward the cluster of Arcanists. “The portal is ready. A doorway directly to Sol Limar.”

Elias looked at his companions. “How is that possible? Is it a new rune?”

Cal shook his head. “Sorry, Elias. I don’t trust you. As long as I can help you in ways you cannot help yourself, I have value. If I tell you this, what prevents you from killing me?”

“What prevents us from killing you anyway?” Pax blurted.

“Shut up, Pax.” Elias elbowed the man, who grunted and winced. Elias turned toward Cal. “I don’t trust you either, Fallbrandt. How do we know it even goes anywhere – that it isn’t some sort of deathtrap?”

“Why would I do that?” Cal’s gaze scanned the faces before him. “You men have known me for two years. Have I not been helpful to you? Haven’t every one of you benefited from my discoveries?”

“You’ve never been one of us,” Pax said. “You sit in your little hovel outside the city, and you only appear when you decide to share what you want us to know. You have your own agenda, Pascal. You always have.” He pointed toward the shimmering portal. “That’s a perfect example. Why keep it from us until now? How could we not question your motives?”

A disturbing grin spread across Elias’ face as he nodded. “For once, Pax is right. We eight have been together in this from the beginning, while you keep a distance. We have no reason to trust you, Cal. You go ahead and walk through the portal. If it really leads to Sol Limar, as you say, it should be easy to pass through and return unscathed.”

Cal stared at Elias for a moment before his gaze shifted to the others. Finally, he nodded. “Fine. I’ll show you.”

He turned