The Darkest Sword Samantha Kroese (easy books to read in english .TXT) 📖

Annalysa. How different they were. And how much caring for either of them scared him. It was difficult to hurt him with a wound that would last and cut deep. He had died so many times and so many ways by now that his own physical pain and death no longer held any power over him. Yet, the thought of Annalysa or Soryn dying held terror. That would hurt him in a way nothing else could. How had he allowed himself to care about either of them this much?

“Rurik will be visiting the castle all day. We have much to discuss,” Rhadamanthus said, drawing Ashiyn’s attention back to the present.

Ashiyn’s thoughts churned at the information. That meant two things. Rurik would be close by and that bothered Ashiyn. He had hated the priest even more since that day in the library. But the more important point was that Rurik would be away from the tower. Today was the day to free Sia. He tried not to squirm in his chair through the rest of the meeting.

When the dignitaries left Rhadamanthus rose and started for the door and called, “Come, Ashiyn.” Ashiyn stood up, hesitated just enough to be believable, then he fell into step at Rhadamanthus’s side, holding himself rigid and staring at the floor.

Rhadamanthus scowled at him. “What is it? You are tense.”

“I don’t want to greet your brother with you, Master,” Ashiyn said in a low voice. When Rhadamanthus glared at him, he added, “He’s been inappropriate toward me.”

Anger flared on Rhadamanthus’s face, and he stopped to grab Ashiyn’s chin with his massive taloned hand and turn it so their gazes locked. “What did he do?”

“He said your lessons weren’t good enough and if he ever caught me, he’d teach me humility,” Ashiyn sputtered. “He tried to touch me. I barely escaped his perversions.”

Rhadamanthus held him there so long, scrutinizing Ashiyn’s face for any sign of a lie. The fury that filled those black eyes made Ashiyn happy, for once it was not directed at him. Then Rhadamanthus let Ashiyn go and turned away. “Go then. I will make it clear to my brother that he is not to teach you anything. You are mine.”

“Thank you, Master,” Ashiyn said with a deep bow. He remained bowed until Rhadamanthus left the room, then he smirked and rose. Maybe he would be lucky, and Rhadamanthus would kill Rurik. He turned and hurried from the room when his magic warned him that Rurik had arrived at the castle.

Ashiyn used his magic to make it seem to anyone who was able to sense such things that he was in his chambers. Then he stepped through the shadows and back into Sia’s library. “Sia!” He called.

Sia appeared from the thin air once more. Irritation was clear on the ghost’s face, as he brushed strands of ethereal purple hair out of his violet eyes. “What do you want, Prince? Didn’t Rurik make it clear you aren’t allowed in here?”

“Do you want to be free, Sia?” Ashiyn asked.

Sia’s eyes widened, and he stared at Ashiyn in disbelief. Then his entire being seemed to waver in the air, in and out of sight. “Yes. I want that more than anything.”

Ashiyn almost felt bad for a moment. But only a moment. For the most part, Sia would be free to his own devices. He would just be free in a place Ashiyn could always find him. He pulled out a small runestone that glowed with power when his magic touched it. “I will free you. In return I want your help whenever I need it.”

“Truly?” Sia asked, still skeptical. He hovered closer to peer at the rune.

Ashiyn dared not let him look too close. He threw the runestone down, so it shattered on the floor, releasing the magic. The entire tower groaned, and the air shivered around them. Then there was nothing for a brief, terrifying moment between spaces until they both materialized in a room far from the tower. Slowly, Sia’s books appeared here and there also, popping into existence and falling to the floor in messy piles. There were bookshelves, but Sia would have to reorganize them all.

Sia floated about, excited. He disappeared through one wall and came back through another. But when he tried to exit the building, he bounced back. He narrowed his eyes at Ashiyn. “Why can’t I leave the building?”

Ashiyn shrugged. “I have to know how to find you when I need you, Sia. You’re a ghost. Where would you go?”

“Just because I lack a mortal body, does not mean I do not still have needs and desires, young Prince! Remove the restrictions on this place immediately,” Sia cried furiously. “I will not be held here like a caged bird.”

“Actually, you will. I don’t trust you not to fly away,” Ashiyn frowned. “What is the big deal? Where would you go?”

“Home. I would go home,” Sia mumbled, looking distraught.

“Why? What is there for you?” Ashiyn tilted his head, curious.

Sia straightened up, then scowled. “Nothing. Nothing at all, Prince. I have many books to organize now. Why don’t you go and find that sword you’re so eager about? I know Soryn stole my book from me.” Sia held out a hand and the tome Soryn had stolen appeared in it. “I trust you’re done with it?”

“Yes,” Ashiyn grumbled. He had memorized the location of the sword.

“Then I must insist you leave,” Sia said, and with a forceful gust of magic, Ashiyn found himself back at Rhadamanthus’s castle. Ashiyn shook his head. Well, the chronicler was full of surprises.

To Ashiyn’s disappointment, he found out that Rhadamanthus had just given Rurik a mild rebuke. He did not understand the relationship between those two. But at least it had bought him time to do what he wanted. Though he regretted that he had not also had time to visit