It seemed like my heart was about to jump out of my chest from excitement. Then, it would leap along the road like a March hare.
“We must give a present to his majesty, mustn’t we?” a dark grin appeared on the necromancer’s beautiful lips. “And this present will be an amazing horse ‘of a rare color, riding on which, a prince would not feel ashamed’,” Reive copied Jeff Rinelon’s words and intonations.
“Errr... Reive, the horse will be dead,” I said with hesitation, looking at the dead body in the cart.
“Little one, this will be its special appeal,” Reive answered with saturnine pleasure. “Okay. Enough talk.”
The necromancer turned to me, and his face immediately became serious.
“To read the invocation of the sixth level, you’ll need to keep a really strong thread of the Dark in your hands. A really weighty, tough and unyielding one. If you lose cont
I’d never heard anyone speak Ashgenrian so fluently. The necromancer’s pronunciation was marvelous. Each word was like music. Each letter was a flowing stream echoing in my breast, either with the murmuring of a wild beast or the thunder of a hungry abyss.I tried to repeat every expression with manic accuracy. I listened attentively to Reive’s strong voice and channeled it through myself. And I pronounced the invocation putting everything I had into it.I really didn’t want Reive to think I was a loser. A weakling, which in fact I was, but he was the only one who believed that I wasn’t. And that I was capable.After the third stanza, our surroundings changed subtly. The air became denser. The necromancer behind me flinched.I wanted to open my eyes and watch what was happening. But Reive still didn’t take his hand away, keeping me close to himself. And now, he kept me closer than ever.Suddenly, I felt my
Yeah, he didn’t really expect it. The druidic magic was so deeply dormant in the girl that simply acting on the anarel didn’t awaken it. Reciting the invocation obviously exceeded the power of her energy source as well.Having forced Angelina to pronounce the sixth-level incantation, he had hoped her golden blood would prevent the girl dying from exhaustion. Her necromancer’s anarel was empty, and that meant the druidic anarel should have come into play at the crucial moment.Nevertheless, he was wrong. Angelina was about expire right in his arms. Her anarel would have burnt her out from the inside, turning her into either a madwoman or an undead. The necromancer had to apply his own energy which had only just begun to replenish itself.Reive clenched his jaws, staring ahead almost with indifference. He was irritated and furious that he wasn’t the person he used to be. A single move of his hand couldn’t now raise those hundreds of t
“You won’t need a saddle. Scarlet Hoof wouldn’t let you put one on anyway. But trust me – you’ll feel comfortable.”Reive held the girl, noting in surprise his fingers almost met around her waist – she was so slim. He easily lifted her up and seated her on its black back.Angelina threw her hands up, not knowing what to hold on to. There was no harness either.“Don’t be afraid,” Reive said. Then he added, turning to the horse, “Eiderte g’alde. Ren velde un gal’ibjer xenwer biolk, er daljer sairet.”This meant, “Ride carefully. Don’t dare to drop your owner. I’ll smash your skull with my bare hands if she gives a single cry.”The shellmougr jerked his head, tossing his mane. White clouds streamed from his nostrils, as if they were surrounded by winter’s frost and not a warm summer evening. His crimson eyes flashed with rage. However, in
“I’ll find somewhere to lay my head. Don’t worry, little one.”It seemed like the girl wanted to say something else but she remained silent. So much the better. As soon as he imagined her undressing, slowly taking off her clothes, laying on the bed... her naked body on the sheets glowing in the twilight, everything swam before his eyes.He left the guest mansion together with Zomzom as the sun finally disappeared below the horizon. That way there were fewer chances of the zombie attracting attention, and he didn’t have to bother about animals sensing the dead man.The necromancer had things to do in the city this day. Leaving the castle, he headed to the city outskirts, to where he had recently spotted the tall building of a local hospital.The old streets of the capital were as narrow as they had been seven hundred years ago. Nevertheless, the rest had changed incredibly. The dirt and the sewage that had filled every gully i
As soon as I closed my eyes, I saw his face with its strong jawline and full sensual lips curving so ironically. The mocking dark eyes in which some mystery was concealed.I couldn’t get Reive out of my head. His words were printed in my memory, “So which one? The black or the white one? Death or life? Choose, necromancer-to-be...”He had only asked me to choose a horse. But, for some reason, these words had another meaning for me. As if he was offering me something bigger.I made my choice.The soft sheets were cooling my back. I tossed and turned until I settled on my side, trying to fall asleep. Tomorrow would be a difficult day. I would meet my father and my mother. If the king evoked nothing but irritation in me, my mother...I wanted to see her. Somewhere deep down in my soul, I still hoped that she had been following my fate. That she’d knew how I was growing up and what was happening to me.However, that could
When the appointed hour approached, I kept getting more and more nervous. We left the guest mansion, accompanied by the zombie and one more servant assigned to us just today. His name was Lacier, and he stared at the silent Zomzom with some suspicion. However, he could hardly have guessed who was really keeping him company. We’d put it about that Zomzom was as dumb as a fish.We were allowed through the silver-black walls of Firel without a problem. We walked slowly along the corridors, looking at the architecture, fretwork and the castle’s interior. Reive seemed to purposely stroll slowly, so I could get used to the place. Though sometimes, when I turned to him, I caught the strange thoughtful glance he cast at the drapes, the pictures and then at the painted ceiling.Then something unexpected happened. Maybe my nearness to the necromancer contributed to this, or maybe because I was wearing Reive’s chain that absorbed magic. At a certain moment, I bl
Angelina rose to the challenge brilliantly, although Reive saw her face turn pale and her breath become more hurried. The invocation wasn’t so easy.However, one could say for sure that this girl had the makings of a really good necromancer despite her weak anarel. The Undead King had always said the main thing in magic was persistence.Today, Angelina didn’t disappoint him.He took the girl by the arm and squeezed it approvingly. The little one started and flushed like a lobster. Again.Almost immediately after the ‘performance’, Gerhard politely asked Reive to send the horse back ‘where he’d come from’, otherwise the dinner might be spoiled.The Undead King shrugged his shoulders, not getting how the shellmougr could spoil the meal. However, he didn’t argue.A table decorated in rose and gold was already set in the next room. At the head of the table were elevated two real thrones, and the ro
Reive cocked his head to one side, not knowing what to do: answer Livia himself or wait and see what Angelina would say.She didn’t feel puzzled and was ready to engage in conversation with the future queen. It was quite surprising, taking into account her total lack of experience.First, she dropped thoughtful eyes to the white tablecloth and the pink china plates on it. Then she raised them again to Livia.“I’m afraid he’s not lying, your Grace,” she breathed, and a hesitant smile crossed her lips. “It’s he who taught me to call forth the shellmougr. He created him. He... can do many unusual things...”As he heard these words, the necromancer felt something stir strangely within him. The faint blush on the girl’s cheeks only enhanced this feeling.The duchess looked at Reive without ceasing to smile, “Well, in this case, your experience could seem truly invaluable, honorable earl!&
***Five years later the kingdom of Aldenor was renamed ‘Empire of Shadow’.Reive and Angelina were awarded the titles of emperor and empress. A year later their triplets were born, two boys and a girl. All three possessed a strong dark gift for twilight magic. In time, they entered the academy their mother had founded, CYANIDE— Central YOUNG Academy for Necromantic Ideology and Demonology Education.Therefore, the royal couple introduced a new fashion for necromancy. Henceforth, all influential families in the empire dreamed of sending their children to CYANIDE, still sometimes jokingly called ‘Academy of Death’.Twenty years on, necromancers had become the main combat unit of the army of the Empire of Shadow. Not one of the neighboring states would even dream of transgressing the borders or otherwise offending the continent’s most dangerous empire.Until the day of his death, Reive saw Ulfricus from time to tim
The order in Ashgenrian sounded more powerful and confident that ever before. Shivers ran down my spine.That very second a small pale shadow formed beside me, a few seconds later it acquired an outline.“Byelndevir!” Reive exclaimed, his eyes opening wide. Such a wide smile appeared on his face that I felt truly happy.“I’m sorry I nearly bit your head off,” the little spirit said, spreading his wings. Real ones, not bones.The dragon was of human size and so took up an impressive amount of space. However, that was nothing in comparison to his former dimensions. I knew his size could now be changed at will – bigger or smaller.“Fantastic!” the necromancer gasped and struggled, then succeeded to stand up from the bed. He went up to the ghost and carefully touched his wing, as if they were blood brothers. “And I didn’t take offense, my friend.”It seemed to me that
“Yes, it can.” I nodded, “When the dead opened their mouths to sing, the earth was filled with the voices of Twilight itself. It was horrifying and amazing at the same time. With each second that passed more and more ghosts appeared. Their numbers grew and quickly surpassed the numbers of the Union Army. They were dressed like military, in ancient cuirass and such like armor. Their sounds were like thunder as they moved amongst the troops of our enemies. Then the living dead on our side moved into their ranks, joining in the song, but not attacking. The warriors of the Union soon began to throw down their weapons and retreat. Several spirits surrounded each of them, shaking their swords and drawing closer as if they were thirsty for the kill.I sighed deeply, shaking off dark thoughts and continued, “And Ulfricus appeared beside me. He introduced himself, I hadn’t known what he would look like. The druid smiled sadly, laid his hand on my shoulder
hree months have passed since I became Queen of Aldenor. Reive has spent the best part of this time lolling about in bed and has only now begun to rise himself. See, I’ve taken upon myself the none-too-easy burden of governing the country.To tell the truth it hasn’t been very enjoyable. Especially having to resolve conflicts with the not inconsiderable number of disgruntled people who wanted to see someone else in power. I had much help. Advisors, mages, military leaders. Those who had come across to our side when things had quieted down a little. When it had become clear that we had a rightful claim to the throne. Reive was the enthroned ruler who had never renounced his crown. And I... I was the Gerhard Ayris’ bastard. The only illegitimate daughter of the recently deceased king.This became widely known not just to the highborn nobles, but to the common people. And, as I understand, not without the help of Asper Glane.The day after t
There were screams of horror from somewhere to the side. I turned round and saw the gates finally open and the drawbridge come fully down. Now, crowds of the transformed undead – frightening, strong and dangerous – were slowly crawling out. Even from here I could see their empty eye sockets flash with hunger and hear their sharp teeth clatter in their skulls.However, the undead weren’t hurrying to attack. There was no longer anyone to give them the order.I began to panic. I closed my eyes and forced myself to slowly breathe out.My hands were shaking. The chain in my hand was twitching, its links rattling barely audibly.Suddenly, behind my lowered eyelids I saw the threads of the Dark. In their hundreds and thousands, they were stretching out from Reive to the subjugated undead. They were chattering and tightening, demanding the order that couldn’t come.Nevertheless, there was also something else. Almost unnoticeable. Al
Dark and Twilight, how could this happen? Why?!“Duchess Myria Clarian Castro-Arcs broke away from the ranks of the main army and raced through the rows of our zombies under her own initiative,” Glein answered gloomily, drawing his sword uncertainly.It seemed I had asked the last question aloud. The garrison commander, Reive man who had been covering our rear all this time, didn’t know what he should do now. How he could bear arms against the woman he had formerly sworn to protect. Gerhard Ayris’s sister, the Princess of Aldenor.Also her own brother’s lover and my mother. Nevertheless, it was hardly likely that would be known to anyone.“And all this for the sake of killing Reive?” I moaned, struggling to help Glein keep the necromancer on his feet.The Undead King lost consciousness, and I could feel how heavy he was. I wanted to make a joke like: ‘you couldn’t tell by the look
Angelina smiled confusedly but didn’t let him distract her, “You must stop this battle. Right now. You started it, so you stop it.”Reive pursed his lips, thoughtfully rubbing his chin with one hand while continuing to hold Angelina’s wrist with the other, “Hmm... The battle’s already started. The Council is continuing its attack despite the throne guardian’s death,” he was deliberating. “I suppose either they don’t know that, or someone else is acting as supreme commander. But...” he made a short pause and then smiled and winked at the girl. “But I have a plan.”He clicked his fingers and the canopy of the Dark above them dispersed like mist.“Your Dark Majesty, it’s dangerous,” broke in Glein, standing at a respectful distance from Reive all this time. “The arrows, the magic, the flying beasts. We may not reach the walls of the fortress.”He looke
The Ashgenrian words left Reive’s lips, immediately breaking the higher undead’s attachment spell. Now, Biellendevir was attached neither to him nor to Angelina.The huge beast opened his mouth wide and cried aloud. A terrifying roar tore through the surroundings, freezing the wide-open eyes of the soldiers and chilling the hearts of the living.A bloody film clouded the gaze of the higher undead. No one controlled him now.It was no longer the same Biellen the necromancer’d known all his life. It was a higher undead, incredibly strong and incredibly hungry.“Forgive me,” Reive repeated, creating a ghostly noose and throwing it over the dragon’s neck.One movement – and the huge monster’s head drooped, his bones creaking.Biellendevir was roaring, making sounds like the howl of the cursed Abyss. No one dared to approach the three of them at that moment. Neither the enemy’s soldiers nor th
All the last day flashed by like a whirlwind before the eyes of the necromancer. He saw himself coming out of Angelina’s room. He saw the broken potion bottle, and Zomzom’s crippled body hidden behind the flight of stairs.The necromancer didn’t have any time to search for the killer just then. He ordered the zombie brought to his laboratory, promising himself he would find the brazen mage who had decided to make such a stupid joke with his personal servant.Now, the puzzle had come into place. This brazen mage was Livia Rendan. She had turned out to be a much stronger opponent than he had realized. The woman hadn’t only been able to delay the effect of the curse but with time might manage to completely neutralize it. Reive saw she was already able to speak perfectly well and even get to her feet. It was worthy of admiration. Reive had always respected strength of mind.However, Livia didn’t want to live. She had something els