Free Uneasy Alliances by David Cook Page B

rose in volume until it filled the temple. Now Noph could see that Ingrar was no longer alone. Next to him—impossibly, within him—stood another figure, that of a tall warrior, a flowing beard touching his chest. In one hand he held a great warhammer; his other arm ended in a stump where the hand should have been. From his mouth and from Ingrar’s lips came thunderous words that seemed to shake all the temple and the city beyond.
    “I am come,” cried Ingrar. “I am come to purge the land of those who blaspheme in my name. Let all ye who pretend to speak in the name of Tyr beware, for my wrath is righteous and my judgment is harsh.”
    Kern was on his knees, shielding his eyes with one hand, the other stretched out in prayer. Ingrar—or was he now the embodiment of mighty Tyr himself?—looked at him, and it seemed to Noph that a smile touched the bearded lips of the man-god.
    “Rise, Kern, paladin of Phlan. You have been a hammer in the cause of right. But you—his gaze swept over the worshipers of the Fallen Temple— you have dragged down my name and made it a curse in this land. For you, I have no mercy.”
    The figure and Ingrar lifted their hands together. They blazed forth fire that seemed to burn without heat. It swept across the temple; dimly, above its roar, Noph heard screams and saw the adherents of the Fallen Temple claw at their bodies. Some pulled their robes off, and Noph saw that beneath their robes their flesh was melting away from their bones.
    Those nearest the door struggled to get out of the building, but many were trampled by their companions. Some few saved themselves, and their laments could be heard slowly dying away along the causeway as they struggled back to the docks.
    Before the altar, the god stepped away from Ingrar and faced the blind youth. His hand rested on the young man’s forehead.
    “You were chosen by me to be the vessel of my avenging might. You, who see so clearly, must now be the renewer of my strength. You must once more make my name beloved in this land. This is the task I lay upon you.”
    The god’s eyes blackened and became empty eye sockets that seemed to fill his entire face. The figure faded away, and the light that had illuminated the temple went out. Ingrar, blind once more, stood silently facing his companions. Beside him, the bloodforge’s surface was dull and silent. But Kern, Trandon, and Noph could see that around Ingrar’s face, there still lingered some of the radiance of one touched by the gods.

Chapter 6
Emperor of Doegan
    A sudden movement to Noph’s left made him start from his daze. Artemis and Sharessa were moving cautiously around behind Ingrar toward the bloodforge. Kern, still stunned by what he had just seen, paid them no mind; Trandon and Garkim also were staring at Ingrar, who himself seemed unaware that danger was at his back.
    “Hey!” Noph shouted, lunging forward. His cry roused the others, and Kern and Trandon charged Entreri just as the thief reached the pedestal holding the bloodforge.
    Quick as death, Sharessa, her long hair flying, scooped up a spear from a fallen cultist and, wielding it like a staff, swung it in a wide arc at the paladin’s knees. Kern leaped to avoid it, but in doing so, he stumbled on the altar steps, slippery with blood, and fell heavily against Trandon. The two crashed to the ground in a mass of flailing arms and legs. Noph circled to the right, hoping to take the pirates by surprise, but Sharessa was too quick for him. The spear came up, now with the point guttering at his throat.
    Garkim stood unmoving, as did Ingrar. Kern and Trandon disentangled themselves and rose to find Sharessa tickling Noph’s throat with the spearpoint. She shook her head at them.
    “No, don’t. I’ve come too far not to get something out of all this, and it looks like this bloodforge is the only thing worth taking.” She spoke to Entreri without turning her head. “Come on, take it and let’s go.”
    Carefully Entreri placed