Free Chronicles of Den'dra: A Land Torn: Ancient Powers Awaken by Spencer Johnson

sword. The commander had been waiting with sword in hand. Yanking it from the dying telepath’s chest he watched as the man collapsed to the ground. Death took a minute as the man coughed up his life’s blood. By now the whole building was engulfed in fire.
    Encer started as he saw the man inside stirring to life. A couple of the soldiers outside tried to rush inside and drag their compatriot to safety but were thwarted by a burst of fire. The man inside was standing now and trying to shield his head from the heat that surrounded him. The soldiers at the door were about to make one last attempts when a portion of the roof collapsed on the man inside. Out of the swirl of cinders and falling roof beams a shrieking figure wreathed in fire darted. Screaming in agony the man rushed out of the burning building with his clothes and hair on fire. A couple of the soldiers were able to knock him to the ground and pack the falling snow over him. A moment later and the flames were out. The man was mercifully unconscious now.
    The storehouse was soon demolished and a steaming pile of charred timbers in the snow. The entire village had assembled to gape at the catastrophe that had befallen them. Verkal had ordered the dead telepath thrown into the flames when the fire had died down enough to approach. Encer didn’t know how long he had stood staring at the fire before Mytera tugged him away. The world came back into focus then.
    “Is Inadar alright?”
    “ Yes, she came home and told me about the fire. If she stayed where I told her then she should be there now.” Mytera proceeded to wipe the smeared blood off Encer’s face.
    “ All our stores are gone.” Encer stated the obvious in a dead flat voice.
    “ I see. We will survive. We managed that first winter didn’t we?” Encer knew that Mytera was trying to cheer him up but he didn’t feel like being cheerful. She did manage to make him begin thinking about what must be done. Several soldiers began shouting out an order to assemble in the middle of the village. Encer and Mytera were among the last to appear. Several of the villagers around them seemed barely able to contain their anger. It was all Encer could do to convince them that any attempts at violence would only worsen their predicament. After being assured that enough people had gathered Verkal rode into the center of the group. A ring formed around him but to Encer’s satisfaction no one made any foolish moves.
    “ It has come to my attention that this village hasn’t paid taxes for five years. A fault of this magnitude would normally require the highest penalty. The death of the village council. However I am not unreasonable. You claim to have made attempts to pay your taxes and since the tax collector didn’t perform his duty the blame cannot be laid entirely at your feet.” Encer closed his eyes and prayed that the low murmur that rose around him didn’t escalate into action.
    “ Instead of executing your council members, I am appointing myself the land master responsible for these lands. Dragon’s Hamlet is now mine.” Verkal rode out of the ring after he made his shocking announcement. Encer wasn’t entirely sure what Verkal had planned but he didn’t like the guesses he was able to make.
    Encer and Mytera made their way to their house silently. Encer’s coat was soaked through by now and the snow didn’t give any signs of letting up. Once inside he shed his outer garments and crouched near the hearth to regain some of his heat. A few minutes later Inadar slipped in the door. Neither Mytera nor Encer had the energy to scold her so she scurried off to her room.
    The hours passed as Encer and Mytera discussed their situation with the dozen or so villagers that slipped in and out. By the time that the day was spent a foot of snow had fallen. Encer had a better idea of what Verkal was doing. He had assumed that because the fugitive had been hiding in the village that they had known about it. The