Free Eclipsing the Darkness (The Dragon Chronicles Book 5) by Shawn E. Crapo Page A

the architecture of the tower and the surrounding city.
    “Tell me of this Dragon of yours,” Tenegal said.
    Khalid sighed. “He is no more. But his spirit will live on. He is one of the Firstborn of this world, born after Leviathan, but before Kronos and Imbra.”
    Tenegal nodded. Khalid continued.
    “He is currently on his way to the center of the Earth to sever the connection between the Lifegiver and our Mother, Gaia. We hope he is successful.”
    “Yes,” Tenegal said. “Severing that tie would be effective. Unfortunately, our Firstborn were too late to save our mother spirit, and they died with her.”
    “I’m sorry,” Khalid said. “But your people are welcome here. Tell me, who were your Firstborn?”
    “I was never very knowledgeable about such things,” Tenegal admitted. “My focus was always on protecting my people. But I followed the teachings of our land’s divine power, Ghaelioth. He was a wise warrior who helped our people defeat the Ougret clans.”
    “Ougret?”
    “There were a primitive reptilian species that existed on our world in the past,” Tenegal explained. “They were very destructive, hostile, and bred very quickly. We wiped them out many thousands of years ago.”
    “Reptilians, eh?” Khalid said. “Interesting.”
    “When the darkness came, it resurrected many of them, and we had to fight them once again. Though they were defeated, our world was far beyond repair. Our Mother had been drained of her power, the Firstborn had died, and our people began to fade.”
    “And that is when Allora began her quest?”
    Tenegal nodded. “Around that time, yes,” he said. “She sought out a Mother spirit that resided here in this realm. And, if I understand correctly, it is you and the Dragon who found it?”
    “It was,” Khalid said. “And I have the feeling the Dragon knew it was there all along.”
    “The Firstborn of all worlds are rather stubborn when it comes to knowledge,” Tenegal said, chuckling. “That is their nature everywhere.”
    Khalid chuckled, as well, thinking back at how Dagda had spoken in riddles and withheld much information. He had always felt it was for a reason, though, and did not blame the Dragon for doing so.
    “I suppose they only share information that one needs to know at the moment.”
    Tenegal smiled. “That seems to be so.”
    The two reached the southern edge of the temple complex, looking out over the valley and out to the shore. The moorcat was there, patiently keeping watch. Tenegal could already feel the presence of darkness nearby, and to Khalid, his disdain was obvious. Though the Alvar captain had never faced, nor heard of, the enemy that would appear soon, Khalid was very familiar.
    In a matter of hours, perhaps a day or so, the Enkhatar and their darkling would arrive.
    The priest was glad to have such a formidable force on his side.
     
    Near the southern shore, Sulemain stood on the rocky sea floor facing the wreckage of the massive black vessel that had been sunk by Jadhav’s men. The vessel had brought not only the Prophet and the Enkhatar to the island over a year ago, but also a host of undead foes. Though the lower decks and hull had been utterly destroyed by the Devourer’s entry into this realm, Sulemain knew that the upper decks would still contain those wights that had not escaped when the ship went down.
    They would be useful, as their undead nature would not allow them to drown. In fact, their anger at being trapped underwater for so long would only serve to fuel their ferocity, and allow Sulemain and his troops to lay waste to Tel Drakkar.
    He strode forward, unaffected by the darkness and crushing pressure of the sea, and stood before the massive hole in the ship’s hull. Even in the water, he could hear the moans and cries of the trapped undead, begging to be released. They had felt the Enkhatar lord’s dark presence as he neared, and their struggles to free themselves began anew.
    As the dark knight raised his