Free Soul of Sorcery (Book 5) by Jonathan Moeller Page A

her Demonsouled nature would heal any wounds she had taken. 
    Hopefully Toraine wouldn't notice.
    "My opinion on your marriage," said Toraine. "War between the House of Mandragon and the House of Cravenlock would benefit only our enemies." He smiled. "Why risk the hardship of war, when we can enjoy the blessings of peace?"
    Mazael did not believe it for a second. 
    What had changed Toraine's mind? He had been so eager for battle before.
    The battle. He had seen Mazael and his allies in battle. Toraine must have concluded that a direct fight was too risky. Mazael had not the slightest doubt that Toraine would try to kill him by other means, assassination or an alliance with a more powerful lord. But at least he would not attack Mazael and his lands directly.
    The Grim Marches would have peace.
    Mazael only wished that it did not disappoint him so. 
    And he still wanted to ram Lion through Toraine's heart. 
    "Truly," said Mazael, "I am pleased to have your approval, my lord." 
    "No doubt," said Toraine.
    "Sir Hagen!" said Mazael. Hagen approached from the waiting armsmen, eyeing the smoking remains of Ardasan. "Return the men to the castle and see to the wounded. Take Lady Romaria and Lord Toraine with you."
    Romaria lifted an eyebrow. "And just where will you be going?"
    Mazael pointed at the dark opening of the cave in the hillside. "I'm going to make sure there's nothing else unpleasant waiting under the castle."
    "You shouldn't go alone," said Romaria. 
    "I won't," said Mazael. "Molly will come with me, to watch my back. And Lucan, to check for any wards or magical traps." 
    And he and Molly possessed the ability to recover from wounds quickly. Even Romaria, with all the strength and speed granted by her wolf form, could not heal injuries with such speed. If any more runedead lurked in the cave, Mazael and Molly were the best choices to face it. 
    And his Demonsouled blood wanted another fight, another foe to destroy. 
    "Timothy," said Mazael, pointing at Ardasan's fallen sword. "Find a way to destroy that. If not, then lock it in the vault with the Glamdaigyr."
    "My lord." Timothy pulled off his coat and wrapped it around the sword, taking care not to let his skin touch the weapon. 
    Molly walked closer, her clothing dirty and torn, but otherwise none the worse for wear. "Ah, Father. I understand you plan another adventure for us?"
    "Aye," said Mazael.
    "How delightful," said Molly. "I'm sure peasant girls who wish they were the daughters of a lord do not fantasize about crawling into dark holes to fight animated corpses."
    "I wouldn't know," said Mazael. "Lucan."
    Lucan stared at the knights and armsmen. That empty, icy expression was on his face again. He was looking at Toraine, and for a moment Mazael was sure that Lucan was going to kill his older brother.
    "Lucan," said Mazael again.
    Lucan blinked, looked away from Toraine.
    "Yes," he said. "Of course. Let's go." 

    ###

    Molly squinted into the darkness of the cave's entrance.
    "You should have sent for torches, Father," she said. 
    "No need," said Lucan, lifting his hand. A shimmering globe of blue light appeared over his palm. With his other hand he waved over the mouth of the cave, face tight with concentration. 
    “Anything?” said Mazael. 
    “Residual power,” said Lucan. “The cave was quite heavily warded. Which explains why I never detected Ardasan and his pets. Or why no one else ever did.” He laughed. “They were right under the scaled bellies of the San-keth for all these centuries, and the serpents never had any idea.”
    “Just as well,” said Mazael. “Ardasan might have thought the San-keth would make useful allies.”
    “Or slaves,” said Molly, remembering her own dealings with the San-keth. “The serpents are clever, but they prefer to slink in the shadows and play with their puppets. They couldn’t control something like Ardasan.” 
    “The wards are fading,” said Lucan. “Ardasan probably broke them when he left