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Chapter 17
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The Darkest Hour Chapter 18
Through the long dark of the abyss, the voice of the star-god rushed into the dark emissary's mind."It is time Varrus.""Time for what my Lord?""It is time for you to pave the way for my release; time for you to begin to reap the rewards of your loyal service to me."Varrus felt a surge of power rush through him. Sparks flickered between his fingertips. He could feel the magic inside him begin to grow. But it wasn't a magic of the mortal realm it was a magic far more captivating than that: it was the magic of the void.Varrus sucked in a deep breath."Savour this moment my servant. Become one with the magic I have given you. The final tasks will require every ounce of your being as I ready my escape."Varrus quivered with excitement. "What would you have me do my Lord?"The star-god paused a moment. Varrus waited in eager anticipation for the star-god's final commands."Prepare for battle my servant," the booming voice said at last. "Sow fear among the people of this land.
The Darkest Hour Chapter 19
She woke she knew not how many hours or even days later, to find the dark mage not leering over her as he was so often want to do, but instead peering ahead into the distance. The length of rope that bound her waist was clutched tightly in his grip. She followed the direction of his gaze. There, no more than a mile or so from where they stopped, a small village sat atop the crest of a large hill. "This I suppose will be as good a place to start as any," he said finally, turning to examine his prisoner. "Come along my girl there's killing to be done."Phae resisted as best she could but the dark mage was too strong. In a matter of moments, the mage was looking her directly in the eye. "Now my child," he said slowly, "now you must search deep within yourself for that fountain of power your parents knew nothing about. Open yourself to the spring of magic coursing within you. Take it my child take it and mould it. Seize it my child, for today we will reap our revenge upon the old wor
The Darkest Hour Chapter 20
Callum stared into the distance through tired, half-closed eyes. He hadn't slept properly for weeks and as their cart trundled tediously on its way he would find his head sagging forward and his eyes threatening to close. But each time they did so, a bump or a jolt would snap him awake and so the cycle would continue. The cold certainly didn't help matters either. Why was it so cold in the middle of summer?He raised his head and stared long and hard at the dark blotch that continued to grow in the sky. It was almost like it was sucking up the energy of the world itself the weather was so strange. He couldn't help but think this all had something to do with PhaeIn the back of the cart, Aaron dozed fitfully. Seated beside him, Lena too stared at the sky. Callum shivered as a particularly biting wind swept across the valley they were driving through. Lena reached behind her and produced a blanket. She put it round him."You really should try and get some rest you know," she sai
The Darkest Hour Chapter 21
The morning came, and with it a brief respite from the biting cold that had swept over them in the night. Callum was sure it was getting colder just as he was sure the blotch covering the sun was getting bigger but right now all he could think about were the sparks he was creating between his fingers.Lena watched with fascination as he absently clicked his fingers while they prepared breakfast. Since the second source had closed she hadn't even the slightest trace of water-magic at her disposal. Finally, Callum stopped what he was doing and looked up to meet her gaze. Silent communion passed between them."So, what do you think?" he asked.Lena frowned. "I don't know. I mean they certainly appear to be sparks of magic but just why you have access to them while the rest of us don't...""But that's the thing: I don't have access to my powers or at least I don't think I do. I feel different somehow, but I just can't figure out what it is inside me that's causing the magic to flo
The Darkest Hour Chapter 22
In the strange land of her half-sleep, Phae screamed. All around her buildings burnt and people died at the hands of the dark mage's magic her magic that had caused so much death and destruction already. She couldn't help but think of poor Master Kulgrim and the cruel fate he had suffered because of what she had done.Because of herTheir trail of destruction had lasted for weeks now. Weeks and weeks of needless slaughter. Once word had started to spread through the region, some of the towns and villages they encountered were prepared and some even had a small garrison ready to meet them at the gates. No matter how hard they tried, they all met the same fate. And she was powerless to stop him. He had full control now, her indomitable will eventually sapped by endless days of struggle against the mage's dark magics that kept her trapped in a perpetual state of half-sleep. She had nothing left now to combat his evil spells save the hope that someone somewhere was looking for
The Darkest Hour Chapter 23
Phae's eyes snapped open. Something was wrong very wrong. She struggled against the bonds of magic that held her in place."There, there, little one, don't be afraid," Varrus called over to her from the bank. "I wouldn't look down if I were you."Phae did look down. She was suspended over the precipice is a massive waterfall. The waterfall was so high she couldn't even see the bottom through the spray. One thing was for certain: a single command from the dark mage and her life would come to an end.She closed her eyes and began to pray. "Oh, prayers won't help you my child," Varrus scoffed. "After all I have the gods on my side, look."Phae tried her best to ignore him but as she turned her head away visions of her father's face flashed inside her mind. A thin, cruel smile formed on Varrus' lips. "Oh, I haven't done anything to him yet," he said at last. He paused as he savoured in Phae's torture. "But he'll be here soon I can assure you of that!"Phae's expression changed. "He
The Darkest Hour Chapter 24
The storm raged as they led their cart up the steep ascent. All around them, thick, weather-beaten trees clung to the hard ground wherever they could. In more than one place fallen trunks crossed their path and they had to carefully navigate around them in what were by now treacherous conditions. Callum wiped his face with his sleeve. Streams of water ran down his face and dropped from his nose and his brow. He peered into the gloom."See anything Callum?""No, not yet," he replied. He paused. "So much for summer eh?"Behind him, Aaron laughed. "Well you certainly saved that one up didn't you!" Even Callum was forced to grin at his friend's remark. "I know you could do with a wash Callum but this is getting ridiculous!"Callum was about to respond when all of a sudden Lena called them to a halt. "I see a light.""A light?""Yes, a light up ahead look."Lena pointed into the gloom and Callum followed her gaze, squinting hard through the rain. Sure enough, there in the distan
The Darkest Hour Chapter 25
Callum hit the floor and rolled to the side. Beside him Aaron and Lena both had the wind knocked out of them. If it hadn't been for his quick reactions they would all have been hit by the wave of fire Phae had sent hurtling towards them. He helped his companions to their feet.Floating high above them, the fragile wraith-like form of Phae cackled wickedly. The voice of Varrus echoed from her lips. "Like that did you boy? There's more where that came from you know!"Another wave of fire flew from Phae's outstretched hands. In days gone by Callum or Lena might have been able to raise a shield to protect them, but now with the last source of magic fading, they were helpless against the onslaught. It was as if she drew power directly from the source itself.They dived to the ground again as the second wave of fire threatened to engulf them. Aaron swore as he hit the ground hard. A large gash opened up on the side of his face. "Callum, what do we do?"He shook his head wearily. "I don
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