A Dream of Mortals (Book #15 in the Sorcerer's Ring) Read Online Free

at him.
    “Alistair, my love,” he said urgently. “I need
you. Just this one last time. I can’t do this without you.”
    She closed her eyes for a long time, and then opened
them, just a bit.
    “What do you need?” she asked.
    “Our bonds,” he said. “We need you to free us.
All of us.”
    Alistair closed her eyes again, and a long time
elapsed, during which Erec could hear nothing save the wind caressing the ship,
the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull. A heavy silence filled the
air, and as more time passed, Erec felt sure she would not open them again.
    Finally, slowly, Erec watched her open her eyes
again.
    With what appeared to be a monumental effort,
Alistair opened her eyes, lifted her chin, and looked all about the ships,
taking stock of everything. He could see her eyes changing colors, glowing a
light blue, lighting up the night like two torches.
    Suddenly, Alistair’s binds broke. Erec heard
them snap in the night, then saw her raise her two palms before her. An intense
light shone from them.
    A moment later, Erec felt a heat behind his
back, along his wrists. They felt impossibly hot, then suddenly, his binds
began to loosen. One strip at a time, Erec felt each of his ropes breaking
free, until finally he was able to snap them himself.
    Erec raised his wrists and examined them in
disbelief. He was free. He was truly free.
    Erec heard the snapping of cords and looked
over to see Strom break free of his binds. The snapping continued, all
throughout the ship, and throughout his other ships, and he saw his other men’s
bonds breaking, saw his men being freed, one at a time.
    They all looked to Erec, and he held a finger
to his lips, motioning for them to be quiet. Erec saw the guards had not
noticed, all with their backs to them, standing at the rail, jesting with each
other and looking at the night. Of course, none of them were on guard.
    Erec motioned for Strom and the others to follow,
and quietly, Erec leading the way, they all crept forward, heading for the guards.
    “Now!” Erec commanded.
    He burst into a sprint and they all did the
same, rushing forward as one, until they reached the guards. As they got close,
some of the guards, alerted by the wood creaking on the deck, spun around and
began to draw their swords.
    But Erec and the others, all hardened warriors,
all desperate for their one chance to survive, beat them to it, moving too quickly
through the night. Strom pounced on one and grabbed his wrist before he could
swing; Erec reached into the man’s belt, drew his dagger, and cut his throat
while Strom snatched the sword. Despite all their differences, the two brothers
worked seamlessly together, as they always did, fighting as one.
    Erec’s men all snatched weapons from the
guards, killing them with their own swords and daggers. Other men simply
tackled the guards who moved too slowly, shoving them over the rail, screaming,
and sending them into the sea.
    Erec looked out at his other ships, and saw his
men killing guards left and right.
    “Cut the anchors!” Erec commanded.
    Up and down his ships his men severed the ropes,
keeping them in place, and soon Erec felt the familiar feeling of his ship
rocking beneath him. Finally, they were free.
    Horns sounded, shouts rang out, and torches
were lit up and down ships as the greater Empire fleet finally realized what
was happening. Erec turned and looked out at the blockade of ships blocking
their way to the open sea, and he knew that he had the fight of his life ahead
of him.
    But he no longer cared. His men were alive. They
were free. Now they had a chance.
    And now, this time, they would go down
fighting.
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    Darius felt his face sprayed with blood, and he
turned to see a dozen of his men cut down by an Empire soldier riding an
immense black horse. The soldier swung a sword larger than any Darius had ever
seen, and in one clean sweep he chopped off twelve of their heads.
    Darius heard shouts rise up