The Fall of Kyrace Read Online Free

possessed, his sorcery giving his strikes the speed of a hurricane and the strength of a flood. But Mathanius met every blow, his lips peeled in a rictus of rage. Rykon's momentum played out, and Mathanius struck back, lightning snarling and sparking between their swords. 
    Mathanius's sword licked out, opened a cut on Rykon's jaw.
    Another on his left forearm.
    Rykon stumbled back, trembling from exhaustion. He had already spent much of his strength fighting the Legionaries and Corthios, and Mathanius was fresh. Then Mathanius's next blow sent the sword tumbling from his fingers, and Rykon dropped to one knee.
    Mathanius's sword tip came to rest against his throat.
    "I wish I had time to make you suffer," said Mathanius. "You deserve no less. But I suppose a quick death will have to do." He raised his sword high, ready to bring it crashing down upon Rykon's skull.
    A song rang out. A woman's voice, clear and high. Agia stood on the edge of the Tower, hands raised, gown billowing about her in a sudden wind.
    Arcane power stirred.
    Mathanius stared at her in shock. "Sister?"
    Lightning exploded out of the sky, screamed down Mathanius's raised sword, and stabbed into his chest. The blast threw him to the ground, his sword bouncing from his grasp, smoke rising from his robes. 
    It was Rykon's last chance. 
    He seized his sword and buried the blade below Mathanius's ribs. He shrieked in pain, clawing at the sword, but his eyes turned towards Agia, not Rykon.
    "Why?" he breathed. "Why?"
    "For our people," said Agia, voice bitter. "For our city, which even now burns."
    Rykon wrenched his blade free, and Mathanius, the traitor of Kyrace, shuddered and died. Agia bowed her head, fresh tears falling from her eyes. Rykon put his hand upon her shoulder, and she slumped against him, weeping.
    A thunderous crash rang from the lower city as the Legions smashed their way through the inner gate.
    "Come," said Rykon, "we must go."

    ###

    The tramp of iron-shod boots echoed over the Tower of Storm’s courtyard. 
    Tyndaros looked up from the final statue, shaking with weariness. Eight of the nine statues had been shattered, lying in broken pieces across the courtyard. Arcane power hissed and snarled through the earth, the energy crackling along his skin. 
    It was almost done.
    He lifted his gashed palm, let some blood fall upon the final statue, and began to sing. 
    Men in the black armor and purple cloaks of the Imperial Guard marched into the courtyard, accompanied by crimson-armored battle magi. Then came the high magi and more Imperial Guards, and finally the Emperor himself, proud and stern atop his horse, his black armor chased with gold. 
    The Archon of Kyrace stopped singing and looked at his conqueror.
    Behind him, fine cracks spread across the final statue. 
    “So,” said the Emperor, “we meet at last.”
    “Yes,” said Tyndaros. 
    The cracks widened. He felt the power shuddering, like a vast storm about to break. The elementals bound within the Broken Mountain were stirring. 
    “And it is over,” said the Emperor. 
    “Yes,” said Tyndaros. “For me. And for you as well.”
    The Emperor sneered. “Kill this old fool. Make him suffer.”
    The high magi and the Imperial Guards started forward.
    Behind Tyndaros, the final statue shattered, and the elementals bound within the mountain were free.
    The earth shook and sent men sprawling to the ground. The courtyard walls collapsed, and the Emperor fell from the back of his horse. The sound of cracking stone rang over the quaking city like thunder.
    And the top of the Broken Mountain began to burn.

    ###

    Even from ten miles away, the explosion almost destroyed the fleet.
    Rykon stood with Agia at the stern of their ship, helping her stand as she joined the other stormsingers in throwing all her power into the fleet’s sails. He saw the top of the Broken Mountain explode, saw it erupt in a whirling storm of ash and molten stone.
    The thunderclap reached his ears,