Thralls of a Dread Lord (1.75T)
Welcome to my weekly serial. This is a rough draft that I am working on, for your reading pleasure.
It is a fairly grim tale, so be warned.
Here is the first post from this series.
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The rest of his time on the mountain was made up of long hours of icy handholds and hanging over the abyss, seeking toeholds punctuated by glorious sliding down icy slops where the angle of decent or the softness of the landing permitted it.
Sliding down steep, but not exactly vertical inclines was a dangerous way of saving time. The powdery snow hid rocks and other debris in some places and poor judgement would see him plunge off a drop when he could not stop in time. Still it was exhilarating, the cool air and fresh snow brought back foggy memories. He could not quite touch them thanks to Waachear and his ilk, but they were happy, he knew that at least.
By the time he reached the road to Ushochhushi’s Tower, well on the other side of the mountain, Retaak was tired. Dawn had not yet broken though, and thus he was making good time in spite of his encounter with the Deathseeker.
After eating the last of the waybread and building a small fire behind an icy redoubt, Retaak dried his clothes as bets he could. His garments were durable, but they showed signs of wear from the grueling travel that he had undertaken. He did not have the time to fix them and the moment, which was a waste.
Sometime while he was considering the holes worn in his clothes, Retaak drifted off to sleep. He dreamed of Albyursia, of escaping with his friends, and of a green land beyond the reach of any Dread Lord. Kuzukaak did not harm him in his dreams.
He woke some time later. It was light and the small that he had built was nothing but cold ash now. Retaak’s body ached as he stood, and he was hungry and tired, but he judged himself ready to walk. The road to Uzaagwaar would be an easy enough walk after his time in the mountains. He could see patrols of Spawn, but those would be Ushochhushi’s guards, who would not challenge their master’s errand-runner.
He was so certain that he had beaten Uyage, Uyaashie, Kuzat and Albyursia to the tower that it came as a surprise when the Kazukaak lifted. The weight of the compelling, tangible despite being formless, fell from him suddenly as he walked toward the road, Retaak stumbled, unsure of what he was feeling and experienced a moment of confused panic before he understood what was happening.
“Uyage…” he said, understanding then that his band had delivered Albyursia to Ushochhushi. He had been a fool to think that he could beat her to to her goal.
He fell to his knees. Fatigue and frustration finally crashing down on him.
Was it all for not?
