The Sword of Bheleu
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Language: English
Pages: 272
ISBN: 0345307771
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
The sword that Garth had stolen from Dusarra marked him as the chosen of Bheleu, god of destruction, and gave him immense power. This power could only be used to destroy, and Garth wanted to build. He chose to refuse the god's gift. Bheleu did not intend to allow that.
tumbled into the street, to lie in scattered chunks. For the first time it occurred to him to wonder what could have brought down such a wall; was Skelleth prone to earthquakes? There were too many questions, far too many questions. Whatever had knocked down the wall, the blocks of stone were well suited to his purpose. He laid the sword across a large slab, its quillons and hilt extending to one side, the last foot or so of its blade on the other. He placed another stone atop it, so that it
obviously a mistake. I thought I had it under control, but I was completely wrong; it seized hold of me again and made me slay the Baron and start the battle. That did indeed gain me my vengeance upon the Baron, as the Forgotten King had promised, but the other results are less pleasant. “After the battle, the sword had apparently exhausted its power temporarily; I awoke in an alleyway with it lying beside me, the red gem dark and no compulsion or anger working on me. I tried to break it, but
he cares for nothing but wine, women, and old books. The servants and courtiers can be frightened or bribed into silence. The Baron of Sland, however, is not so easily handled.” Shandiph tried his best to sound stern. Karag paused for a moment, then said, with no trace of contrition, “Well, it's done now, and if we're to keep it secret you'll have to turn back all the others. I'm sure that the three of us can handle whatever this problem is by ourselves.” “The four of us; Derelind the Hermit is
from acts of war committed against the Kingdom of Eramma, and declares the aforementioned Galt and Garth to be outlaws, this information to be delivered to them as soon as circumstances shall allow.” Selk stopped speaking, returned the rod to its place beneath his tunic, and sat astride his warbeast, looking down at Galt and Garth. There was a moment of silence. “They can't do that,” Galt said at last. Garth was unsure what to say. Palkh said, “It appears that they have done it, though.” The
majesty down a broad aisle to Garth's side. He took a sack from behind the saddle and pulled out a handful of Aghadite coins that glittered rich yellow in the firelight. Somewhere someone in the crowd applauded loudly, and the faces of the Yprians, half-hidden beneath their curious helmets, broke into smiles. “You see?” Tand said with perceptible relief. “I did not lie.” “You did not lie, little one,” agreed the Yprian spokesman. “Let the bargaining begin!” Garth lost track of what was