The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (novels in english .TXT) 📗

I nodded, “I will trust you at yourword, Countess.”

I glanced at my daughteras I prepared to take down the enchanted shield; she had beenstrangely quiet since summoning her namesake. She was gazing at menow with a mournful visage, as though she had been struck by sometragedy. Perhaps she just fully realizedthat her misstep nearly cost her brother his life.In the confusion of our short battle I wasn’tsure if she had noticed or whether she thought I had somehow beenthe one to wound him.

I pushed those thoughts aside and tookdown my shield. As I did, I kept the link to the Iron Heart Chamberin my hand, drawing steadily on it to replenish my power. Icouldn’t be sure my family might not change their minds aboutletting me escape.

I handed Matthew to Penny as I reachedthe doorway. Her nearness took my breath away, or it would have, ifI had still needed to breathe. The urge to touch her hand as Ipassed our son over was nearly irresistible, but she was careful toavoid any contact, a fact that only made my longing worse. For thefirst time since my transformation, I was grateful that my eyeswere no longer capable of tears.

She allowed me through the door, and Iwalked toward the dragon that waited in the street, once againleaving my family behind me. Stepping up to Gareth’s massiveforeleg I started to climb up, but a presence made me turn. MoiraCentyr stood close behind me.

I know what you are. Itried to help her understand, her voicesaid in my mind.

Looking past her I couldsee my daughter’s face half buried in her mother’s side, freshtears stained her cheeks. That was crueland unnecessary, I admonished the StoneLady. As I communicated with her, I could see her body crumbling,her aythar was exhausted. She was about to expire atlast.

A sudden idea inspiredme. Gareth, I’m going to do somethingstupid. If my family tries to stop me, I want you to growl and lookmenacing. Don’t hurt them, just make sure they don’t try tointerfere, I told the dragon.

Removing my gauntlets, I paused for amoment before casting a shield around the crumbling form of MoiraCentyr. While Penny wasn’t able to see what was happening, mydaughter gasped, and I worried she might try to intervene. Ibrought my enchanted shield stones out again and recreated myshield, this time around myself and the Stone Lady.

What are you doing?Holding me will gain you nothing, my time is done,Moira Centyr’s mental voice informedme.

Don’t distract me,I replied in the same fashion,I need your help, so I’m afraid I can’t let youpass on just yet. I relinked the IronHeart Chamber to the enchanted shield around us before taking outmy silver stylus. Using it, I began circling the Stone Lady,inscribing precise runes into the air around her, creating anintricate linked pattern.

It was an enchantment, but creating itwithout a solid substrate was an incredibly difficult task. I hadto maintain a careful image of the whole, even as I worked toexpand and complete the remaining portion. If my concentration wereto waver at any point, the whole structure would collapse beforeits completion.

Moira Centyr’s thoughtswere desperate now. Please, no! You can’tdo this to me. I have tried to aid you at every turn. Why do youbetray me thus?!

I ignored everything and continued mywork. It wasn’t until I heard my daughter’s voice that I nearlystumbled and lost my place. “Don’t! You’re hurting her!” she criedfrom beyond the outer shield. Still, she made no attempt tointerfere. Either she knew that the shield was beyond her power, orshe had resigned herself to accept whatever I was doing. I had towonder how much her mother’s remnant had told her.

Seconds passed into minutes while Iworked, losing track of time. I had narrowed my focus until theonly things that existed for me were the runes I was inscribing andthe memory I had plucked from the distant past. The memory of MoiraCentyr and the first Mordecai’s secret project, the enchantment hehad created to save them from the dark forces looming over theirworld—the enchantment that had created the Shining Gods.

This is wrong!She cried again in my mind.

Tell that to the woman whooriginally created you, Iretorted.

She did not fix me in thisworld for all eternity. She knew what they had done before was amistake.

I quite honestly, do notgive a damn. You will assist me until my goals are complete, andthen I will release you, if you so desire. The enchantment was complete now, and it contracted, crushinginward to bind the magical sentience that was all that remained ofMoira Centyr. Without pause, I uttered the words that I had builtinto the enchantment, binding her to my will.

Her head bowed in defeatas I removed the inner shield that had kept her in place while Iworked. I am your slave. I had not thoughtyou capable of such evil. I misjudged you, she informed me mentally.

I know the feeling,I responded. I don’thave the luxury of being nice anymore, but one way or another IWILL stop Mal’goroth.

Examining the immediate area, itappeared that my audience had decided not to interfere. My daughterwas watching me with wide eyes, holding her mother’s hand. Penny’sface was inscrutable, and Sir Egan had recovered enough to standbeside her. Since things were still calm I took down my enchantedshield for a second time. No one moved.

Climb up on thedragon, I commanded, demonstrating for mynew servant. Moira Centyr followed reluctantly. Keep your silence too, I don’t want you talking to anyoneelse just yet, most specifically my daughter.

Gareth gathered his legs under him toleap once more into the sky, and I turned my head away. Watching myfamily was too painful, and my daughter’s eyes were both sad andaccusing. She projected her thoughts to me for the first time inher young life.

Why are you taking mymother away? The touch of her gentle mindmade my heart ache.

I closed my eyes and focused mymagesight on the sky, refusing to answer. It was too much for me.The dragon leapt into the air, and the wind thundered with thesound of his powerful wing strokes.

Father?

My resolve broke when Iheard that word. She