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

my point. “Rather thantake chances, I think it’s important to make sure that someone elseknows how to unmake her, someone she can trust.”

Gareth stepped around my words to aska pointed question, “Are you someone she can trust?”

I smiled at him, though I knew hecouldn’t see my face behind the steel helm, “Neither of you cantrust me. I have other priorities that I will put before yours. Iwould damn both of you to accomplish my goals without blinking aneye.”

“Sharing this information does nothelp you,” he observed.

“This is merely a kindness ofconvenience. Don’t read more into it than that,” I answered, beforeturning back to walk toward where we had left our temporarily deafcompanion. Her hearing returned soon after, though I suspected hermood would take longer to recover.

“About this island you say is acrossthe ocean…,” began Gareth.

“You sound skeptical,” Iinterrupted.

The dragon paused for a moment,issuing an almost inaudible rumbling. Was he growling? “In my daythe world was fairly well mapped, and that part of the ocean wasknown to be empty,” he said at last.

“In your day the Gulf of Garulondidn’t exist either,” I reminded him.

A hiss escaped him. “I lived there.You hardly need point that out.”

“I’m telling you there’s an islandthere, a large one. You could fit all of the Lancaster estate andmost of mine as well on it,” I stated firmly. “It has been theresince long before the war with Balinthor or the creation of theGulf.”

Moira intervened at that point, “Ithink what Gareth is trying to get at is that there was a livelyshipping trade back then, between Lothion, Gododdin, and Garulon.While most of the mariners stayed within coastal waters, some didventure farther on missions of exploration, including a fewwizards. Nothing as substantial as the place you describe was everfound.”

“It wasn’t meant to be found. The manwho created it wanted to be certain of that,” I informedher.

She scowled at me, “Perhaps it wouldhelp if you revealed your source of information. Obviously you havediscovered something, but we can’t assess its reliability withoutknowing more.” The set of her jaw hinted at controlled irritation,hiding just below the surface.

As so often was the caselately, I was tempted to react violently. That’s not normal, I wasn’t like this before.I struggled with my anger, waiting until I had afirmer grip on my words before replying, “I have a lot ofinformation now, but I will not share its source, other than totell you it was a family secret.” A familyI am not truly a part of. “What I can tellyou is that my ancestor, the man who created the Elentir Mountains,also created this island. And for reasons very similar to your ownwhen you hid your daughter, he made sure it would never bediscovered accidentally.”

“If it isn’t there, we may have toswim back,” observed Gareth. “After flying a full day out I don’tknow if I’ll have the strength to make it back toshore.”

I took my gauntlet off to let himgauge the power I had taken from the Iron Heart Chamber. “Ifnecessary, I can get us back.”

Noting the immense power I wasradiating, Gareth made a different observation, “You don’t need usat all. Why do you insist on dragging us along then?”

“You are the last livingarchmage, dragon or not,” I said. “There are things there youshould see. I may not be able to defeat Mal’goroth. I may not beable to fulfill Illeniel’s promise. If I can’t do both, the worldis forfeit. You are the best hope of success if I fail.That is why I’m draggingyou along.”

“Those are things to share with afriend, an ally, not a slave,” he remarked.

“I don’t have those luxuries anymore.I’m gambling that you will prefer to pick up where I left off if Icannot complete these things.”

A deep rumble came from the dragon.“You assume too much regarding my intentions.”

I don’t think so. Notafter what happened last night with Moira Centyr.I kept my thoughts to myself, though. “Let’s getgoing. We’ve talked enough,” I told them.

Gareth snapped his teeth together witha loud crack, an action that I assumed meant he was angry, butbefore he could respond Moira held up her hand. “Arguing won’t dous any good. We may as well see what this hidden island of his hasin store for us,” she said in a calming tone.

“If it is there,” grumbled thedragon.

“As hard as it may be to believe, hehasn’t shown himself to be a fool yet. Do you really doubt him, ordo you just like bickering?” she asked pointedly.

Gareth gave her a hard stare beforebending his foreleg for us to climb up. Muttering under his breathI could hear, “He’s still an asshole.” Considering the volume of adragon’s mutter, I had to assume he meant for me to hear him. Iignored the slight and took my place on his neck, a bit in front ofhis powerful shoulders.

It was an accurateassessment of my disposition these days, Iadmitted inwardly.

If Moira replied to him, it wassilently and without including me.

***

We had been flying for anhour with the sun at our backs and the endless water stretched outfor what seemed forever in every direction. The silence, except forthe tireless beating of Gareth’s wings, had become comfortable, andmy thoughts had been drifting. Considering the past, my mistakes,my family, I wondered where I had gone wrong. Correction, where ‘he’ went wrong.

I was surprised whenMoira’s thoughts broke into my reverie, There are some things you should know.

I raised a mental eyebrow but didn’tbother to formalize my question.

As you already know, theCentyr family was long known for their ability to create magicalsentience. While you are not the result of a deliberate spell suchas I might have woven, the nature of your condition is verysimilar.

I smiled inside myarmor. I’m not a gambling man, but I’d bewilling to bet you’re about to give me bad news.

She glanced backward, and I could seethe seriousness of her expression. I couldn’t help but admire theimprovement in her now human face. It conveyed her emotions muchbetter than the stone and earth had.

The Centyr wizards hadcenturies to practice their craft, experimenting with our specialgift, learning how to create stable personalities,she began.

Does