Bellatrix: Swords of Chaos, Book One

The Tchesht Lake was dammed on the south side by a huge stone structure. It was a magnificent thing to behold. The structure was solid black and stood taller than any palace in the land. The top was flat and smooth with access from below via a set of stairs that went on forever.The white and numerous release valves along the outside walls were designed to relieve the lake.Large parts of the structure would move to allow water to spill over to the south. Men from the castle of Zamek manned the dam but no one was certain who had built it or endowed it with its abilities.The massive structure was there before the great city had been founded. King Asdrack The Lonely sent a group of surveyors out and they had been the first recorded people to see the thing.At its base sat the south side of the Rzeka River as it traveled south to Oceana.

  Baron Hamilcar sat on his horse at the crest of a small hill overseeing the dam and sighed.How had things gone so wrong?

  He’d spoken to King Andard of Zamek who was eager to be about the hunt. The king was miffed as to why Hamilcar did not include him in on the hunt at the beginning, but Hamilcar had placated him and thought everything was going well.

  Then the king had ordered Hutch and his men to accompany Hamilcar, and ordered his mage, Aveyron back home. Why? He did not know but it just happened to be that Hutch’s group outnumbered Hamilcar’s two to one.He feigned pleasure at having the king’s men assist. It would help out greatly, he had said to the king.

  Bah!

  He had grown tired of the king, his men and his attitude. He was glad to be through with him.Now if could just find a way to separate himself from Hutch.

  “A breathtaking view, is it not?” asked Hutch from behind him. He had ridden up behind Hamilcar unaware.

  “Any clues as to who erected such a magnificent structure?”

  “They have found strange writings in some of the internal cavities, but our scholars have been unsuccessful at deciphering them.”Hutch pulled his horse up.

  “How much longer until we get to the Telusian pass?” Hamilcar asked.

  “It is a fortnight’s hard ride.Add two days if we take a leisurely pace.Once through the pass we must be careful.”

  “Aye, I don’t want to have a battle with the Zmarly,” Hamilcar mused.

  “May not be able to avoid it,” Hutch said.

  “If we do battle them, we both know the outcome,” Hamilcar said.

  “Aye,” Hutch agreed, leaning over his pommel.

  “Let us be off,” Hamilcar said.

  Hutch turned to his men.”The day grows a beard! Let us be on our way!”

  .

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