Read The Damned 02 - The Swords Of Night and Day for Free Online Page B

invaders. Tell me of the Eternal.’
    Gamal smiled. ‘I could tell you all I know, and that would be but a fraction of all there is to know.
    Suffice to say she is the queen of all the lands between here and the southern seas and the far western mountains. Her armies are now fighting battles on two continents. We live in a world that has been at war for more than five hundred years. For most of that time the Eternal has ruled. She is, like you and me, Skilgannon, a Reborn. I would imagine she has lost count of the number of bodies she has worn and discarded.’
    Gamal fell silent, lost in thought. Skilgannon waited for him to continue. After a while the old man drew in a deep, shuddering breath. He shivered. ‘I served her for five lifetimes. In those three hundred and thirty years I almost lost my humanity. Just as she has. We are not created to be immortal, Skilgannon. I do not fully understand it even now, but I know that death is necessary. Perhaps it is merely that we need the contrast. Without the darkness of night how can we fully appreciate the glory of the sunrise?’
    Skilgannon ignored the philosophical question. ‘If she has ruled all this time why is it that Landis Kan has not been troubled before?’
    ‘He served her faithfully. These lands were his reward.’
    ‘No,’ said Skilgannon. ‘I think there is more to it. That is why you did not want Landis here when we spoke.’
    The old man hesitated. ‘Yes, there is,’ he said finally. ‘You are very astute. Landis and I developed a talent for discovering artefacts of the ancient world - the world long, long before you fought your battles, Skilgannon. The Elder races had powers beyond imagination. Despite all our discoveries we still know very little. Like finding part of a rotted leaf, and trying to extrapolate from it what the tree might have been like. What we do know is that the ancients destroyed themselves. How or why remains a mystery.’
    ‘All this is fascinating,’ said Skilgannon, ‘but can we hold to the path?’
    ‘Of course, my boy. Forgive me. The mind wanders. You want to know why Landis has been so favoured.’ Gamal paused, as if to gather his thoughts. ‘He discovered her bones. He fought for her right to a new life, and when he succeeded, he and I went on to refine and improve the power of the artefacts, giving her immortality. We created the Eternal.’
    ‘I can see why she would reward you,’ said Skilgannon. ‘Why do you now fear her?’
    ‘One answer to that would be you, my boy. The Blessed Priestess and her prophecy. You know of whom I speak?’
    ‘Ustarte,’ said Skilgannon. ‘She came to me before the last battle. She told me I was to die, and she asked me to grant her a wish.’
    ‘She wanted to conduct your burial,’ said Gamal.
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Was she as wise as the legends tell us?’
    ‘I have not read all your legends. Those concerning me are ridiculous and far-fetched. But, yes, Ustarte was wise. She told me she had seen many futures, and some of them were bleak beyond despair.’
    ‘Did she tell you why she wanted your body?’
    ‘No. Nor did I ask. My concerns were for the battle against the Zharn. She assured me that I would win it.’
    ‘And you did.’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘You had put aside the Swords of Night and Day for more than ten years. Why did you wield them again?’
    ‘I had no choice. I was fifty-four years old and long past my prime. They aided me.’
    ‘They also cursed you, Skilgannon.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘It is why you were wandering in the Void for all those centuries. You could not pass on to the green fields.’
    ‘That is not why. None of the legends of my life you have here tell of the evils I committed.’
    ‘You are speaking of the massacre at Perapolis.’

    Skilgannon was surprised. ‘How is it that you know of it?’
    ‘I know many things I have not yet shared with Landis. You and I spoke in the Void. You were reluctant to return at first. There was a great part of your