Read The Druid's Spear (Ascent of the Gem Bearers Book 1) for Free Online

downward force of his jaw. Blood, hair, thin membrane, and bone moved back and forth in his mouth.
    He gulped the entire mass down his throat. Darkness soon brightened to light further down the passage way. Flame light entered his field of vision as a second cavernous room came into view.
    The moment he showed his form, raucous rejoicing began. Gowan’s descendants and allies were dressed in the customary crimson floor length shrouds. A cord of golden twine rested along the lapels. All their heads and faces were exposed. He wanted to be sure only the faithful stood in his presence.
    “Master Ludovicus has returned!”
    More celebratory commotion erupted from the cavern. Faces of every ethnicity knelt before him.
    “Your garments, master,” the one who uttered the proclamation stepped forward.
    Centuries had passed, but he still recognized Gowan’s descendants by the peculiar scent of their line’s blood and the signature tuft of white hair at the center of their heads.
    Ludo took the garments and studied them. Long fitted pantaloons made of stiff but flexible violet blue material. A soft shirt with openings for the arms was among them.
    He walked over to the proclaimer. The man seemed to shrink inside the cloak. Ludo turned the full force of his gaze upon him. “These are the garments of this time?” With a keen sense of pleasure he watched the color blanch from the human’s face. Juusha these humans may be, but none of them had ever seen him before. They simply sustained the legacies of their forefathers. Their voices lifted in joy but their hearts trembled at the sight of his visage. The tone of his voice had frightened them.
    “Yes, Master,” the proclaimer squeaked. “We also brought hooded outerwear to hide your face among men.”
    Ludo stuffed himself into the unwieldy garments. “Where is his location?”
    The proclaimer’s face took on a deathly pale hue.
    “Many apologies, master. We have searched for the past fifty years and have not found Rhychard’s descendant.”
    Ludo’s eyes narrowed into slits. This was not what he wanted to hear.
    “What do you mean, you haven’t found him?”
    “Master, we’ve sent scouts and hunters over the globe and have not found them. It’s unfortunate—”
    The proclaimer lost his voice as Ludo’s hands wrapped around his throat. The glint of his charcoal tipped talons overlapped the man’s head. The tip of one talon rested underneath the man’s twitching eye, nearly a centimeter away from the pupil. Through the thin barrier of his skin, the man’s heart beat like some kind of wild drum.
    All he’d have to do is squeeze…
    “Master!” another voice, this time female, called to him.
    Very slowly, Ludo turned his head to face this interloper.
    “What do you want?”
    Underneath her dark skin, he also saw the rush of color fade from her. Fear me, you weak, pathetic excuses for living flesh. Fear me.
    “I beg your indulgence to not destroy your servant. He holds a position of high regard in the world of men. His death would be conspicuous.”
    “Ineptitude must be punished.”
    “Yes Master,” she said as she fell to her knees, “but spare his life.”
    Ludo stared down at her while his fingers felt the blood thrum the proclaimer’s veins. The pulse of his breathing was shallow, the gusts of stale breath blew against the side of his face. Without warning he threw the man against the far wall. He heard an audible bone break and the idiot’s scream of pain.
    “He’ll live.” Ludo dismissed the man with a flick of his head.
    Others rushed to him while the woman lifted her head. Ludo came to her. “Fortunately for you, I know the place where Rhychard’s descendant lives. That is why the man is not dead, nor you. Take me to the transport.”
    “You are generous, Master.”
    These people were meant to be controlled , Ludo thought as he made his way through the throng. Left to themselves they descend into madness.
    He opened his hand, which had been