Read The Guardian Chronicles: Book 03 - The Dark Tide for Free Online Page B

Kana once his fallen mistress had achieved her designs in getting the orb.”
    “How does Drogan think he is going to accomplish this?” asked Khalida.  She was skeptical of the dark lord’s abilities especially since Kana had obviously grown more powerful in the past few months.  Even with his connection to the underworld, he was still limited in what he could do in the world of the living.
    “He believes that by the end of the war that his powers will have returned to their full strength and that he will then be a match for her.”
    “He is still an insufferable dolt after all these centuries.  I think that his extended stay in that icy fortress addled his brains” said Lord Neb critically.  He knew that it was not the cold but the isolation from his master in the underworld that had weakened him.  Still, he thought that the dark lord would have come up with something more than his weak plan.
    “There is some truth to your assessment Neb…I spoke to the dark lord for some time after I leveled that accursed mountain.  I returned with him to his home in the north where I reformed the barrier that had been breached.  Kana only made a small break in it, but it was enough to allow Drogan’s fiends to escape.  Once he knew that he was trapped once more, he told me everything about Kana and what her plans were.  She is going to return to the battle for Landen within the next couple of days.  She has moved the orcs around to balance her assault.  She will likely join the demons once she learns that they are leaderless.”  There were a few moments of silence at the mention that the guardian had decimated the mountain that was the source of all evil.  Such a feat was not to be taken lightly…not to mention the fact he resealed the breach without their help.  That mountain was the place the keeper was always so close to breaking free into the world of the living.
    “We must return at once to aid the armies in Landen” replied Khalida resolutely as she broke the silence that had fallen in the great domed hall.  She was a little taken aback by the power her master had used.
    “You will return to them once you and the council have discussed strategies.  I must be off…I have things that need attending to.  I will be out of contact with you for some time, but I think that you will be too busy to notice.  I will return when the time is right.”  With a resounding crack Lord Adair disappeared.  A fine mist swirled momentarily and the vanished just as the guardian had.  As the guardian was disapparating, he looked at Necia one last time with a look that showed how much he distrusted her.
    “Well, we should hurry this up a bit…it sounds like Landen is surrounded by three orc armies, two high elven armies, wolves, spiders, and Drogan’s fiends.  They are going to need all the help they can get” Lord Keb said meaningfully.  He seemed more substantive now as though he had purpose again.  He still looked at Necia as though he wanted to snuff her out of existence for her loyalty to the fallen guardian.
    “Too right you are Keb…let’s get on with it” chimed in Lord Neb.  He slapped Keb hard on the shoulder to show his genial support and as a way of welcoming him back.  He knew that though his friend would need to have him watch over him for a little while.  He was clearly not fully recovered.  Keb’s state of mind was the one thing that really concerned the water lord.  He was already planning out how to keep track of the earth lord for the foreseeable future.
    The guardians talked for a couple more hours before they all returned to Landen.  Ladies Necia and Hilzarie were asked to defend against Drogan’s hordes.  Lords Neb and Keb were assigned to the western cliff and the eastern part of Renshaw.  They would receive help from the Seda according to Khalida.  Neb and Keb looked questioningly at one another when she told them this.  Neither one believed her, but they would accept help