Conquest Of The Fallen: Dark Dominions

Rosa rendered this tidbit of history early the next morning as they sat outside on the porch, stuffing their bellies with Sekhmet\'s delicious baked bread. Rafel listened intently. The realm of saints, angels, and [Holy Ones] was Rosa\'s forte.

"King Thomopoulos argued her disregard and bold attacks on instituted authority. Tomasina argued blasphemy against the name of God. At her hanging, the city square filled, so much that many stood from nearby brownstone belvederes and watched it happen. Loyal monks in her death, built the Abbey. But it had to be far away from the threat of Thomopoulos and so the isles were chosen. .

."

"So the General Ian Noguri\'s death wasn\'t the first time power trumped truth in Eldoria?" Ravenna put in, she had made a sandwich of tomatoes and salad of her bread slice.

". . .no," said Rosamunde glumly. "Time makes it difficult for people to truly remember that history often repeats itself."

Rafel chewed quietly at the head of the table; it was his sword that had repeated history—in the case of the General, Noguri. And like Tomasina, the revolution loyalists had builded Ian a magnificent grotto. Funny! But how could he laugh? He who had entered that arena knowing the man stood no chance. Rafel had many sins to atone for.

It made him think, perhaps the Spectre\'s bolt to his chest was well deserved.

—some measure of penance.

Rosa\'s faith was rubbing off on him.

Aya noticed his quietness and quickly offered, "but there are close to forty islands interspersed in the Cold Sea, some little to only hold five trees, and others quite proportionate. How do we know which bears the Abbey?"

Sekhmet leaned in—she was closest to Rafel as his nurse—and replied. "A wise observation, Aya. I don\'t think a locator spell would work though. We have nothing of this ancient place. Tomasina died five hundred years go. This Abbey must be close to half a millennia old.

It\'s as elden as the tombs of the Ironborn who worshipped the Drowned god."

This comment made Rafel think of his [Bond], the Immortal Huntress. He placed down his mug and chipped in. "What happened to Anna? Did we also lose her?"

"Annabelle was gone when I returned to Emberfall. I\'m sorry, I wish I had better news." Ravenna shifted in her seat as she replied. "I don\'t think she\'s dead though. There were no charred bodies in the rubble. I think at worse odds, the Usurper has her."

Rafel noticed she didn\'t say \'my father\'. He saw Sekhmet frown beside him; she still hadn\'t gotten over that part of Ravenna being the daughter of their sworn enemy. Rafel raised his mug again, and took a quick sip of his honeyed tea.

"Please, Rosamunde. Go on."

"Well, I was going to say that\'s what you have me for," Rosa piped. "I know these islands like the palm of my hand. I could trace them in my sleep when I was seven. I know there are thirty seven different isles, three are conjoined so that from the skies, they seem to be thirty four in number.

I know the largest holds the Corynthian Academy of Witches, the most exclusive and elite private school in all the continent. I know the smallest of the isles is thirty feet across, and the only thing you\'d find on it is Karvan: the 10ft gorilla who calls it home.

It\'s the same way I also know the Abbey is two islands over, in a location notorious for its swinging thief monkeys, climbing tigers, blackflies, and rainforest thicker than the unibrow on a chimp."

Aya and Ravenna shared a laugh. Sekhmet grinned and said, "I would\'ve gone with pubic hair, but oh well, you\'re the one who\'s seen it!"

Rosa shook her head, and Sekhmet held up her hands. "We\'re at breakfast. A chimp\'s penis isn\'t a suitable topic of discussion," the former called sharply.

Ravenna whistled. "Shots fired!"

"Hey! You said it!" Sekhmet was nonchalant.

Rafel was not strong enough to condone an argument, so he held up his hand. The women looked to him and Sekhmet quit her teasing. She saw even sitting up was still a mild discomfort on Rafel\'s back. She adopted a strict caregiver tone, "You should still be on bed rest, my Lord. Internal healing is as much, if not more important than physical healing.

You should be taking the time to recuperate not thinking of jumping ship to go find an abandoned ancient temple in the middle of uncivilized land."

"The isles are not uncivilized!" Rosa cut back.

"You know what I mean!" Sekhmet returned.

"Ladies!" Rafel droned in a deep voice that quelled all forming replies. "I think we have all established this Book of Souls is important to my full, SPEEDY recovery. What would happen if a larger dragon than Myreen throws itself at this island to investigate? What would happen if Spectres swarm in? If they find the creek? The stone bridge?

The Cabin? I do not doubt your personal abilities, but I knew to be ready."

"But you promised me you wouldn\'t use the Book of Souls until you were strong enough!" Rosa whined.

"I did, and I won\'t," said Rafel. "But that doesn\'t mean we just let it lie dormant now that we know where it is; where any silly [Rank C Adventurer] or Tomb raider can just strut in and take it. Or worse, it\'ll end up on the back of the [Tormentor] again."

"We get your point, Lord Master," Aya offered. She then turned her alluring violet eyes to Rosa. "How can we get to this jungle isle?"

Rosamunde\'s gray gaze shimmered with the possibility of exploration. It was the detective in her, always eager to solve puzzle and conquer cyphers. The glaze in her eyes was just like the time she\'d solved her first homicide case.

She grinned widely as she said, "A ferry will take us there."