The Scarab's Command (The Savage and the Sorcerer Book 3) Read online

  “It should be obvious by now. If it’s not, you are as blind as you are bald.”

  “Well, I’m not entirely bald.”

  “Then I hope you aren’t entirely blind either.” She hugged him from behind. “Relax, Finster. Don’t take it all on yourself. Share what is on your mind.”

  The succulent blonde’s soothing voice convinced him. “You know of the Circle, I suppose?”

  “Yes, they are the assassins’ guild of the seven kingdoms.”

  “So, you know what they say?”

  “There is no mark they cannot find. There is no person they cannot kill.” She nuzzled her cheek in his back just below the scarab. “Do you believe this?”

  “What I believe is that they only conduct business in the kingdoms. Their eyes are everywhere in the seven cities. For the time being, I hope to avoid the seven. There will be no refuge there until this is all over.”

  “That could take a lifetime.”

  “No, it’s not going to take a lifetime. It’s just going to take lives. Thousands of them so long as King Rolem is behind it.”

  “Why don’t you just kill him?”

  The horse started up a ledge of rocks, jostling them hard in the saddle. Finster gripped the reins tightly. “Whoa! Whoa! Bloody beast has a mind of his own. Go around the rocks, not through them. Where were we, oh, yes, assassinate King Rolem. Well, that’s not what a sorcerer of the high order does. If we did, the kingdoms would war all of the time like they did centuries ago. No, men have to learn to resolve their own problems. We are just here to guide them.”

  “But these are bad men. You should kill them.”

  “Only in a fair fight.”

  “Pisshaw! These kings do not fight fair. If they did, they wouldn’t have sent assassins after you. I say, use your power. It’s your destiny, Finster. I can feel it.”

  Unable to hide his smile, he replied, “You are not good for my conscience. Don’t you know that magus have the most bloated egos in the realms? I have enough of a dilemma controlling the stone. Either I control it, or it controls me.”

  “How powerful do you think you are?” she practically whispered in his ear.

  “I’m not sure I want to find out.” He reached behind him and squeezed her leg. “Well, that’s a lie.”

  “I know.”

  They rode for two more days, with Finster weighing all of his options. Finally, he led them to where the wilderness turned into a marsh rich in willow trees with leaves that tickled the waters. In the middle of the overgrown, rancid-smelling, uninhabitable marsh was a small lake, rich in toads on lily pads and thick in mosquitos. On the other side of the lake stood a stone tower ten stories tall that rivaled the great maple trees surrounding it. Vines, moss, and ivy covered the tower from top to bottom. It stood eerily in the mist that hid its doors, leaning slightly to the right.

  “What in the kingdoms is that place?” Rinny said.

  “It’s called the Black Tower.”

  NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES

  Thanks for reading The Scarab’s Command. I’ve decided to continue the series, and the next book will be out soon. How many will I do? I don’t know, but I think we can all have a lot of fun with Moth and Finster. Yes, I said that in the last book, but I’m starting to get a better feel for making this a full-length story published in one big edition. So stay tuned.

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  Craig Halloran resides with his family outside his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. When he isn’t entertaining mankind, he is seeking adventure, working out, or watching sports. To learn more about him, go to: www.thedarkslayer.com.

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  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

&
nbsp; CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES

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