Read Online Cathexis: Necromancer's Dagger by Philip Blood - Free Book Online Page A

him an interesting view
of her low cut dress.
    “I hear, but I don’t completely understand,”
Jatar answered, “but that’s all right, so long as you understand
how it works, however, you do it,
I thank you; I feel completely whole.” To demonstrate his health
Jatar pulled Elizabeth into the chair on top of him and kissed her
welcoming mouth.
    A moment later Elizabeth came up for air and
said, “I pronounce the patient healed.”
    “Now I do think I remember something you
said earlier about ruffled clothing later in the evening?” Jatar
noted with a sly smile.
    “Now wherever did you hear me say that?
Besides, I’m sure you’re too tired from your duel and need your bed
rest, don’t you, milord?” asked Elizabeth with a cute little smile
and a provocative wiggle.
    “I agree with you, bed is where we shall
retire, though I doubt I will be asleep immediately.” The
completely healed Lord Jatar picked up his wife and carried her to
their sleeping chamber.
     
    The morning of Michael’s first birth
celebration arrived with bright sunshine through the window of Lord
and Lady Ardellen’s sleeping chamber. Jatar opened sleep encrusted
eyes to see dust motes dancing in a beam of early morning sunlight.
The empty rumpled white linens next to him were evidence of his
wife’s recent occupation.
    Elizabeth’s melodic voice spoke from across
the room, “Good, you’re awake. I was just about to get you up
anyway.”
    “ Vorg’s breath, you can’t hide anything from a sorceress! What did you do,
see my aura change when I woke up?” Jatar exclaimed petulantly, his
hair sticking out in all directions.
    “My, aren’t we grumpy this morning. And no,
I didn’t watch your aura, you simply stopped snoring.”
    “I don’t snore.”
    “Yes you do; and how would you know anyway,
you were asleep!” she argued logically.
    Jatar held up one hand with three fingers
extended and counted them off. “I forgot the three most important
rules; never argue with a woman, certainly not with your wife and
most especially never argue with a sorceress. G’lan help me, you’re
all three!” Jatar groaned and pulled the covers over his head.
    Elizabeth picked up their son and turned him
so that his small face pointed toward the bed. “Look, see that lump
in the bed? That’s your lazy father who won’t even get up to wish
you a joyous first year of birth.”
    Jatar surfaced from the covers like a
breaching whale, which sent the covers off the bed while he bounced
up onto his knees. “That’s right, today is Michael’s birth
celebration; we must make ready for the ceremony!”
    Elizabeth smiled warmly at the disheveled
apparition kneeling on their bed, happy that her ploy had worked so
well. Jatar’s back was to the bright sunshine and from Elizabeth’s
position his features were obscured by darkness. Her smile slipped
into worry and a matching shadow crept over her soul, but then
Jatar moved and his smiling face returned to sight.
    “Let me hold my son!” he exclaimed.
    Elizabeth smiled again and handed Michael
into her husband’s waiting arms. The sorceress wondered why she was
worried since the immediate threat from Tysol was over. She decided
to try and enjoy the festivities of the day and set aside her
worries for another time.
    Elizabeth smiled slightly as she watched her
husband and their son; it always amazed her how a man who could
fight to the death in a sword duel, or negotiate sternly with other
kingdoms, could then hold his baby son so gently and lovingly.
Elizabeth realized that she was in love with him as much now as she
was when they had married six years ago, perhaps even more so.
    Jatar cradled his son in his strong arms and
looked down into the boy’s face. “Today is your day, son. Before it
is over I will affirm you as heir to my throne!”
     
    The three conspirators were gathered in a
room within the Ardellen palace in Lindankar. The necromancer was
still under the influence of the tatrin pollen. He