{"id":5119,"date":"2026-01-04T01:07:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T01:07:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/the-dark-ability-04-blood-of-the-watcher-holmberg-d-k\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T01:07:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T01:07:59","slug":"the-dark-ability-04-blood-of-the-watcher-holmberg-d-k","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/the-dark-ability-04-blood-of-the-watcher-holmberg-d-k\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dark Ability 04 – Blood of the Watcher – Holmberg, D K"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Book Preview<\/h3>\n
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Chapter 1<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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A<\/span><\/span> sliver<\/span> of moon peeked out from behind a thick bank of clouds. Gentle rain drizzled down, leaving the stones in this part of Lower Town slick beneath his boots. Rsiran shifted the sword still sheathed at his side, a flush of embarrassment coursing through him that he still carried it with him. He had no ability with the sword, and if it came to actually using <\/i>a sword, he would be in more trouble than if he were to simply Slide away.<\/p>\n

Jessa stood at his side, holding tightly to his hand, as if she were concerned that he might leave her behind. He suspected that she\u2019d seen something on his face, maybe the tension as his jaw muscle twitched, or the fact that he continued to check his knives to make certain they were still there.<\/p>\n

The darkness in Lower Town didn\u2019t bother him as it once did. There were shades present that had not been there before, and a certain clarity that he wasn\u2019t accustomed to seeing. Once he would have been thankful for such a change, now he only worried about why it had.<\/p>\n

A single cat yowled down a distant alley. He didn\u2019t wait to see if it would repeat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard another,\u201d Jessa said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter,\u201d Rsiran answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course it matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head. He hadn\u2019t managed to shake the foul mood he\u2019d been in for the last few weeks. They had walked along the docks, Jessa guiding him and likely knowing that he normally found the waves crashing along the shore soothing. Not today. Now with each wave, he felt a surge of anxiety, as if the water simply served to remind him of how much danger he posed to his friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrusus wanted us to meet him here again tonight,\u201d Jessa said.<\/p>\n

The Wretched Barth had once been a place of safety to them, a place where they could meet, and dice, and discuss plans, all with some semblance of comfort. That had been before Lianna had died, and before everything that Rsiran did drew them ever deeper into the plans of the Forgotten and Venass. Now the pub held nothing but memories of Brusus\u2019s attack, and when Thom had Compelled Haern to attack them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was he thinking having us come here?\u201d Rsiran asked.<\/p>\n

Jessa pulled the door open\u2014he could tell from the brief widening of her eyes that she hadn\u2019t been certain whether she could without having to pick the lock\u2014and stepped into the tavern.<\/p>\n

The soft sounds of a lute played near the far end of the tavern, though Rsiran saw no one there. A fire crackled in the hearth, giving a warmth to the place. The scent of roasted meat and hot ale filled the tavern.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the Barth was closed,\u201d Rsiran said, confusion replacing some of the worry he felt. After the attacks, the tavern had been shuttered. What would make anyone want to return here?<\/p>\n

Brusus came from behind a door that led to the kitchen and saw them. He carried a mug of ale in one hand, and when he saw them, a wide smile spread across his face. \u201cAh, finally you\u2019ve come!\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran glanced over at Jessa and she shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrusus?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

He tipped his head in a nod. \u201cThought some ale might cheer us all up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we doing here?\u201d Rsiran asked.<\/p>\n

Brusus\u2019s brow furrowed and he gave a puzzled smile. \u201cWhat do we always do here?\u201d<\/p>\n

He sat at a table, pulled a packet of ivory dice from his pocket, and set it on the table next to his mug of ale. As he did, the door opened and Haern entered. His eyes took in the tavern with a quick sweep and then he grunted, flopping himself onto a stool.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to have to get your own ale,\u201d Brusus said to him.<\/p>\n

Haern studied Brusus\u2019s face for a moment, and then he shrugged and made his way into the kitchen, returning a moment later with a full mug.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two going to just stand there or are you going to join us and dice? I admit, it might not be as spirited as when Firell joined us,\u201d he said, his face clouding for a moment, \u201cbut I think we can all admit that it\u2019s been too long since we took the time to sit together and simply relax.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Barth is closed,\u201d Rsiran said.<\/p>\n

Brusus looked around and laughed softly. \u201cClosed? Looks like we\u2019ve got it open, doesn\u2019t it, Haern?\u201d<\/p>\n

Haern grunted. A coin flipped between the fingers of his left hand while his right hand traced over the scar that ran along the side of his face. \u201cOpen enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessa shrugged again and took a seat next to Haern.<\/p>\n

He glanced at her, tipping his head to the side, and his eyes went distant for a moment as they often did when he attempted a Seeing. When they came back into focus, he nodded to her. \u201cYou\u2019re still well.\u201d It came out as a statement, rather than a question.<\/p>\n

Jessa patted him on the shoulder and smiled. \u201cStill well, Haern.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran shook off his confusion and took a seat. Brusus rolled the dice across the table and nodded toward the kitchen. \u201cYou might want to get yourself a mug of ale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSince neither of you two was accommodating, I\u2019ll get us each one,\u201d Jessa said.<\/p>\n

She made her way to the kitchen, and Rsiran watched her go before turning his attention back to Brusus.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is this?\u201d Rsiran asked. \u201cI thought Karin closed the Barth after the attack and put it up for sale.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brusus nodded. \u201cShe did. And it sold.\u201d<\/p>\n

It took Rsiran a moment to make the connection. \u201cYou?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course me. Who else were you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not concerned about what happened here?\u201d Rsiran asked.<\/p>\n

Brusus waved a hand as he took another drink. \u201cWhat\u2019s to worry about? The Forgotten got what they were after, and as far as they know, I\u2019m dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey weren\u2019t after you,\u201d Rsiran said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe not. Either way, they think I\u2019m gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the tavern\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas bought by a certain Tolstan Imolat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran looked from Brusus to Haern, frowning as he did. \u201cWho is Tolstan Imolat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Haern started shaking his head. \u201cDamn fool, that\u2019s who he is,\u201d he said. The coin that he flipped between his fingers continued to move, spinning atop his knuckles. When it came to rest, he slapped it onto the table and picked up the dice, shaking them in his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou?\u201d Rsiran asked Brusus.<\/p>\n

He shrugged. \u201cThought I needed to take on a different name, especially after what happened to me. Can\u2019t have the Forgotten hearing my real name bandied about. Kind of ruins the ruse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it wasn\u2019t the exiled Elvraeth who attacked you,\u201d Rsiran reminded.<\/p>\n

Brusus looked around the tavern, his eyes darting toward the door to the kitchen. It still felt strangely empty in the Wretched Barth without Lianna, as if the spirit of the place had changed when she had died. Then it had been a place of safety, where they hadn\u2019t needed to fear attack or poisoning, but after Lianna\u2019s death, Brusus had been poisoned and Rsiran and Jessa nearly killed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t only Venass, either,\u201d Brusus said.<\/p>\n

Jessa pushed open the door to the kitchen, walking stiffly. For a moment, Rsiran worried that something had happened to her while she was there, but she came out carrying two large mugs of steaming ale. She smiled broadly as she weaved around the tables in the tavern, making her way to where they sat, and managed to set them down without spilling any.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like someone could use a job,\u201d Brusus said.<\/p>\n

Jessa punched him on the shoulder. \u201cYou hire your own help if you\u2019re intent to run this place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew?\u201d Rsiran asked.<\/p>\n

She shrugged. \u201cWhen he asked us to come here, I suspected. I\u2019d heard that the Barth had sold, but I didn\u2019t recognize the name. A little digging, and it seems no one <\/i>recognized the name. Figured his invitation to meet here was too much of a coincidence to be only that.\u201d<\/p>\n

She dropped a hand to his shoulder and leaned into Rsiran\u2019s ear to whisper. \u201cBesides, it\u2019s good to give him something else to worry about, you know? Everything else that\u2019s going on, he\u2019s starting to feel helpless.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brusus tossed a handful of coin on the table. \u201cYou know, I can hear you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessa twisted to look over at him. \u201cWhy else would I have said it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brusus slapped Haern\u2019s hand, and the dice went spinning across the table. \u201cNow you\u2019re only being mean. Besides, I thought you\u2019d want to have someplace safe for us to meet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessa took a seat and spun to face Brusus. \u201cThis isn\u2019t safe. They know that this has been our place. What happens when the Forgotten come after us again?\u201d she asked, lowering her voice as she did, even though they were the only ones in the tavern. She turned to Haern. \u201cWhat happens when Venass makes a play at us again? You know what they\u2019re after\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we think <\/i>they\u2019re after,\u201d Brusus countered. \u201cThere is a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessa grabbed the dice and tossed them across the table. \u201cWhatever. Now that Thom and the rest of Venass know what Rsiran can do, we\u2019re not really safe anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haern clasped his hands together on the table and looked to Rsiran. \u201cNo. I suppose we\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran glanced toward Brusus, but he just sipped his ale and shrugged. \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re here,\u201d Brusus started. \u201cHave to figure out our next move.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haern reached over and grabbed Rsiran\u2019s wrist. He was much older than Rsiran and didn\u2019t have the strength that years spent working at the forge afforded Rsiran, but there was strength in his grip. \u201cAs much as Brusus likes to think he\u2019s the center of our world, since we met you, you <\/i>seem to be in the middle of everything that happens. We have years of knowing how to be careful\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of us fewer than others,\u201d Jessa said.<\/p>\n

Haern ignored her and kept his focus on Rsiran. \u201cOne lesson you needed to learn was that there are times when you have to be hard, and others when you have to be compassionate. So far, I\u2019ve seen only compassion from you even when it places us in more danger. Time for that to change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not soft, Haern,\u201d Jessa said.<\/p>\n

Haern released Rsiran\u2019s wrist and picked up the dice. He flipped them between his fingers, twisting them slowly and then dumped them onto the table. They landed a pair of ones. \u201cNever said that. Boy wouldn\u2019t have survived half of what he\u2019s been through if that were the case, but he\u2019s got a gentle heart, and that\u2019s going to get one of us killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran wondered if Jessa had shared with them that Josun had escaped. That Firell had freed him in exchange for his daughter. So far, it hadn\u2019t mattered. Josun hadn\u2019t come back for them. But he would. He\u2019d already proven how far he would go, first killing Lianna, then capturing Rsiran, and most recently having taken Jessa prisoner.<\/p>\n

It was the reason that Rsiran always kept himself on edge, always looking around. But how far would <\/i>he go? He hadn\u2019t been willing to kill Josun. Anyone he had <\/i>harmed, he\u2019d done out of a need for self-protection. Haern might think that he needed to be harder, but what happened if he found he enjoyed it too much? What happened if his abilities turned him into something darker?<\/p>\n

Jessa watched him as if Reading him. She shook her head slowly from side to side.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen, are we going to dice or are we going to sit here and talk?\u201d Brusus grumbled. \u201cWe\u2019ve got this wonderful tavern all to ourselves. I thought you all would want <\/i>to be here, but all I get from you is arguing. And I get enough of that from Haern.\u201d He took them all in with a glance, then quieted. \u201cLet\u2019s have a quiet, enjoyable night, and then we can start figuring out what we need to do with both Venass and the Forgotten tomorrow. Seems like it\u2019s time for us to sort that out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haern looked at Rsiran for a moment more and then picked up the dice, rolling them in his hand and dumping them on the table one more time. \u201cTomorrow,\u201d he agreed as the dice settled, again coming up with ones.<\/p>\n

Rsiran couldn\u2019t help but wonder if another day mattered. He might have held one of the Great Crystals and had sat next to the Great Watcher, but what did that matter when the Forgotten and Venass were after him? How many times would he be able to Slide away before one of them caught up to him? And then what would he do? Would <\/i>he be hard enough to do what was needed?<\/p>\n

This time, Haern watched him, his eyes slightly distant as he attempted a Seeing. He blinked and sent the dice sliding across the top of the table, all without taking his gaze off Rsiran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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