{"id":5121,"date":"2026-01-04T01:08:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T01:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/the-dark-ability-05-the-shadowsteel-forge-holmberg-d-k\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T01:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T01:08:06","slug":"the-dark-ability-05-the-shadowsteel-forge-holmberg-d-k","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/the-dark-ability-05-the-shadowsteel-forge-holmberg-d-k\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dark Ability 05 – The Shadowsteel Forge – 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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R<\/span><\/span>siran Lareth settled<\/span> to his knees on the ground, shifting the long, heartstone alloy sword he carried to the side. He\u2019d grown more accustomed to carrying it, now hidden beneath the long cloak of black wool that he chose to wear. Six lorcith knives were tucked loosely into his belt as well, easy enough to push <\/i>if the need came. He maintained a heartstone-infused shielding over his mind, especially here where Readers might be able to reach through simpler barriers.<\/p>\n

A shadow swept past him in the street, moving quickly. He detected no lorcith on the person, though hadn\u2019t expected to. The metal was rare enough in Upper Town; down in Lower Town, the only people who would carry lorcith were those Rsiran had given it to.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is she?\u201d Jessa crouched behind him, buried in the shadows as well, though she carried so much lorcith on her that she nearly glowed. Not only the lorcith charm she wore around her neck, a white flower now pressed into it, but the bracelets that he\u2019d forged for her shone with a white light as well. Thankfully, he was the only one able to see the lorcith light glowing from them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Rsiran answered in a whisper, praying to the Great Watcher that his voice didn\u2019t carry.<\/p>\n

With the steady crashing of waves striking the shore farther below him, not much sound managed to carry, but he\u2019d learned to be careful. Those with enhanced hearing, people known as Listeners, might be able to catch what he said, regardless. The ability wasn\u2019t as common as Sight, but common enough, even in Lower Town.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me again why are we watching her like this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran turned to Jessa. Her hair had grown past her shoulders now, and she tied it back with a loop of lace, accenting her sharp jawline and pointed nose. Her chin tilted toward the flower she kept tucked in her charm, and she sniffed at it softly. He had yet to learn the meaning of the flower, but felt confident it had something to do with what happened to her before she returned to Elaeavn. It was a time she rarely spoke of, even to him. Maybe especially to him, he decided.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I know she won\u2019t ask for my help, and she doesn\u2019t understand the extent of the threat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you <\/i>understand the extent of the threat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran turned toward the street again, watching the shadows. Finally, he detected the faint sense of lorcith approaching. This wasn\u2019t one of his forgings, so the tug on his senses wasn\u2019t as strong, but he could still tell when it neared. \u201cI don\u2019t know what I know anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessa reached toward his hand and squeezed it. She said nothing else, but then, there wasn\u2019t anything for her to say.<\/p>\n

The lorcith came closer, and gradually the figure carrying it came into view as little more than a shadow down the street. Rsiran crept closer to the street, still keeping himself under the cover of darkness.<\/p>\n

When Alyse neared, he recognized her primarily by the way the lorcith necklace that their father had crafted tugged on his senses. Other than that, they had no real connection. She might be his sister, but she had abandoned him long ago, leaving him to the darkness of his father\u2019s punishment.<\/p>\n

Rsiran had been watching her for the last two weeks, monitoring her comings and goings to and from her small apartment. Ever since he had learned about the guild, and had done what he could to stop the Forgotten, he had monitored her. The Alchemist Guild had released her once the rest of the smiths had been returned, leaving her back in Lower Town, alone. She had not searched for him in that time.<\/p>\n

If she had only taken his offer for direct protection, this wouldn\u2019t be necessary, but Alyse was stubborn. In that, they were more similar than she would ever admit.<\/p>\n

The mornings were less worrisome for him. Enough people were out in the streets that it made it less likely that someone would try something against her. Not impossible. Rsiran had learned enough to know that nothing was really impossible. But grabbing her off a street full of people would raise the kinds of questions that the people after him\u2014either the remnants of the Forgotten or Venass\u2014would rather not have asked.<\/p>\n

Nighttime was when he worried. He could track her as long as she wore her lorcith necklace, and he\u2019d made a point of ensuring that he remained attuned to it, even if he hadn\u2019t forged it. With enough focus, he was able to follow her throughout the city. Nothing like his connection to the charm Jessa wore, but he was tied to it well enough now that he generally knew when she left.<\/p>\n

That was the reason he ended up here. From here, he could follow her all the way back to her apartment. Each night had been uneventful, and he hoped it would stay that way, but he wouldn\u2019t ignore the threat to her, not when she\u2019d already been used against him once.<\/p>\n

As Alyse neared the small alley where he and Jessa hid, she glanced in his direction.<\/p>\n

Rsiran tensed and prepared to Slide deeper into the shadows, but held off. Jessa had taught him that movement only drew the eye. Remain still, and he was less likely to be spotted, even if he was more out in the open than he would have liked.<\/p>\n

Then she moved on. At least she remained alert. That gave him a certain sense of reassurance that she might make it safely through streets that could be dangerous, and for her, likely were.<\/p>\n

Rsiran held Jessa\u2019s hand and prepared to Slide.<\/p>\n

She squeezed and pulled on him. \u201cHow much longer do you intend to watch her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as I have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know you don\u2019t have to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran glanced over to Jessa. \u201cShe\u2019s my sister. Alyse might not claim me, but that doesn\u2019t mean I can ignore that, especially after what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessa punched him softly. \u201cThat\u2019s not what I mean. There are others, now. We don\u2019t have to do this by ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran sighed. For so long, it had been Jessa, Brusus, and Haern. And Della, but she rarely left her home. Now there were others, though he still struggled with how much he could\u2014and should\u2014trust them. Had Sarah and Valn come to him sooner, had they been willing to bring him into their planning rather than trying to chase him throughout the city, Rsiran might have found Alyse sooner. He might have found a way to even save his father from Venass. But they had not, choosing the secrecy the guilds\u2014especially the Alchemist Guild\u2014were known for.<\/p>\n

\u201cEventually,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I\u2019ll help with whatever you need,\u201d Jessa said.<\/p>\n

When Alyse disappeared from view, they Slid, moving down the street and emerging in the shadows of another alleyway. The street looked little different. Gradients of shadows from the buildings were all he could see. If lorcith were present, it would brighten the street for him, but he hadn\u2019t dared place lorcith so openly around the city. Not yet, anyway. He had planted many of his own forged items for him to anchor to, but they were placed discreetly, out of sight. Now that the lorcith glowed for him, he thought to use the ore to light his way, but had not done so yet. There was always too much to do.<\/p>\n

From their new location, he strained to reconnect to the lorcith necklace Alyse wore, but didn\u2019t find it where he expected to.<\/p>\n

Rsiran frowned and cast a wider search for the lorcith. When he discovered it, she was two streets from where he would have expected her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d Jessa whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably nothing.\u201d He hoped that was true. Alyse took the same path both ways\u2014to and from her apartment\u2014and had never diverged from it, but it was possible that she needed to stop for food or supplies or\u2026 or maybe she hadn\u2019t stopped at all.<\/p>\n

Grabbing tightly to Jessa\u2019s hand, Rsiran pulled<\/i> her in a Slide. When he emerged this time, he did so along the edge of a wider street. He should be more careful, but sudden worry for Alyse made him a little reckless.<\/p>\n

He saw her at the same time that she saw him, her eyes going wide.<\/p>\n

A man had her thrown over his shoulder as he carried her down the street. From where Rsiran stood, he could smell the stink from the docks wafting off the man. He was tall, with thick muscles that strained at the rolled up sleeves of his shirt. Even as a smith and working the forge as often as he did, Rsiran hadn\u2019t grown nearly as muscled as this man.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot of Elaeavn,\u201d Jessa whispered.<\/p>\n

Rsiran couldn\u2019t see the color of his eyes, but he trusted Jessa and her Sight. He could see the outline of scars on his forearms, making Rsiran immediately fear that the man worked with Venass. \u201cRelease her,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The man turned slowly. There was a soft whistle.<\/p>\n

Jessa slammed into him, and they tumbled to the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome kind of dart,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Rsiran pulled<\/i> himself into a Slide, not needing to stand. When he emerged, he was behind the man, and pushed<\/i> a knife at him, aiming for his legs.<\/p>\n

Somehow, the man detected the knife and stomped on it, dropping it to the ground.<\/p>\n

The man puffed his cheeks and there came another soft whistle.<\/p>\n

Rsiran Slid.<\/p>\n

He emerged to the left of the man, and pushed <\/i>another knife toward him. Without waiting to see if the man would notice him, he Slid again, emerging on his other side, and pushed <\/i>another knife. Three knives remained.<\/p>\n

Rsiran Slid back to where Jessa waited.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you slowed him,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The man lumbered toward a darkened alley.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t look like I slowed him much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave any other ideas?\u201d<\/p>\n

He forced a tight smile. \u201cYeah, but you\u2019re not going to like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unsheathing the sword, he slammed it into the stone. Jessa started shaking her head as Rsiran Slid again.<\/p>\n

This time, he emerged behind the man. Rather than attacking, he grabbed onto Alyse and Slid.<\/p>\n

The man was strong, but Rsiran anchored to the sword, using it to help pull<\/i> him while carrying Alyse. The Slide was an oozing sensation, and then he felt her pop free of the man\u2019s grip as they emerged back near Jessa and his sword.<\/p>\n

The large man turned toward him.<\/p>\n

Rsiran grabbed the sword, and pulled <\/i>as he ripped it free from the stone. Jessa grabbed his hand, and then he Slid all three of them away.<\/p>\n

When they emerged near the Wretched Barth, he lowered his sister to the ground, and she backed away from him, mouth agape and seeming a bit wobbly. A deep bruised had formed on her cheek, likely from when the massive man had grabbed her.<\/p>\n

He leaned against the side of the tavern and let out a shaky breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn, Rsiran,\u201d Jessa whispered. \u201cThat was a little too close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you\u2026 how did you\u2026\u201d Alyse brought her hand to her cheek and rubbed it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay?\u201d Alyse asked, already regaining the hard edge to her voice that she always managed with him. \u201cI was attacked in the streets, and you\u2019re asking if I\u2019m okay? What do you think, Rsiran, that this happens to me every day?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessa grinned at him. \u201cSeems like she\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been watching to make sure that you stay safe. After what happened the last time, I didn\u2019t want to risk anything else happening to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou feel some responsibility for me? Since when? I seem to remember that you were the one who abandoned us, Rsiran. Where did this sudden protective streak come from?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough!\u201d Jessa said. She pulled a knife from a hidden pocket more quickly than Alyse could blink, and jabbed it toward her. \u201cYou think to lecture him after what he did to save you? We can take you back and let that man have you if you want. I don\u2019t have to think too hard to imagine how he would use you. Trust me when I say that a man like that only knows one way to treat women.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alyse blinked and her shoulders sagged. Whatever fight she had in her faded. \u201cHe didn\u2019t say that he wanted anything from me. He grabbed me, and that was it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe silent ones are the worst,\u201d Jessa said. \u201cAt first, it\u2019s slaps, but the fists come soon enough.\u201d She pointed to the bruise that bloomed on Alyse\u2019s cheek. \u201cMaybe that one just jumped to the fists. I\u2019m sure Rsiran could Slide you back to him. Won\u2019t take him but a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alyse shook her head vigorously. \u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessa grunted. \u201cNot all of us get to live your charmed life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharmed? My life is anything but charmed. Ever since he <\/i>decided to run off, there\u2019s been nothing charmed about it. We\u2019ve had to work for everything and still have nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessa slipped her knife back into its sheath beneath her jacket. \u201cMost of us always had to work for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran suppressed a grin. He had been with her long enough to know that she hadn\u2019t necessarily worked the same way that Alyse meant. Sneaking as she did required a certain level of work, but he imagined that what Alyse had been through was worse than what Jessa knew.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we done?\u201d Rsiran asked.<\/p>\n

Jessa glared at Alyse. \u201cDepends on her<\/i>. She didn\u2019t answer whether she wants you to take her back to that big man. You could Slide her there if she wants.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Alyse said softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d Jessa asked, stepping toward Alyse.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said no. I don\u2019t want to go back there. Not if he\u2019s there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran tipped his head and studied the bruise again, finally piecing together what Jessa had been saying. He had thought her taunting Alyse, and that might have been a part of it, but not the whole reason. Jessa had seen something that Rsiran had missed. With her Sight, that should not surprise him.<\/p>\n

He realized that it wasn\u2019t only the new bruise; there were others that he hadn\u2019t seen at first. In the faint lantern light out on the street, he could make out the edges of the bruising around her right eye, but also scratches to her arms. Then there was the tentative way that she walked, moving slowly, and carefully, as if it hurt when she moved too quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve met him before,\u201d Rsiran said.<\/p>\n

Alyse backed away, looking more uncertain than he\u2019d ever seen her. The defiant way that she had stared at him when he first rescued her took on a different meaning. It wasn\u2019t defiance; it was posturing. \u201cI\u2019ve not met him,\u201d she said. Jessa arched a brow. \u201cThere\u2019s another. He doesn\u2019t hold me\u2026 after.\u201d She said the last softly, and Rsiran almost missed it. \u201cBut this man\u2026 I hadn\u2019t seen him before. He grabbed me and said nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rsiran glanced to Jessa. \u201cYou knew?\u201d<\/p>\n

The irritation that had been in Jessa\u2019s face eased. \u201cLook at her, Rsiran. Look what she\u2019s been through.\u201d<\/p>\n

How had he missed it? He\u2019d been watching his sister daily\u2026 but only as she made her way to and from her place of work. Never had he considered watching her there. Had he bothered to check on her there, would he have known?<\/p>\n

Possibly, he had to admit.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlyse,\u201d he began, \u201cI\u2019m so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head. \u201cWhy should you care? You\u2019ve never cared.\u201d<\/p>\n

He glanced at Jessa. Now that he knew what had been happening, he couldn\u2019t let Alyse return to where she\u2019d been staying. Whatever else, he needed to do whatever he could to keep her safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome inside,\u201d he suggested. \u201cAt least let\u2019s get you out of the street. Have something to eat, or drink, and then you can decide whether you want to return.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alyse hesitated, and in that moment, he thought she might choose to return, but then she nodded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Book Preview Chapter 1 Rsiran Lareth settled to his knees on the ground, shifting the long, heartstone alloy sword he carried to the side. He\u2019d grown more accustomed to carrying it, now hidden beneath the long cloak of black wool that he chose to wear. Six lorcith knives were tucked loosely into his belt as … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5120,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[342],"class_list":["post-5121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-d-k-holmberg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5121\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epub-book.com\/download\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}