Read Online Atlas Cloud And The Amulet of Thieves by L.M.J. Rayner - Free Book Online Page A

like a gun. He cracks a small smile, which he hides quickly after.
     
    “This thing is now a part of you, your body your soul. It focuses your thoughts and magic, channelling it through you, amplifying your abilities.”
     
    “So I think something… and it does something.” I said.
     
    “Sort of, it’s more emotion and instinct that drives it.” Farro said pointing his staff towards a tree in front of us, jabbing the air with it, light blue embers shoot from the end, striking the tree, scorching the bark as they dissipate into the air.
     
    “Ok, looks easy enough.” I said holding my arm up, I stab the air repeatedly with no success, straining my neck, face and arms to try and force the magic out of me. “It won’t work.” I said getting frustrated. I was being beaten by a tree.
     
    “You need to concentrate.” Farro said.
     
    “I am, maybe the ritual didn’t work.” I said, giving up. Farro was gritting his teeth and blowing his nostrils. He charged at me, wielding his staff like a hammer. I fell backwards, tripping on the log we were using as a camp seat. I held my arm up, protecting my face, bong! After opening my eyes I could see Farro standing on top of me, but he was out of focus and blurry. I was looking through a green glass shield that was now being generated through my arm.
     
    “See, instinct.” Farro said. I pause and examine it. The shield shimmers then dissolves away.
     
    “Woah.”
     
    “Yes, you can do far more than defend yourself Atlas.” Farro said helping me up. I did that, I can’t believe it. Eli and Roko are standing on the side lines, watching over my little training session.
     
    “You need to control it. You won’t always be taken off guard, you need to focus. Try disarming me.” He said spreading out his arms, as if he was being crucified. My heart was pumping double time, magic is real who’d a thought it! I brushed myself off and stared at the staff in Farro’s hand, my own hand shaking. I was determined to succeed this time.
     
    “If you can knock me off my feet, then I’ll call it a day and we can rest for the night.” I was fed up with walking up hills and through forests. The thought of sitting or even sleeping was a reward I couldn’t refuse.
     
    “Sock it to him!” Eli shouted waving his fist in the air. Roko shot him a look that made him regret encouraging me to knock out her master. I took a deep breath, grounded my feet into the stones and the grass. I lunged forward firing a fireball from my hand. The energy coming from my core channelled through my body and out through the ring. The fireball spun and swivelled and then opened up into what looked to be wings. A bird of fire. Farro side stepped the spell with lightening reflexes. He looked old and raggedy but he moved like a cheetah, avoiding my best attempt to knock him over. The winged fireball smashed and melted into the tree behind him, it dissolved into the tree, leaving a red ring glowing inside of it.
     
    “You have to be faster than that.” Farro shouted. I could hear creaking sounds and the smell of fire surrounded the air. Looking past Farro, over his shoulder I could see the tree starting to waver, it was going to fall right on him! Farro’s attention was still on me, not realising the fifteen feet high tree was about to collapse on top of him.
     
    “Watch out!” I cried. Farro looked at me puzzled. Roko noticed it even before I did; she was off like a shot, racing towards Farro like a horse out of the starting gate. Everything felt as if it was going in slow motion. Farro saw the falling death out of the corner of his eye, as he put his hands up to defend himself, Roko dived forwards. Tackling Farro and propelling them both a good ten yards to safety. The trunk crashed into the mud and grit, sending a small shockwave through the ground around us. After brushing themselves off, they both looked at me, not in anger but surprise. Surprise was what they were showing me. I don’t