Read Online Bones of the Empire by Jim Galford - Free Book Online Page B

caireth, as no one will want to educate a wildling, especially of late.”
    “What is a caireth?”
    “The most literal way I can say it is ‘house servant.’ As I told you, your options are limited as a wildling. I am already doing more than I likely should by letting you engage in a challenge meant for people.”
    Raeln looked over at Yiral for some hint she might be joking, but she was too excited to give him much. She had been practically giddy since he had said he would perform the challenge. That concerned him even more than the large group of enemies around him.
    “She’s here!” Yiral exclaimed a moment later, nodding toward the far side of the circle.
    Raeln searched the Turessians along that edge of the ring and saw no one new entering the area other than a young girl with shaved scalp, perhaps twelve years old. The robed girl had only a single tattoo between her brows, unlike the adults, with their many runewords that ran down to their cheekbones. That girl walked past the rest of the gathered Turessians and stopped opposite Raeln. She took a deep breath and then bowed to him, watching him nervously.
    “Am I supposed to debate her or answer obscure questions or something?” asked Raeln, now thoroughly confused. “She’s not much taller than my waist…surely you don’t want me to fight her.”
    “Oh, this is very much a battle,” Yiral told him, laughing. “Prove your wisdom against hers. She will not kill you. Just do your best, Raeln. Bow when you are ready for her to attack.”
    Rolling his shoulders and stepping forward, Raeln winced as he met the eyes of the little dark-skinned human girl. This was hardly what he had expected. He was not even certain he could hit her without hating himself for the rest of his life. Turessian or not, she was a child. He would have to subdue her and hope that was enough for these people.
    Rising to his full height, Raeln attempted to intimidate the girl in the hope that she might run. She did not back off, though he could see the fear in her eyes. It would have to do. Swallowing nervously, he bowed.
    The girl was suddenly a rush of motion as she began forming a spell with overly broad hand gestures that reminded Raeln of his sister’s early days of training in magic. The spell was so obvious in its creation that he easily danced aside as the snow exploded where he had been standing.
    Running at the girl, Raeln tightened one hand into a fist, hoping he would not need to hit her, but only jar her to break her concentration. Before he made it another step, invisible ropes snared him, constricting his chest and stomach before slamming him to the ground. As he fell, the girl backed away, wide-eyed and whimpering.
    “No physical violence!” Yiral shouted somewhere behind Raeln as the ropes vanished. He was free again, but even more confused about what they wanted from him.
    Raeln only had a second to tumble sideways as the Turessian child flung her hands toward him, sending up another spray of snow as magical force tore into the ground. His mind raced, trying to think through his training over the years on how to fight a wizard, though he had to dismiss everything that involved running up and striking them. He would have to defend himself somehow, but without any way to fight back, all he could do was stall and hope the child tired more quickly than he did.
    Lunging to get out of the way of another blast, Raeln cried out as something in his stomach tore. His wounds were not as healed as he had thought, and he immediately felt blood cover his side and fur. Gasping for breath, he tried not to show his pain as he watched her for cues of when she would strike next.
    The girl did not disappoint him, making obvious motions for the next spell.
    Pain was starting to slow Raeln. He knew he had to find some way to work through it or the child might well kill him by accident. He could endure a little while longer, but blood loss would eventually catch up with him.
    Raeln’s