Read Online Broken World Book Three - A Land Without Law by T C Southwell - Free Book Online
Authors: T C Southwell
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you is to leave your animals and go,
then maybe I'll spare your lives."
The wizard's
face went slack in an almost comical expression of astonishment,
then he roared with laughter again. "I must say, little man, you
have a lot of balls."
Kieran
scowled. "Only the usual number, but I have a lot more than
that."
"Really? Do
you have anything like this?"
The mage
turned and raised his arms, muttering a string of odd guttural
words. He made a throwing gesture, and a tree beside the wall
exploded into flame with a deafening boom. Talsy sensed an odd cold
tingle run through her as the fire appeared, as if someone had
dropped ice in her blood. The Arrad's horses whinnied in fear and
tried to back away, but the cruel jabbing of their riders' spurs
held them in place. The beasts clearly did not have the energy to
cavort or fight, some looked ready to drop.
Although Talsy
and the Aggapae jumped at the explosion and Jorn cringed, Kieran
remained unflinching. He drew the Starsword with a hiss of
steel.
"Actually, I
do," he murmured. The wizard stared at the star-filled blade while
Kieran looked around for a suitable target. His eyes skipped past
living trees and alighted on a boulder next to the Arrad. He raised
the sword, making the mage step smartly aside, and pointed it at
the rock.
"Fire."
The rock
turned molten, tiny white flames dancing over it, then slumped and
flowed across the ground. The horses shied, earning more jabs and
jerks on their mouths. Kieran lowered the sword and glared at the
mage.
"Now, unless
you want to be the next target, I advise you to take your men and
leave on foot."
Talsy's heart
warmed with pride as the mage seemed to shrink, a glint of fear
invading his eyes. He stepped back, and his men muttered, shifting
in their saddles. If only Chanter would use his power with a little
more showmanship, she mused, he could be even more impressive and
really put these Lowmen in their place. At this crucial time,
however, the Mujar was nowhere to be seen.
The Arrad mage
recovered a little of his aplomb, and nodded. "I see that you do
indeed have a worthy weapon, warrior." He raised his hands. "But
you have no power!" He shouted harsh, guttural words and flung his
fire at the Prince.
Talsy yelled a
warning, and Kieran raised the sword as flames engulfed him. The
explosion was not as ferocious as the one that had consumed the
tree, but he gave a harsh grunt and collapsed, dropping the sword
with a clatter. Talsy ran to him and beat out the flames that
licked over his clothes. The sickly stench of burnt skin turned her
stomach and the fire singed her hands, making her sob with pain.
She persevered until all the flames were out, patting his
smouldering shirt. Kieran’s face was reddened, his hair singed, and
he breathed in wheezing gasps, unconscious.
The Arrad mage
crowed with delight and applauded his triumph. His men cheered,
waving their weapons as their wizard took a bow. Talsy glared at
the man, the danger of her situation lost in her rage.
"You bastard!"
She lunged for Kieran's sword, forgetting its loyalty. The wizard
raised his hands, then laughed when she could not lift the weapon.
Talsy tugged at the blade, which seemed to be glued to the ground,
and cursed Chanter's spell and his absence.
"Not even
strong enough to lift a sword!" the wizard sneered. "Poor little
girl!"
Talsy glanced
around at the Aggapae, who retreated towards the gate, their faces
twisted with pity. Shan glowered at the Arrad with deep loathing.
Clearly they did not wish to become involved in the dispute Kieran
had started with his bravado. Jesher had a tribe to protect, and
she did not blame him for his reluctance. Two warriors and a boy
stood no chance against four hundred Arrad. Realising that they
would not help, she returned to Kieran and crouched beside him,
pulling out her hunting knife. Where was Chanter? If he was trying
to make a point, he had succeeded, she thought angrily.
The mage
stepped forward and bent to pick up
then maybe I'll spare your lives."
The wizard's
face went slack in an almost comical expression of astonishment,
then he roared with laughter again. "I must say, little man, you
have a lot of balls."
Kieran
scowled. "Only the usual number, but I have a lot more than
that."
"Really? Do
you have anything like this?"
The mage
turned and raised his arms, muttering a string of odd guttural
words. He made a throwing gesture, and a tree beside the wall
exploded into flame with a deafening boom. Talsy sensed an odd cold
tingle run through her as the fire appeared, as if someone had
dropped ice in her blood. The Arrad's horses whinnied in fear and
tried to back away, but the cruel jabbing of their riders' spurs
held them in place. The beasts clearly did not have the energy to
cavort or fight, some looked ready to drop.
Although Talsy
and the Aggapae jumped at the explosion and Jorn cringed, Kieran
remained unflinching. He drew the Starsword with a hiss of
steel.
"Actually, I
do," he murmured. The wizard stared at the star-filled blade while
Kieran looked around for a suitable target. His eyes skipped past
living trees and alighted on a boulder next to the Arrad. He raised
the sword, making the mage step smartly aside, and pointed it at
the rock.
"Fire."
The rock
turned molten, tiny white flames dancing over it, then slumped and
flowed across the ground. The horses shied, earning more jabs and
jerks on their mouths. Kieran lowered the sword and glared at the
mage.
"Now, unless
you want to be the next target, I advise you to take your men and
leave on foot."
Talsy's heart
warmed with pride as the mage seemed to shrink, a glint of fear
invading his eyes. He stepped back, and his men muttered, shifting
in their saddles. If only Chanter would use his power with a little
more showmanship, she mused, he could be even more impressive and
really put these Lowmen in their place. At this crucial time,
however, the Mujar was nowhere to be seen.
The Arrad mage
recovered a little of his aplomb, and nodded. "I see that you do
indeed have a worthy weapon, warrior." He raised his hands. "But
you have no power!" He shouted harsh, guttural words and flung his
fire at the Prince.
Talsy yelled a
warning, and Kieran raised the sword as flames engulfed him. The
explosion was not as ferocious as the one that had consumed the
tree, but he gave a harsh grunt and collapsed, dropping the sword
with a clatter. Talsy ran to him and beat out the flames that
licked over his clothes. The sickly stench of burnt skin turned her
stomach and the fire singed her hands, making her sob with pain.
She persevered until all the flames were out, patting his
smouldering shirt. Kieran’s face was reddened, his hair singed, and
he breathed in wheezing gasps, unconscious.
The Arrad mage
crowed with delight and applauded his triumph. His men cheered,
waving their weapons as their wizard took a bow. Talsy glared at
the man, the danger of her situation lost in her rage.
"You bastard!"
She lunged for Kieran's sword, forgetting its loyalty. The wizard
raised his hands, then laughed when she could not lift the weapon.
Talsy tugged at the blade, which seemed to be glued to the ground,
and cursed Chanter's spell and his absence.
"Not even
strong enough to lift a sword!" the wizard sneered. "Poor little
girl!"
Talsy glanced
around at the Aggapae, who retreated towards the gate, their faces
twisted with pity. Shan glowered at the Arrad with deep loathing.
Clearly they did not wish to become involved in the dispute Kieran
had started with his bravado. Jesher had a tribe to protect, and
she did not blame him for his reluctance. Two warriors and a boy
stood no chance against four hundred Arrad. Realising that they
would not help, she returned to Kieran and crouched beside him,
pulling out her hunting knife. Where was Chanter? If he was trying
to make a point, he had succeeded, she thought angrily.
The mage
stepped forward and bent to pick up
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