Read Online Conway's Curse by Patric Michael - Free Book Online Page A

toward the pike, waving his arms to draw the woof’s attention. “C’mon, woof! Puppy! Mangy dog!” In the back of his mind, Tion knew he was ranting, just as he knew his chances of reaching his weapon before the woof reached him were slim at best, but his thudding heart was filled with only one thing: keep the beast away from Kail. Movement caught at the corner of his eye, but he ignored it, not daring to look at anything but the woof as it limped toward him. Even on three legs, it would be fast. Tion bolted for his pike, and the wolf charged. As he feared, the thing was still fast, but before it reached him, the animal howled and whirled, biting and snapping at its flank and at the pike sticking out of it.
     
    “All Kingdom Javelin Contest,” Wylde said blandly. “Winner, three years running.” He staggered, and the miniature blue sun flickered. “Hurry, Tion,” he said, and his voice held real anguish. “I can't hold all this magic much longer!”
     
    Tion ran and spun around as he snatched up his pike. The miniature sun guttered, and Tion saw the wizard collapse to his knees. Conway pushed what was once again just a heavy skillet off his chest and sat up. He crawled to the wizard’s side, and Tion saw the woof turn in their direction. “Conway! Look out!” he shouted as the woof gave up trying to dislodge the pike and advanced on the men. Silent except for the clacking of its claws on stone, the beast ran, and Tion screamed. He threw his pike, but the woof only howled as the weapon buried itself in its opposite flank. The woof crashed into the wizard, knocking him to the ground. Blood welled as claws raked the ragged wizard warrior. Wylde scrabbled on his back as the woof regained its feet and slowly advanced. The wizard kicked at its dripping muzzle, but the beast still advanced. It pressed one clawed paw against the wizard’s chest, pinning him to the ground, and opened its jaws wide. Blood and foam dripped from its fangs to land, smoking, on the wizard’s tattered clothing.
     
    “ No! ” Conway screamed and scrambled toward the beast. As the woof bent its head to tear the wizard’s face off, he screamed again. “Leave him alone!”
     
    White light exploded throughout the entire square. It spread like wildfire, snuffing out the little blue sun as easily as a child snuffs a candle, and coalesced into a ball, touching villager, house, and shop as though it were searching for an outlet for its rage. To Tion, it seemed to roll lazily until Conway’s desperate cry rang out. Straight as an arrow, the ball shot across the square and slammed into the woof with the force of a hurricane as it burst, throwing shards of brilliance in all directions. The woof’s surprised yelp was abruptly cut off as it hurtled through the honey wagon, through a cottage, and literally splashed against a tight wall of trees.
     
    Kail bounced and sloshed away from the impact as the honey wagon momentarily held its shape, complete with gaping hole through the tank, and then collapsed in on itself, spewing spew in all directions. He woke, dazed, dripping, and disgusted. Tion ran to his side despite the smell. “Kail, are you all right?”
     
    Kail held his arms away from his sides and stared at Tion. “Well, fuck a nymph. Isn’t this how we got started?”
     

     

9
     

     
    Dawn’s break was anticlimactic in the aftermath of the woof’s demise. By its light, Tion helped Kail to his feet, laughing and crying with an excess of emotion. Together they staggered toward Conway and Wylde, dripping and shaking in each other’s arms.
     
    “Conway, are you all right?” Tion asked as he stood beside the wizard and his friend. Conway’s face held a mixture of longing and regret as he held Wylde, but he nodded.
     
    Villagers began clustering around the quartet, murmuring softly. Someone gave Kail a bucket of water, which he promptly dumped over his head, groaning at the chill. Tion doffed his shirt and wiped his partner’s