Read Online Dire Sparks (Song of the Aura, Book Five) by Gregory J. Downs - Free Book Online

around Elia’s, banging her hand and jerking the weapon out of her grip. Elia stumbled into the Kinn girl as her staff clattered away on the ground…
     
    … But rather than try to defend herself, she pushed off the ground with her bare feet, tackling the smaller girl to the ground. It was unexpected, and Tressa couldn’t catch herself before her head smacked the stone. A grunt of pain left her lips, and then died in a gurgle as Elia slammed Tressa’s own staff down across her throat.
     
    Brutal. But I have no choice.
     
    Tressa wheezed, trying to breathe past the wood on her neck. Her arms were spread-eagled, pinned by Elia’s knees as she straddled her. The Kinn girl’s eyes were blazing with hate. There was a pause, and a silent struggle for freedom as the red-and-purple light played hypnotic patterns across the darkness. Then the Spine’s voice rang out over the Ring.
     
    “ You have danced well, fought well, died well. This Ringfight has ended.”
     
    Short, Elia thought, But thank the… It was good it didn’t last longer. She loosened her grip on Tressa’s staff. I was lucky this time. What happens when I face-
     
    Her opponent squirmed free beneath her, and pain lanced through her skull as Tressa kicked her in the back of the head with both feet. Elia didn’t have time to feel shocked before the smaller girl had kicked her free and wrapped both legs firmly around her neck, pulling her down and strangling her. Fingers grabbed in her hair, wrenching her head to one side until she thought she would snap.
     
    Tressa’s ragged breathing came in hot bursts at her ear. “Going… to kill you… wench!”
     
    Elia was so surprised she almost stopped struggling. Wench? That was no nymphtongue word… and Tressa had been speaking the commontongue of men! Could any Kinn possibly be from Vast? She couldn’t find out, if she died now.
     
    Suddenly the weight of the Acolyte’s attack was abruptly pulled off her. She sputtered and coughed, rising on unsteady feet… to find Tressa lying on her side, some distance away. She had been thrown.
     
    Gramling stood there, wreathed in shadow, having appeared from nowhere to save her. Elia knew full well the Spines hadn’t ordered Tressa off her; they reveled in such offenses. So why was Gramling…
     
    “ You haven’t learned yet, have you?” he said, frowning. “You’re getting by, but you haven’t learned.”
     
    “ What are you talking about?” Elia hissed, gathering her wits. This would be bad for her, among the other Acolytes, no matter how it ended.
     
    Then Tressa was up, eyes blazing. With no heed for the danger she was in, the Kinn girl swept up her staff and charged Gramling with a sharp cry. Elia almost yelled at her to stop… but it was too late.
     
    Gramling wheeled, almost without looking, and a white blade flashed from his robes, painted red in the bloody light… and from Tressa’s blood. The Acolyte fell to her knees, clutching the stump of her right hand and screaming in pain and anger. Elia gasped, stepping back, but the Pit Strider barely seemed fazed.
     
    “ See,” he growled quietly, “Even now, there’s still some of the old you left. You’re surprised.” Was it her imagination, or did his voice seem unsure for a second? He continued on. “Fight me.”
     
    Elia balked, shaking her head. Tressa had stopped wailing, instead rocking back and forth and whimpering quickly.
     
    “ Just like her, just like her, just like her,” she moaned, “I’m just like the one-hand. Just like the white woman. No, no, no, no…”
     
    Gramling advanced so close to Elia that she could have bit him, if she dared. His face was dark with fury. “Fight. Me.”
     
    “ No…” she whispered, wondering if he would kill her now, and all her efforts at survival would be in vain. Suddenly the scarred visage softened, just a bit, and Gramling grunted.
     
    “ It’s because I look like him, isn’t it?” he whispered. No one else could hear,