Read Online Journey into the Void by Margaret Weis - Free Book Online

all Void creatures. The battle magi could not allow him to escape, for he would immediately change form, and they would lose him among the city’s populace. Faced with this powerful threat, the battle magi would not be overly concerned about inflicting casualties on a few unlucky tavern-goers, two pecwae, and a wounded Trevinici.
    Lifting his voice, Ulaf shouted, “Everyone get out! Now!”
    His comrades didn’t need to be told twice. They had guessed what was about to happen, and most were already hastening for the nearest exit. The tavern owner rose from behind the bar. He gaped at the Vrykyl, his face white as a fish’s belly. He turned pleading eyes to Ulaf.
    â€œYour family is safe!” Ulaf yelled, racing toward Jessan. “Get out now! Go, go!”
    â€œMy tavern!” the man cried pitifully.
    Ulaf shook his head. “Go! Get out!”
    The Vrykyl’s fell voice rose in a chant. Ulaf recognized the cold, dark words of Void magic. He had no idea what spell the creature was about to cast, but he knew its effects would be dire.
    Jessan lay on the floor, his body covered with blood. He was conscious, gasping and writhing in pain. Nearby, the Grandmother was feverishly placing stones on Bashae’s limp body.
    Two battle magi, a man and a woman, appeared in the doorway. Both wore plate and chain mail that glittered silver in the firelight and swords at their sides. Striding fearlessly into the room, both of them cried out words of magic, their voices blending as they cast the same spell simultaneously.
    â€œFoul creature,” the woman called out. “Return to the Void that spawned you!”
    She pointed at the massive fireplace on the north side of the building and made a summoning motion with her hand.
    An arc of flame leapt from the fireplace and soared across the room, flaring so near Ulaf that the searing heat singed his bangs and eyebrows.
    The fire smote the Vrykyl, dancing across the surface of the Vrykyl’s armor as if it were black oil. Flames swirled around the Vrykyl in a vortex that set the wooden furniture to blazing. Smoke filled the air.
    Ulaf let go of his spell. His weak magic wouldn’t be needed now. The Vrykyl was in good hands. The knapsack containing the Sovereign Stone was safely in Ulaf’s possession. His priority was to rescue the pecwae and the Trevinici, take them far away from both the Vrykyl and the battle magi.
    Ulaf made his way through the smoke to Bashae and the Grandmother.
    â€œJessan!” he called. “Jessan! Over here!”
    Jessan lifted his head, gazed blearily in Ulaf’s direction. Gritting his teeth, Jessan staggered to his feet. He cast a wary glance at the Vrykyl, but the creature was preoccupied, fighting to preserve his heinous existence.
    Ulaf pressed his sleeve over his mouth to protect himself from the thickening smoke. He dropped to the floor, where the air was clearer, and crawled toward the two pecwae. The battle magi chanted their spell. Swirling fire enveloped the Vrykyl, raced along his arms, flared from his hands. Flames cloaked him in a fiery cape, his head seemed helmed with fire, but the flames did not consume him, because there was nothing toconsume. Fire could not cause him any real harm. The Vrykyl turned to face his enemy.
    Darts forged of the Void shot out from the breastplate of his black armor, tore through the smoke-filled air and struck the female battle magus in the chest. The tabard she wore dissolved, the cuirass melted. She gave a strangled gasp, staggered backward, and slumped to the floor.
    Well disciplined, her companion did not miss a single word of his chant, but continued his spell-casting. Footfalls clattered on the stairs. An explosion from the rear warned Ulaf that the battle magi were coming in from the back.
    Ulaf kept low to the floor and managed to reach the pecwae. Bashae was alive. His eyes were open, and he was breathing, but a glance told Ulaf that the pecwae was in