Read Online Magic Astray (The Llandra Saga) by Gregory Mahan - Free Book Online

along behind her. “We need to get out of here, and quickly,” she urged, panic making her voice shake.
    They had traveled a half a block before Randall sunk in his heels and pulled them both to a halt. “We have to go back for Eamon,” he declared.
    “Impossible,” Nia quickly countered. “The only reason we’re still alive is because Rhys has not been able to raise the alarm. How long do you think that shield of yours will last, anyway?”
    Randall closed his eyes for a moment, attempting to feel his connection to the spell. The further they traveled from it, the more tenuous the connection became, and at this range he couldn’t be certain he felt anything at all. He opened his eyes and shrugged weakly.
    “Then we have to keep moving. If you want to have any hope at all of rescuing your friend, you have to first stay alive. And I do not think I can stand against the Old One and live. Do you?”
    “Maybe...” Randall said thoughtfully. He wasn’t sure what Berry’s limits were, but he did know from past experience that he could wield power as great as any he had seen the donnan bring to bear. It would probably be an even fight, if it came down to it. But even though he felt deeply betrayed and used by the imp, he wasn’t sure he could face him in battle. A part of him still wanted to believe that he and Berry were still friends, and that they had somehow been caught up in a misunderstanding. If only he’d had a chance to talk to him alone…
    Nia raised her eyebrows at Randall’s assessment. “Maybe? You are a young, bombastic fool. Mamaeth would easily kill us both. The magic he commands is ancient and powerful. Come on, we have to move. If we make it to the forest, we will hopefully have a chance.”
     

Chapter 6
    They traveled through the city quickly, without speaking, and Randall felt himself tense up every time an elf looked his way. He was certain that they all knew he was a fugitive, and that they would descend upon him and Nia at any moment. Nia, on the other hand, walked calmly and with purpose toward the edge of town. After travelling in this way for a few blocks, she pulled him aside on a quiet side street.
    “You have to calm down,” she whispered intensely. “Word travels fast in town, so almost everyone we run into will already know that there are humans in Dyffryn. But they won’t know that you’re not under glamour. You keep acting like you’re going to jump out of your skin every time one of us looks at you, and people are noticing. Try to act cheerful and happy to be here.”
    Randall nodded nervously. “I’ll try,” he promised.
    “All right, let’s go,” she sighed, shaking her head.
    Randall tried to follow her advice as they continued on, but it was no use. He just couldn’t act nonchalant; all he could think about was Berry and the elf chief hot on their trail with a mass of elven warriors at their back. It would help if I really was under glamour , he thought to himself with a frown.
    But then again, why couldn’t he be? He had felt the constant pressure on his mind ever since he first met the elves, and twice it had been so strong he’d had to steel himself against it. What if he relaxed and let it take him, just a little bit? It was worth a try.
    He felt safe with Nia; she could have fought him earlier if she intended to do him harm. Erliand had once said that elves were creatures of complex rules and customs, and he felt that something significant had happened back at the chief’s house. Focusing on that idea, he did his best to relax and focus on her, rather than on their predicament.
    Watching her walk in front of him, he couldn’t help but notice that she really was rather striking, in her own way. Though he had initially thought of her as looking childish, he saw that she moved with a purpose and confidence that belied years of experience. A child couldn’t have stood up to Rhys the way she had—she had some fire in her. And from behind, she didn’t