Read Online Spirit Blade: Book III of the Dragon Mage Trilogy by Carey Scheppner - Free Book Online Page B

blue eyes. Her shoulder length hair was a vibrant red, more vivid than any red hair any of the companions had ever seen. Her eyes were fearful but there was gratitude in her face.
    “Who- who are you?” she asked.
    Kazin took care of the remaining zombies between them and cast a shield over the woman just as a group of bat things swooped down on her in unison. They smashed into Kazin’s shield and flew back, screaming in anger.
    “My name is Arch Mage Kazin,” said the mage as he checked behind him once more. The barrier of immobile zombie bodies that Harran and Sherman had created prevented any further attack from the rear. The dwarf and warrior were catching their breath and eyed the bat things around them in suspicion. “Can you cancel your spell on my companions?” asked Kazin, indicating Zylor and Olag. He could have done it himself, but he wanted to gain the woman’s trust.
    The female spell caster wrinkled her nose. “Those creatures are your companions?”
    Kazin grinned weakly as he shot a fireball at another bat thing. It shrieked into the depths below. Most of the others were holding their position, waiting for an opening. “Yes, they are, believe it or not. I assure you they won’t hurt you.”
    The female spell caster looked doubtful.
    “Look,” said Kazin in exasperation, “I could give you all kinds of reasons why I trust them, but this isn’t the time or the place. I want to get away from here as much as you do.”
    The spell caster blinked and nodded. “O.K.” She thumbed over her shoulder at the throng of zombies that blocked their path. “Can you get through that?”
    Kazin nodded and smiled. “If you release my friends, we’ll do just that.”
    The spell caster nodded. She lifted her hand - she carried no staff - and chanted. Zylor and Olag, who were sitting, weak and exhausted, rose to their feet. Zylor strode forward and the spell caster tensed as the minotaur approached, glaring malevolently. She was prepared to cast a spell on him the instant he made any sudden movement, but he calmly squeezed by her, his weapon lowered. Once past, he growled and raised his battle axe. Then he charged into the throng of zombies. To everyone’s astonishment, Zylor took one mere swing and a dozen zombies were thrown into the air. Pieces of them flew so hard and fast they took out a number of the bat things in the process. It was at this point that Kazin realized what had happened. He had assumed that his earlier spell to make Zylor stronger had been canceled, but it was still active because of the pendant the minotaur wore. It ensured that Kazin’s spell remained in effect, even after the other spell caster had removed hers.
    It took only moments for the minotaur to finish off the zombies. The end of the crosswalk was just beyond. Everyone hurried to the ledge where the golden door awaited. Olag took care of any bat things that ventured near with his arrows while Kazin opened the door. Everyone eagerly stepped through to the other side.
    High above the combatants, a large, dark cloud coalesced and writhed in impotent fury as it watched the companions exit the area. For hundreds of years it had accumulated strength from the evil spirits of many of the dead beings in this forsaken place, and it had been poised to finally take control of the first figure to come along in many years. It was very close to succeeding when Kazin and his companions showed up to intervene. Startled by the untimely arrival so shortly after the arrival of the cloaked figure, the cloud had retreated high up and out of sight in the darkness to watch the outcome of the situation, and, seeing the newcomers drive back the zombies with tremendous effort and zeal, it realized too late that it would not escape this place this day. Silently, it vowed not to hesitate the next time. With great anger, it realized it might not see another time traveler for centuries to come, if ever. This only made it more determined to act the next