Read Online The Battle of Ebulon by Shane Porteous - Free Book Online

of. Now pay
attention, Kae, the enemy is almost upon us.”
    The rumbling thunder grew
closer, drowning out all other noise. On the horizon the terrible
catapults were growing larger.
    Only the steel purpose of
bringing death emanated from the Protectors around Kae.
    Each man’s separated self
stood beside them. Kae knew that every arrow loosed would fly true
because of the clarity with which their separated selves saw. His
own separated self, a being of pure red flame now, stood among the
advancing Orcs, choosing a target for Kae’s first arrow.
    If only I
could unleash its fire, burn them all before they reach the
walls.
    Baynard’s separated self
suddenly appeared in the sky above the advancing Orcs. It was no
longer a copy of the priest, but more like a sheet of his essence.
Kae knew it was Baynard, yet not by looking at it.
    Can I do such
a thing?
    Tendrils broke off
Baynard’s separated self, shooting down at the Orcs, as sunlight
shoots down through new spring storm clouds.
    Kae’s own separated self
felt Baynard’s attack. The tendrils of Baynard’s Life Force were
fear and confusion, madness and hatred for their fellows. Some Orcs
were worse affected by it than others. These took axe and sword to
their neighbors. One of the catapults was cut down, followed by
another.
    Baynard leaned forward
and grasped Kae’s arm. “Your separated self has no bounds, spread
thin enough it could cover the world, yet still remain
whole.”
    Baynard’s separated self
was prying into Kae’s thoughts, but the shield of fog Kae raised to
hide his inner mind prevented the priest from gaining entrance.
“Cover the world? How?”
    Baynard furrowed his
forehead then grinned. “Like…like melted butter covers bread, to
use words you might better understand. Help me rise now. I am
recovered enough to fight again.”
    Kae wasn’t sure Baynard
was right, but helped him up regardless.
    “ And the fear
and hatred you made them feel, how do you do that?”
    Baynard released his arm,
apology in his eyes. “You block me too hard and I don’t have the
strength to put knowledge directly into your mind. Once Orcs breach
the walls, you will be able to use your skills with weapons. Likely
that will do more good against these creatures.”
    The catapults had ground
to a halt. The whistling of a large object rent the air, followed
by a terrible crash as the first of the stones hit the
walls.
    More creaking followed as
the Orcs adjusted the catapults now that range was
ascertained.
    Arrows flew from the
ground up. Some reached the top of the wall.
    To Kae’s right, a large
boulder crashed into a group of the wall’s defenders, Protectors
among them.
    Kae’s heart raced in his
chest. Protector arrows were no match for the stones.
    Baynard’s separated self
was again a sheet over the Orcs. But the fear and hatred it rained
down this time was weak, as high summer showers are
weak.
    An arrow whistled by Kae,
lodged itself in Baynard’s side.
    The sheet of his friend’s
Life Force vanished from the sky. Baynard’s blood bubbled from
behind his fingers as he clutched the wound. His eyes were wide as
he looked up at Kae.
    Take him from
the wall. Find a healer. A priest must not
die here. Entan ordered on the
air.
    Kae needed no
urging.
    “ I’m fine,
really, I don’t think I’m grievously wounded. I can yet fight,”
Baynard protested.
    They left a trail of
blood as Kae carried Baynard down to the courtyard. Three
Protectors lay dead at the foot of the stairs, mowed down by the
Orcs’ rocks. Ryon lay dead among them, half of his head
gone.
    Kae’s separated self
burned, flames rising higher, fed by rage over these useless
deaths. Protectors were trained to fight with sword and staffs, not
die from stones flung by vile creatures in strange
lands.
    Kae clutched Baynard’s
arm. “Tell me how to use my Life Force against the Orcs. I can end
this!”
    His separated self
already stood among the Orcs. Only a thin linen sheet enclosed