Read Online The Buried Symbol (The Ruins of Issalia Book 1) by Jeffrey L. Kohanek - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jeffrey L. Kohanek
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white light morphed into a tangible shape. It was a rune. One that Brock had not seen before.
With even more intensity, the voice spoke. It seemed to shake the universe. “ Awaken ! ”
The bright image of the glowing symbol roared toward Brock, searing his eyes. The wailing grew to a crescendo.
. . .
Brock woke, sweating despite the cold air around him. He blinked, trying to clear his vision. The negative image of the rune from his dream remained when he closed his eyes. It was as if it was burned into his eyelids. A horrifying high-pitched wail echoed through the alcove, causing his hair to stand on end.
Hank shouted as he ran to the wagon. “ Get up! It ’ s a banshee. Everyone up! ” He reached into the wagon, grabbing his crossbow.
Brock scrambled to his feet, still trying to shake the odd feeling of his dream, trying to focus on what was happening. Tipper was standing next to him also looking confused. Ren had climbed out from under the wagon and was standing beside Hank. The wagon shifted and rocked as the frightened horses stirred, the whites of their eyes showing in the pale light of the glowstone.
Brock noticed something moving at the mouth of the alcove. Emerging from the roadway was a human-like creature standing nearly twice Brock ’ s height. It had long, tangled black hair and ghostly white skin. The monster lumbered toward them, emitting an ear-piercing wail. Ice-cold fear gripped him, making it difficult to breathe. The horses backed away in fear, forcing the wagon backward.
As the banshee approached, Brock noticed that its eyes were solid red, appearing as huge crimson pupils. Incredibly long arms stretched out, flexing fingers capped by sharp black talons. Tattered rags covered much of its body. A breeze carried the rotten stench of the beast toward them, causing the horses to panic.
Hank grabbed Ren by the shirt, yanking him away from the approaching nightmare and toward the wagon.
“ Get on. I ’ m going to try to distract it. When I do, you start driving the team toward Fenrick ’ s as fast as you can. ”
Ren climbed onto the wagon and grabbed the reins. His eyes were wide with fright, matching the horses.
“ What about you, Hank? ” Ren was sobbing. “ You can ’ t let it kill you. I need you. ”
Hank stepped sideways, edging away from the wagon while keeping his eyes on the banshee.
“ Don ’ t worry about me, boy. You just take care of the team and wagon. I ’ ll catch up to you at Fenrick ’ s. ” Hank lifted the crossbow, pointing it at the banshee.
During this whole affair, Brock was dumbstruck. He couldn ’ t believe it. Banshees were real. He had thought them to be a legend, meant to scare children.
The banshee lumbered forward, approaching its prey. Tipper took a step backward and tripped over his pack, crying out as he fell. Tipper ’ s scream diverted Brock ’ s attention from the banshee, breaking through the shock and fear. He turned to find his friend on the ground and scrambled to help him.
The banshee broke into a run, heading straight for Hank. Hank pulled the crossbow trigger and the bolt struck the beast with a thud . The banshee lurched backward, its body twisting with the impact of the bolt buried in its shoulder. It blasted a horrifying wail.
The horses reared in terror and bolted, pulling the wagon with them. The rapid acceleration took Ren by surprise, causing him to flip over the driver ’ s bench into the wagon bed.
The banshee took two steps toward Hank and swung its long arm. Sharp talons struck Hank on the left side of the head, sending him spinning to land hard three strides away. The blow caused Hank ’ s hat to fly off, flipping through the air to land at Brock ’ s feet. The crossbow smashed into the rock wall, bits of wood scattering into the air as it shattered.
The banshee turned in pursuit of the wagon, which was now almost to the road. Its long legs allowed it to cover ground quickly, despite its lumbering
With even more intensity, the voice spoke. It seemed to shake the universe. “ Awaken ! ”
The bright image of the glowing symbol roared toward Brock, searing his eyes. The wailing grew to a crescendo.
. . .
Brock woke, sweating despite the cold air around him. He blinked, trying to clear his vision. The negative image of the rune from his dream remained when he closed his eyes. It was as if it was burned into his eyelids. A horrifying high-pitched wail echoed through the alcove, causing his hair to stand on end.
Hank shouted as he ran to the wagon. “ Get up! It ’ s a banshee. Everyone up! ” He reached into the wagon, grabbing his crossbow.
Brock scrambled to his feet, still trying to shake the odd feeling of his dream, trying to focus on what was happening. Tipper was standing next to him also looking confused. Ren had climbed out from under the wagon and was standing beside Hank. The wagon shifted and rocked as the frightened horses stirred, the whites of their eyes showing in the pale light of the glowstone.
Brock noticed something moving at the mouth of the alcove. Emerging from the roadway was a human-like creature standing nearly twice Brock ’ s height. It had long, tangled black hair and ghostly white skin. The monster lumbered toward them, emitting an ear-piercing wail. Ice-cold fear gripped him, making it difficult to breathe. The horses backed away in fear, forcing the wagon backward.
As the banshee approached, Brock noticed that its eyes were solid red, appearing as huge crimson pupils. Incredibly long arms stretched out, flexing fingers capped by sharp black talons. Tattered rags covered much of its body. A breeze carried the rotten stench of the beast toward them, causing the horses to panic.
Hank grabbed Ren by the shirt, yanking him away from the approaching nightmare and toward the wagon.
“ Get on. I ’ m going to try to distract it. When I do, you start driving the team toward Fenrick ’ s as fast as you can. ”
Ren climbed onto the wagon and grabbed the reins. His eyes were wide with fright, matching the horses.
“ What about you, Hank? ” Ren was sobbing. “ You can ’ t let it kill you. I need you. ”
Hank stepped sideways, edging away from the wagon while keeping his eyes on the banshee.
“ Don ’ t worry about me, boy. You just take care of the team and wagon. I ’ ll catch up to you at Fenrick ’ s. ” Hank lifted the crossbow, pointing it at the banshee.
During this whole affair, Brock was dumbstruck. He couldn ’ t believe it. Banshees were real. He had thought them to be a legend, meant to scare children.
The banshee lumbered forward, approaching its prey. Tipper took a step backward and tripped over his pack, crying out as he fell. Tipper ’ s scream diverted Brock ’ s attention from the banshee, breaking through the shock and fear. He turned to find his friend on the ground and scrambled to help him.
The banshee broke into a run, heading straight for Hank. Hank pulled the crossbow trigger and the bolt struck the beast with a thud . The banshee lurched backward, its body twisting with the impact of the bolt buried in its shoulder. It blasted a horrifying wail.
The horses reared in terror and bolted, pulling the wagon with them. The rapid acceleration took Ren by surprise, causing him to flip over the driver ’ s bench into the wagon bed.
The banshee took two steps toward Hank and swung its long arm. Sharp talons struck Hank on the left side of the head, sending him spinning to land hard three strides away. The blow caused Hank ’ s hat to fly off, flipping through the air to land at Brock ’ s feet. The crossbow smashed into the rock wall, bits of wood scattering into the air as it shattered.
The banshee turned in pursuit of the wagon, which was now almost to the road. Its long legs allowed it to cover ground quickly, despite its lumbering
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