Read Online The Mage of Orlon: The beginning by Gene Rager - Free Book Online Page A

was probably dead by now. The despair grew to frustration, the frustration grew to anger. The beast snapped its jaws again. They were closer now it would soon be over for him. This last thought pushed Nate over the edge. Sanity was replaced with rage, this is not fair. The rage began to build and with it a new feeling, something dark, cold and powerful. Without any thought of what would happen, Nate released one hand from the neck of the beast and raised it to the sky. The sky clouded over the rain that had slacked off stopped as if it were waiting for something. The power coursed through his body, it burned. The power burned with his fury. Nate hit the howler in the side of the head sending sparks into the creature ’ s skull as it flew off him and into the nearby tree trunk. Nate stood up slowly. The pack halted looking at the new threat their prey had become.
    “ You mangy curs, how dare you think of attacking me! ”
    The voice didn ’ t sound like his, but Nate no longer cared, drunk on power he leveled his rage at the remaining three howlers. Screaming like a man possessed Nate shoved the power out from his hands fire filled the air around the howlers. Their howls of agony were silenced in one last burst of power, the smell of burnt fur and meat filled the air.
    The power still pulsed within Nate, Lela; he had to find her no matter what they had done to her. He wouldn ’ t leave her to be savaged by every scavenger in the cursed forest. Nate began retracing his steps to the clearing.
    Lela stood panting, every breath tortured from the running and dodging. This lethal cat and mouse game was drawing to an end. She had no more arrows, and the howlers darted in snapped and darted out with every swing of her sword. She knew they were wearing her down for an easier kill. Three left and she was nearly exhausted. The rain had stopped and been replaced by air that was thick and hard to breath, dampening her spirits even more, she had heard Nate scream, he was dead or mortally wounded and soon she would be too.
    The howler jumped forward dug its claws into the wet ground and bounced backward just as Lela ’ s sword swung down. The ground was soaked with water. Lela backed up more finding a small mound of earth to make her final stand. She was too far to make a run for the trees, but at least her boots were not still submerged in the mud.
    Nate broke through the tree line. “ Lela! ”
    She saw him running her way. “ No Nate, stay back. ” It was barely a whisper as exhaustion took root in her body. Two of the howlers broke away and ran towards Nate. A wry grin slid over Nate ’ s mouth. The beasts ran at Nate with the speed that is born of hunger and insanity. Both howlers leaped in unison, desperate to claim Nate as a meal. Nate raised his hands and pushed forward, a wall of green flame sprouted from the ground and sped forward to meet the two air born howlers. The burnt bodies of the once mighty beasts hit the wet ground with a hissing noise. Nate began walking towards the last of the furry attackers. The beast seemed to know he was approaching because it turned and started a fast paced charge threatening to at least topple Nate if not break a bone for the effort. The mighty howler jumped, victory seemed within the animal ’ s grasp. Nate caught the beast by the neck, and whispered in its ear. “ Good doggie, now play dead! ” The fire ripped through the howler with the ferocity of a grizzly bear the thing hung in mid-air for what seemed an eternity, the smell of burnt flesh and fur filled the air. Everything that had gone wrong in Nate ’ s life now intertwined with his pent up anger poured into the animal burning muscle from smoking bone. Nate finally released the howler ’ s charred remains and laughed a dark laughter that was born of the insanity the power had given him.
    Lela stared at the now insane mage. She began to wonder if this was still the same mage that she had left with. The rain started as a gentle