Read Online To Claim the Elvin Princess: Apprentice by Jack Bessie - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jack Bessie
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everything in hand, Amein closed the stone, which made even the lines of the chamber disappear.
“Come! It is time!” she insisted, tugging on his hand. They ran to the center of the circle, where Amein marked out a circular place, two paces in diameter, using the tip of her sword. “Have your sword ready!” she added.
“Stand back to back! You will feel only a slight sensation, much like a static charge building up, and then we will be in darkness, before reappearing inside the next gate. Be ready to defend yourself. There are no friends where we go, anything you see, kill it!” she instructed. “Now be still!” she added, before he could say anything.
Rasten felt his hair rise, as she chanted an odd incantation, and then she tossed up a bit of her magic dust, which seemed to explode in the moonlight. There was the flash of blackness, and when he could suddenly see again, he noted a large animal with very big teeth, lunging at his throat.
9
Shocara was pleased to have almost two hundred fliers for the attack but had more reasons to worry than to be content. While her clan’s men had practiced getting their terranon’s under the forest cover, the ones from the Kerini clan had no such practice. If they failed to get the large creatures hidden, and an Elvin patrol spotted them, they were likely doomed to fail, if not to be wiped out.
To make matters less stable, the Kerini had arrived ready to fight, but when appraised of Shocara’s intent, had nearly refused, shocked at the very idea. She had spent nearly three hours cajoling and wooing their leader, to convince him to co-operate. That his resolve was minimal only gave her more to be concerned about.
In spite of this, they had gotten underway, eager to be doing something that at least had the potential for harming the Elvin. Half of the men were hauling a large and heavy bit of sorcery, which Karturic declared able to do much damage to any structure it was placed close to. The men had seen a tiny version of these placed by a large tree, and when a long string affixed to it had been set afire, it had caused such an explosion that the tree was severed and toppled over. That they were carrying devices many times larger than this test one gave them hope that they might do grave damage to several Elvin structures.
Shocara’s warriors had flown as low as possible, barely skimming the trees, to make themselves hard to spot, especially from afar. They had landed twice, to have a bit of food and drink, and to relieve themselves, before taking flight again. It was near dusk when Shocara signaled them to land, and the effort to get the terranaks concealed began. This took nearly an hour, during which watchers scanned the skies constantly, worried that an Elvin patrol might pass close and spot them. Shocara was pleased that none were observed, and finally relaxed, well hidden with all the others.
Atrucin, who with two others, had scouted the Elvin city, had used the small amount of daylight to draw a map of Alarinad in the dirt, so that as many as possible of the fliers would have at least a vague idea of their destination, and some of the landmarks that would provide their bearings. If they were forced to disperse in the dark, the men all had to find their way away from the city on their own.
After eating a small meal of dried meat, the warriors went to sleep, knowing they would likely get little after this night, especially if they had to fly all the way back to their own lands without stopping.
Shocara had difficulty relaxing enough to sleep, torn between excitement and terror.
Will this be my last night of life? she wondered, peering up between the trees at the stars, knowing that they were taking a much bigger risk than she had been willing to admit. The Elvin were astoundingly skilled on terranaks, and if they could give the alarm, and mount up a sufficient group of their fliers, the Eridians would be caught on the ground, and killed in a hail of
“Come! It is time!” she insisted, tugging on his hand. They ran to the center of the circle, where Amein marked out a circular place, two paces in diameter, using the tip of her sword. “Have your sword ready!” she added.
“Stand back to back! You will feel only a slight sensation, much like a static charge building up, and then we will be in darkness, before reappearing inside the next gate. Be ready to defend yourself. There are no friends where we go, anything you see, kill it!” she instructed. “Now be still!” she added, before he could say anything.
Rasten felt his hair rise, as she chanted an odd incantation, and then she tossed up a bit of her magic dust, which seemed to explode in the moonlight. There was the flash of blackness, and when he could suddenly see again, he noted a large animal with very big teeth, lunging at his throat.
9
Shocara was pleased to have almost two hundred fliers for the attack but had more reasons to worry than to be content. While her clan’s men had practiced getting their terranon’s under the forest cover, the ones from the Kerini clan had no such practice. If they failed to get the large creatures hidden, and an Elvin patrol spotted them, they were likely doomed to fail, if not to be wiped out.
To make matters less stable, the Kerini had arrived ready to fight, but when appraised of Shocara’s intent, had nearly refused, shocked at the very idea. She had spent nearly three hours cajoling and wooing their leader, to convince him to co-operate. That his resolve was minimal only gave her more to be concerned about.
In spite of this, they had gotten underway, eager to be doing something that at least had the potential for harming the Elvin. Half of the men were hauling a large and heavy bit of sorcery, which Karturic declared able to do much damage to any structure it was placed close to. The men had seen a tiny version of these placed by a large tree, and when a long string affixed to it had been set afire, it had caused such an explosion that the tree was severed and toppled over. That they were carrying devices many times larger than this test one gave them hope that they might do grave damage to several Elvin structures.
Shocara’s warriors had flown as low as possible, barely skimming the trees, to make themselves hard to spot, especially from afar. They had landed twice, to have a bit of food and drink, and to relieve themselves, before taking flight again. It was near dusk when Shocara signaled them to land, and the effort to get the terranaks concealed began. This took nearly an hour, during which watchers scanned the skies constantly, worried that an Elvin patrol might pass close and spot them. Shocara was pleased that none were observed, and finally relaxed, well hidden with all the others.
Atrucin, who with two others, had scouted the Elvin city, had used the small amount of daylight to draw a map of Alarinad in the dirt, so that as many as possible of the fliers would have at least a vague idea of their destination, and some of the landmarks that would provide their bearings. If they were forced to disperse in the dark, the men all had to find their way away from the city on their own.
After eating a small meal of dried meat, the warriors went to sleep, knowing they would likely get little after this night, especially if they had to fly all the way back to their own lands without stopping.
Shocara had difficulty relaxing enough to sleep, torn between excitement and terror.
Will this be my last night of life? she wondered, peering up between the trees at the stars, knowing that they were taking a much bigger risk than she had been willing to admit. The Elvin were astoundingly skilled on terranaks, and if they could give the alarm, and mount up a sufficient group of their fliers, the Eridians would be caught on the ground, and killed in a hail of
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