Adventurers Wanted, Book 4: Sands of Nezza by M. L. Forman Read Free Book Online

tangling spell had taken the form of a mass of heavy vines wrapping around the creature’s body and pulling it back into the gap. The spell was working, but only just. The creature was incredibly strong, and Alex had to add more power to his spell to keep the monster from breaking free.
    As strong as the earth, a voice said in the back of Alex’s mind.
    The voice was Alex’s O’Gash, what most people would call his wizard’s sixth sense. He had heard the voice many times in the past, and it had always helped him when he needed it most.
    “Oh,” Alex said out loud, suddenly realizing what the creature was.
    It was an earthen stoic, a creature summoned by magic and given a human form. Stoics were hard to create, even for a wizard, and harder to destroy. The creature wouldn’t get tired, it couldn’t be reasoned with, and it had only one task to complete before it would be free. Alex knew he had to force the stoic out of the shape it had been given in order to destroy it, but how? As he desperately tried to find an answer, his O’Gash spoke once more.
    Heat can crack the hardest stone; water can wear it down. If heat and water work together, what will happen? said the voice.
    “Heat and water,” Alex said out loud. He began searching for a stream or a well that he could use against the earthen stoic.
    There wasn’t a stream on the hillside, but there was a great deal of water just the same. Pouring more magic into his tangling spell, Alex added another spell as well. He poured dragon fire into the narrow gap between the rocks; the deadly, almost liquid fire was one of a dragon’s most deadly weapons. The stoic vanished in the flames, but Alex knew that it wasn’t dead yet.
    “Do you think making it hotter is a good idea?” Savage asked from behind Alex.
    There wasn’t time to explain what he was about to do, so his answer was a short one. “Find some cover.”
    Sending his magic out in every direction, Alex worked as fast as he could. Trees creaked and groaned as his magic touched them, and the plants at his feet withered and crumbled to dust. When he thought his magic had gathered enough water, Alex pushed his magic into the body of the stoic. His mouth went dry as he let the magic go, diving to the ground and throwing his arms over his head for protection.
    The night was silent for a moment, and then a whistling hiss filled the air. The sound of escaping steam lasted only a second before an explosion ripped the silent night apart. The ground shook under Alex, and he could hear bits of stone flying through the air. After a few seconds, he looked up. The dragon fire had gone out, and the narrow gap between stones where his enemy had been was empty.
    Alex got to his feet and leaned on his staff, trying to draw in enough air to fill his lungs. He felt like he’d run for miles, and his dry throat made every breath painful.
    Savage walked up beside him, holding out a water bag. “I’m glad you said to take cover, but the noise will let everything for miles around know where we are.”
    “You think there are more creatures like this one out there?” Alex asked after taking a long drink.
    “I don’t even know what this one was,” Savage answered.
    “A stoic,” said Alex.
    “Not easy to create something like that I’d guess,” said Savage in a thoughtful tone. “It’d take some time and know-how to do something like that.”
    “Weeks, maybe months, of work and planning,” said Alex, nodding. “Why?”
    “I’m just wondering why it showed up here—tonight,” said Savage.
    “I don’t understand,” said Alex.
    “Was this creature sent here to destroy you—or me?”
    “A good question,” said Alex, taking another long drink. “I don’t think we should stay here to find the answer though. Is there a stream or a pond close by?”
    “There’s a stream about two miles southwest of here. Why?” Savage asked.
    “Because I don’t think I can work that same magic twice in one night,” said