Bloodletting Part 1: The Affinities Cycle Book 1 by Mark Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

seen it, despite the fact that it was a day’s walk from Jaegen. Mirewall was a series of terraced cliffs that formed a natural barrier at the edge of the Rocmire forest floor, a hundred feet below. The lichen speckled terraces stretched a third of a mile, ranging in height from ten feet to almost forty at the top.
    The orocs stopped at the edge of another tree-lined field and one looked back in his direction. Tetra sprawled, breath hissing through his teeth as he fought to keep from crying out in pain. Quick motions, making his stomach muscles clench, were giving him waves of nausea. Ignoring it as best he could, Tetra watched. One at a time, the orocs crouched and then vanished over an unseen edge.
    As the last one disappeared, panic surged through Tetra. Save her.… He couldn’t lose them. Rising, he hobbled across the field to the trees and dropped to his knees again, panting, side throbbing. Thirty five feet below, the orocs gathered at the base of an overhang, collecting the equipment they’d thrown down ahead of themselves. The orocs were placing giant hands on the ground after loading their equipment. Earth and rock bubbled beneath their palms, smoothing out and obscuring their tracks.
    One of them shouted a guttural alarm. Tetra’s heart clenched, but the oroc pointed away to the east. The others grabbed the rest of their items and started running. For the first time, Tetra noticed a field of distant treetops after the drops ahead. The Rocmire forest. If they reached it, he’d lose them for good; and whatever had spooked them increased their chances of spotting him trailing along.
    His skin burned as a fever consumed him. Half of what he saw was delusion. Children being yanked behind the orocs, flames coming from the forest, it was as though he was trapped in last night. Tetra’s eyes were wide and drool was dripping from the corner of his mouth.
    One of the orocs lagged behind, searching for something. Tetra tightened his grip on the sword. Save her.… the words echoed through his soul and drove him forward.
    ***

Chapter 10
    Malthius Reynolds
    Five of them, sir, not far to the west.” Gerard pointed at the setting sun. The veteran guardsman looked haggard from the constant use of his spirit affinity to bolster the soldiers.
    “Go,” Reynolds motioned towards the east. The other soldiers broke into a gallop, Mikkels at the lead as they left the road, following the overhang along one of the first wide tiers that descended into Rocmire. He hollered to Gerard as they spurred their horses to follow. “Are you alright?”
    “I’ll be fine, sir,” Gerard shouted over the thundering hooves. “It’s not using my Geist Affinity that wears me down, but the constant sorting of echoes. It’s hard to explain how much life there really is here …”
    “As long as you can help Tarn handle some healing if needed.”
    Gerard saluted loosely, bouncing in his saddle. “No one’s dying today if I can help it, Sergeant.” He frowned. “They’re running!”
    Reynolds spurred his horse faster. The others parted to let him pass and he quickly caught up to Mikkels. He shouted orders over his shoulder. “I want Gerard, Wallemur, Derek, and Tarn dampening. Don’t get too close. If any of you go down, we’ll have to contend with the full strength of their spirit and earth magic.”
    “Already dampening, sir,” Tarn cried.
    Reynolds looked back at Wallemur, who gave him a quick nod. They rounded a corner in the overhang that opened into a clearing.
    “There they are!” The vanguard shouted.
    “Ride them down,” Reynolds commanded. The order was relayed up the chain of riders, a rising cry that spoke to the riders’ outrage at what had been done.
    The orocs stopped to stand their ground, with the Drayston men only a hundred paces away and closing fast. Four of them, those closest, slapped their hands to the earth and chanted. Reynolds, knowing what was coming, gave a shrill whistle. With only two soldiers