Clash (The Arinthian Line Book 4) by Sever Bronny Read Free Book Online Page A

will she hear our calls for help? Really, Leera, sometimes I question where your head is at.”
    “That’s what all her enchantments are for.” Leera glanced from Bridget to Augum to Haylee. “By the Fates, between the three of you, I don’t know who worries more.”
    Augum and Bridget shared a tolerant look. Haylee turned her back and used Telekinesis to repeatedly whack the cane against a rock until it broke. Then she repaired it, only to break it again, seeming to take great pleasure in the vicious act.
    Bridget waved a hand and a branch floated over to the fire pit. “Never mind the fire. I’ll take care of it. Keep training. Aug, I want to see you cast 4th degree spells on Leera while she practices Mind Armor.”
    “Yes, Mrs. Stone,” Augum said with a wry smile. Ever since he and Leera admitted their affection for each other to her, Bridget went out of her way playing the protective big sister. It was as if she was afraid of something awful happening. It was an unspoken fear, sometimes showing itself in the way she watched Augum and Leera. Strangely, it made Augum respect and appreciate her that much more.
    He and Leera stood to face each other. Leera winked and made to daintily adjust her hair like Harvus.
    Augum cracked a grin. “Stop it, I need to concentrate.”
    She pursed her lips in a pout.
    “Stop it already,” he said, unable to cease smiling.
    “You need to learn to concentrate through distractions,” Bridget said absently, floating a small log to the pit.
    Leera made a See, how do you like that? look and continued to make stupid faces.
    Augum decided to start with the Deafness spell. He raised his arm at Leera, his three lightning rings leaping to life. “Voidus aurus.”
    Bridget arranged dry leaves into a clump in the fire pit. “Augum no longer likes you.” When Leera kept making stupid faces but did not glance at her, she said, “Good job, Aug.” Then she turned to Leera, pointing at her mouth and saying, “You’ve got to concentrate , Lee.”
    “HUH? WHAT? DAMN IT!” Leera made a looping gesture at her temple, speaking very loudly. “I could sense the spell working, just can’t seem to get the hang of blocking it.”
    Augum pointed at his mouth. “Loud.”
    “WHAT?”
    Augum spoke slower. “You’re. Being. Loud. Again.”
    “OH. SORRY.”
    Behind Leera, Haylee snickered to herself. “Wish Chaska had the talent for arcanery, then we could banter on about spells too.”
    “Consistency and concentration, Lee.” Bridget made a little house of sticks around the leaves. “Aug—try Confusion.”
    “Ready?” he asked Leera.
    “Stop giving her warning,” Bridget said. “She needs to be able to sense that initial arcane attack.”
    “Right.” He raised his arm, barely noticing the throb in his head had developed into a pounding. “Flustrato!”
    Leera immediately developed a dazed look.
    “You’re getting better, Aug, really well done. But Lee, seriously, what’s going on?”
    Leera looked around. “Wha …?”
    “Give her a moment, Bridge.”
    Bridget crossed her arms as she waited for Leera to snap out of it. “I’m worried about her. She hasn’t been able to defend herself very well with Mind Armor. Really hit or miss. I mean, she was able to do it fine with Mrs. Stone. It’s like she can’t concentrate—” She suddenly realized something and gave Augum a scolding look.
    “It’s not my fault! I try to get her to focus, you heard me earlier—”
    “Well you need to do a better job. I’m not kidding, Aug.” She gestured at him and Leera. “You two messing about together better not cost you your lives.”
    Augum knew she was right—one slip in concentration could easily get them killed. He needed to take this more seriously, before it was too late.
    “What happened?” Leera suddenly said, glancing between the two of them. “Did I mess up again?” They avoided her gaze. “Bah, I knew it!”
    Bridget strolled to the cabin. “Keep working at