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

it.”
    Leera made to move to him as soon as Bridget disappeared inside. As much as he wanted her in his arms, he held her at bay. “No. Let’s keep working.” He opened his palm as disappointment showed on her face. “Dreadus terrablus.”
    This time she was ready and blocked it using Mind Armor, though she had always done better blocking this spell above the others—not that he was any good with it, making for a poor practice partner.
    Haylee, who had been practicing in the background casting Shield over and over, lost her balance again and screamed in frustration. She took the cane and started beating a small boulder with it, cursing with each whack, until the cane shattered.
    “The rock attack you or something?” Augum said gently.
    “I’m going to bed. Sick of this. Head’s killing me anyway.” Haylee placed her hands over the cane. “Apreyo.” It reformed. She picked it up and hobbled off without another word.
    Bridget emerged with flint and steel and proceeded to light the fire. “Where’s Haylee?”
    Leera shrugged. “Had another fit.”
    “She all right?”
    Leera shrugged again.
    Bridget sighed, blew on a spark. “Don’t forget Centarro.”
    “Oh yeah.” It was his favorite spell.
    “And do something different with it.”
    “Like what?”
    “I don’t know, try chronocasting or something.”
    “Dare you to try simulcasting ,” Leera said with a cheeky grin.
    “We don’t want him to hurt himself, Lee.”
    “I’ll try chronocasting,” Augum said, knowing casting one spell and then another while the original was still in effect was easier—after all, they had been doing it with Centarro for some time. Simulcasting on the other hand—casting one elemental spell and one standard spell in the same instance—was on the Mrs. Stone level of complexity.
    Leera flicked her hand in a practiced movement. “Shyneo.” It surged to life with a watery glow.
    The fire finally caught and Bridget stopped blowing on it, joining Leera. The rule was when one of them cast Centarro, the other two would be there in support, as the side effects left the caster in a vulnerable and stupid state.
    Augum rubbed his head, urging the dull thudding to die down. As rehearsed as he was with these spells, developing arcane stamina was a lifetime pursuit. He examined the area around him in thoughtful detail just as Thomas, his deceased Leyan great-grandfather, had taught him. He felt the cloth of his new royal blue apprentice robe between his fingers. He chased the smoothness of the golden silk rope around his waist. He listened to the quiet trickle of the stream; to a distant woodpecker tapping at a trunk; to the occasional clump of snow falling to the ground. He caught the attentive watchfulness of the girls—Leera’s arched brows, her affectionate gaze, her slightly poor posture; Bridget’s perpetually tired and worried face, the reflection of her palm in her hazel eyes, her soft and caring expression. He shut his eyes a moment before letting the words spill over his tongue.
    “Centeratoraye xao xen.”
    The inner arcane energies instantly sharpened, as did the world when he opened his eyes. The first stars overhead became bubbling pricks of light, the evergreen canopy a blanket of green needles interacting in endless predictable patterns. He was aware of everything, from the blood rushing through his veins to the almost imperceptible pulse of the girls’ lit palms, tied to the beat of their hearts.
    First, he formulated a plan on how to deal with the side effects—he would lie down and watch the stars. Next, he ran through a mental list of spells, trying to figure out which two to cast. But as he looked past the girls into the dark forest, all thought of chronocasting and simulcasting disappeared from his mind. He recalled Occulus’ silent undead army and envisioned it standing in the pitch darkness of Bahbell with such clarity that all he need do was reach out and touch their matte black Dreadnought