Hidden Spark (Dark Magic Enforcer Book 6) by Al K. Line Read Free Book Online

interesting.

 
     
     
     
    Overdressed, Underprepared
    "That was so cool," gushed an awed Mithnite, joining me. "Totally different to training."
    "You better believe it. Look, I know we've conjured demons together, and that you've done lots of crazy stuff already, but this is the real thing, and it's deadly. You understand?"
    "Yeah, course I do. But it was still cool."
    Ah, the joys of youth. He'd learn, if he lived. It was a sudden downer to think of such things, but he knew better than anyone that it was a very real possibility. Better he understood and saw the reality of such things, than got himself in a sticky situation and froze.
    I had no time to give a lecture, though, or even a minute to contemplate my newfound skills and bask in the glory of magical immersion, as Ulod appeared beside us as if he'd risen from the ground. I heard no car, didn't see him approach, and it was just downright unnerving as I turned, jumping, to see him standing there. I stared down at the top of his matted hair three feet below me.
    "Damn, where'd you come from?" I took a few steps away so I could see his face.
    "Deep down in the bowels of the earth from a place no human can ever know the name of."
    "Um, okay. I didn't mean that, I meant... Never mind. So, are we ready?"
    "I am, don't know about you," replied Ulod, giving me the once-over and scowling. "And what's that?" He pointed a stubby finger at Mithnite.
    "I'm Mithnite. Nice to meet you."
    Ulod grumbled then ignored him. "Okay, let's go. Need to grab anything? Change?" He frowned at me, at least I think he did. Dwarves have a permanent annoyed look even at the best of times.
    "You said not to bring anything, that you had it all covered."
    "I'm just taking you to meet them in charge, but not many dwarves wear suits for mining."
    "Good, because I'm not a dwarf and don't intend to do much mining. I wear smart suits and I'm not bothered about gold."
    Ulod kind of freaked. His face ran through a gamut of expressions from bewildered, to confused, angry, suspicious, settling on befuddled. "Haha, very funny."
    I looked at him, sincere.
    "You can't be serious? Everyone loves gold. It's so warm, and soft, and shiny and lovely. It's all there is, don't you know nuffin?"
    I just shrugged. "Not bothered." I knew it was messing with his head, but I was still rather shaken by the encounter with the knocker, and besides, if you can't wind a dwarf up about gold then what's the point in them being here?
    "Not... bothered," spluttered Ulod, unable to comprehend. "It's gold!" He managed, face bright red.
    "Come on, let's get this over with. What now?"
    "In there." He nodded at the large hole the knocker had come from, secured by a four foot railing to ensure nobody fell in.
    "I thought all the elevators were out of commission? It's not even here now, just the framework."
    "Don't need it. We gotta jump."
    "Jump! Are you nuts? I'm not about to jump into a bloody big hole in the ground. We'll die."
    "Don't be daft. You humans are so ignorant. We jump, them down below waitin' will take care of the rest."
    I in no way felt confident about launching myself into a black pit of despair—my mind was like that often enough for me to have no inclination to do it physically as well—but Ulod seemed so confident that I trusted him. Sort of.
    "Mithnite, don't go wandering off. Stay by the car and wait for me. This is your first job, so don't blow it. All you have to do is wait so I can drive home. Okay?"
    "Aye, aye, Captain." He gave a smart salute. Cheeky bugger.
    I turned back to Ulod. "You first."
    "Fine," he said, and launched himself over the railing with a grace a stubby man in way too much leather and various heavy duty utensils hanging from his belt should have no right to accomplish. "Come on, over you come."
    I joined him on the other side, and with a quick look around to ensure nobody was watching, he spat into the hole, mumbled what to me sounded suspiciously like a prayer in the dwarven tongue, and