Invasion by B.N. Crandell Read Free Book Online Page B

she stood on wobbly legs.
    She nodded her understanding. Hearing the crowd’s reaction to the dishonourable act she didn’t doubt his words. If he had arranged it and let the archer live, he would have lost his right to rule anyway. 
    “Will you allow me to use magic to remove the rest of the arrow?” she asked.
    “I cannot allow that. The rules stipulate no magic during a Challenge Festival no matter the circumstances. Justice was done to the interfering orc.” Gilkan took a few tentative steps back from her and readied his sword.
    Sylestra placed the bloodied dagger back in her belt and held her own sword at the ready, struggling to ignore the crippling pain in her chest. She needed to finish this fight soon or she would lose consciousness which would spell her own doom.
    She swung a right-to-left which Gilkan managed to block. The jarring impact of the connecting weapons sent ripples of pain through her body. However, Gilkan grimaced — he had lost a lot of blood and was also likely fighting off unconsciousness. She wondered briefly what would happen if they both passed out, or even died. No conditions had been made for that eventuality.
    Putting that thought aside, along with her chest pain, she went into a quick, but basic attack routine — right-to-left, left-to-right and then jab. Gilkan deflected the first, blocked the second but proved too slow to fully retreat from the jab and so suffered another puncture wound to his stomach. He staggered backwards and his eyes went vacant momentarily. Sylestra took advantage of that moment and swung her sword high, slicing Gilkan’s jugular. Blood spewed forth from his mouth moments before he collapsed. Showing a rare moment of mercy, she plunged her sword into his heart.
    The crowd gasped as one and dizziness overcame her. She dropped to her knees.
    A moment later the orc announcer stood over her with a wrinkled brow.
    “Can I use magic now?” she asked weakly.
    “Your opponent is dead. The Challenge Festival has been decided. You are now permitted to use magic,” he replied formally.
    She summoned all her remaining strength and uttered a quick, silent prayer to Nefari before uttering the words of a spell. The magic flowed through her body as she formed into a black mist to be carried on the gentle breeze. The remainder of the arrow dropped to the ground from her incorporeal form. Silently speaking the word to cancel the spell she took her solid state once again.
    The wound in her chest had sealed over, but the exertion of the spell casting had taken its toll. She collapsed and blackness overtook her.

 
    Chapter 4
    Escape Plans
    Master Pilk awoke.
    He listened carefully for any sign of alarm but none could be heard. He felt refreshed as though he had enjoyed a good eight hours sleep, but that didn’t seem to be the case. It had been near to midday when he had gone off to get some sleep so that would make it well into the evening by now. Although the air was cooler, rays of sunlight still filtered into the log constructed building.
    When he made his way outside, he soon judged it to be dinner time, as the smells of cooking food assaulted his senses. His stomach grumbled reminding him that he had skipped lunch in an attempt to get to sleep quicker.
    He sought out the closest camp fire where a soldier served him a bowl of lamb stew. As he ate he listened to the talk of the soldiers to catch up with anything he may have missed — very little it seemed. No attempt had been made by the Ta’zu to come through the Gate and Major Hillsworth had heeded his counsel and not sent the army to attack them.
    Occasionally four dwarves holding tower shields had been sent to keep an eye on the Ta’zu army. They had reported that the army were assembling more ballistae, but otherwise appeared to be preparing for a long stay — cleaning up the camp, fixing buildings, erecting tents.
    Something wasn’t making sense to Master Pilk. Why was Sylestra taking so long? She could get her