Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Three by Dean Cadman Read Free Book Online Page A

replied.
    “Well, we need to see the incoming missiles to be able to avoid them, that’s obvious enough, but me running backwards doesn’t seem to be helping us much, because we are forced into running a straight and predictable path. What we need to be able to do is see the missiles coming and dodge them by zigzagging down this path, that way avoiding being hit by as many as possible,” Renn said. Before Lusam could reply he was struck by three more missiles, and once again Renn found himself lifting him out of the dirt and half-carrying him down the path. Lusam spat out his mouthful of dirt and gave a mirthless laugh.
    “How can we run, zigzag, and see what’s coming from behind us in time to dodge it if we are facing forwards?” Lusam asked confused.
    “Because of this,” Renn replied, holding out his shield. He spun it over in his hands to reveal the inside of the shield, and Lusam could clearly see an almost mirror-like finish to the metal. “If I use my shield as a mirror, I should be able to see the incoming missiles in plenty of time to guide us in the opposite direction, but you will still need to shield me too, just in case I miss an odd one.”
    “Okay, let’s try it. Anything is better than this,” Lusam agreed, taking yet more impacts on his shield. Renn moved in front of Lusam and held up his shield so that he could see what was coming from behind them in its reflection. Almost immediately he saw two missiles heading their way.
    “Move left!” Renn shouted, and Lusam complied. Two missiles went flying past harmlessly to their right.
    “Nice,” Lusam said, relieved to have dodged at least those two missiles.
    “Right!” Renn shouted, and once again Lusam moved in time to avoid being hit. Their new tactics proved so effective that Lusam only had to absorb one impact from the next ten or twelve volleys, and Renn knew the Empire agents would soon also have to change their tactics. Renn had tried to put himself in the position of the enemy leader and knew exactly what he would do in his place, so when it happened, he knew exactly what to do in response. Renn had surmised that the only option left to the Empire agent in command would be to send a whole bunch of missiles at the same time, so as not to leave any room for Lusam and Renn to avoid them. He was right, and with a huge grin of satisfaction on his face he shouted, “Down! Lie down!”
    Both of them hit the ground on their stomachs, skidding to a halt as seven missiles flew harmlessly above them. Renn quickly got back up and dragged Lusam with him.
    “They won’t like wasting seven shots at a time,” Lusam said, laughing at the imagined faces of their enemies.
    “I wouldn’t laugh just yet,” Renn said. “If I’m right, they will send another volley just like that last one, except this time it will be at ground level. Yup, just like that…Down!” This time Renn remained standing until Lusam was on the floor, then he quickly lay across the top of him, with his shield pointing towards the incoming missiles. One missile impacted on Renn’s shield, and six others skimmed the ground, three each side of them. Again Renn was up and hoisting Lusam back to his feet long before the next volley came.
    “It won’t take them long to realise that each time we hit the dirt like that, they gain ground on us, and the closer they get, the less time we will have to react,” Renn stated.
    “What are you suggesting?”
    “You’re not going to like it, lad, but I think you’re going to have to absorb one of those seven missiles until we get closer to the cave. I’ll keep watching them. If they start sending single shots again we can dodge them instead. Do you think you can handle a few more shots?” Renn asked.
    “I don’t see I have any choice. The cave is another ten minutes away at least, and if we keep stopping, they will be on top of us before we reach it.”
    “Okay, lad, let’s try and pick up the pace a little if we can. I know