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

you’re tired, but so are they,” Renn said putting a hand on Lusam’s shoulder for encouragement. Lusam nodded and braced himself for the next impact. He didn’t have to wait long, as another missile impacted on his shield, and another six flew by harmlessly.
    Five minutes later Lusam was on the brink of exhaustion, all thoughts except survival long since gone from his mind. He knew they were getting closer to the cave by the vastly increased number of rocks that littered the path all around them, and found himself absent-mindedly wondering how they had all got there. Of course, it was obvious once he thought about it: they had come from the mountainside above. Suddenly he found himself looking up at the rock face to their left, and could clearly see the huge number of unstable rocks perched on the steep sides of the hillside.
    “Wait!” he called out. Renn stopped dead in his tracks and turned with concern clearly evident on his face, half-expecting Lusam to have collapsed behind him. “Shield me for a few seconds, I have an idea,” Lusam said. Renn didn’t waste time asking questions, he simply moved behind Lusam and prepared to intercept any incoming missiles. Lusam searched the hillside above them for any loose looking rocks and quickly found a large area that looked suitably unstable. He formed a fireball in his right hand, adjusting the spell in his mind so that it would explode on contact, and sent it hurtling towards the unstable hillside.
    “Run!” shouted Lusam, just before the explosive fireball found its target. They were both running at full speed when they heard the huge explosion and the rumble of sliding rocks that followed. Lusam chanced a quick glance back over his shoulder, and what he saw made him smile. The Empire agents had not only stopped their pursuit, they were now in full retreat, and running away from the potentially deadly rockslide. The rocks Lusam had targeted had rolled down the hillside, picking up many more along the way as they went. They now slid and bounced down the sheer hillside towards the path below, creating a huge echoing roar as they did so.
    “Well done, lad,” Renn said clapping Lusam on the shoulder, “I’d never have thought of doing that.”
    Unfortunately the rockslide was over far too soon, and it had done little more than increase the number of boulders and rubble littering the path behind them, but it had allowed them to reopen the gap between themselves and the Empire agents a little. Lusam and Renn stalwartly pushed onwards, thankful for their small victory, but also acutely aware that the problem of the pursuing Empire agents wasn’t any closer to being solved, nor would it be even after they reached the cave.

Chapter Seven

    “They should have been here by now. Something bad has happened, I just know it,” Neala said worriedly.
    “They’ll be fine, you’ll see. Aysha wouldn’t allow one of her own paladins to fall against such evil men,” Alexia replied confidently, bristling with faith in her own words. Just then they both heard a huge explosion in the distance, quickly followed by a rumbling sound that sent vibrations they could feel through their feet.
    “That’s it, I’ve had enough, I’m going to go find them,” Neala said.
    “No, wait. The plan was to wait here until they arrived. You know Lusam won’t be able to shield us all in his condition, so if we go out there we’re putting his life in jeopardy too,” Alexia replied.
    “That’s just it! For all I know his life is already in jeopardy, and all I’m doing is hiding in this damn cave!” Neala half-screamed. After a moment longer Neala took a steadying breath and continued, “Sorry, Alexia, I didn’t mean to get angry with you, it’s just that I couldn’t live with myself if anything bad happened to Lusam. I love him so much.”
    “Yes, I know you do, Neala. I’ve known ever since the first moment you spoke of him to me. I remember being in the darkness of my cell, and