Soul Seeker (The World of Lasniniar Book 1) by Jacquelyn Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

bow-legged, spider-like gait, often using their hands to help move them along.
    Iarion and Silvaranwyn opened fire. Two goblins fell to the ground with a scream. The dark forces halted for a moment in silence. Then a huge war cry erupted as they began to charge.
    Both elves managed to fire several more arrows before the creatures came too close. Iarion and Silvaranwyn slung their bows back onto their shoulders and drew their knives. Silvaranwyn was pale and shaking.
    She had never killed before.
    The realization hit Iarion like a blow. Now she would have to do it up close with her knife. He hoped for their sakes that she would be able to stomach it.
    Iarion was allowed no other observations. The enemy was upon them. The goblins were first, all pale green skin and slitted, red eyes. Lysandir burned them with a single touch. Barlo swung his ax, sending the head of the one closest to him flying. Iarion thrust at one with his knife while Silvaranwyn attacked another.
    Once they had eliminated most of the first wave, the ogres moved forward. The hairy creatures were tougher to kill. They fought with their tusks and cudgels, their small eyes glowing in the gathering dark. Their foul reek filled the air. The trolls roared in the background, unable to get close enough.
    These creatures did not fight as an organized group. The Marred Races did not mix well. It was chaos. No matter how many Iarion and his companions killed, more stepped forward to take their place. He and the others were soon panting with exertion, covered with blood and gore. Time slowed.
    Some trolls managed to lumber forward, swinging their maces and large fists. Their rough, gray skin was difficult to pierce with any conventional weapon, and they were often too stupid to know when they should be dead. The four companions had gone from fighting in a line, to standing back to back in a cluster, trying to hold off the onslaught. The living were climbing over the bodies of the slain to reach them.
    “We can’t keep this up much longer,” Iarion shouted over the din. “Do we have a plan?”
    “There is something I can do,” Lysandir shouted back. “But it will only buy us some time.”
    “Well, what are you waiting for?” Barlo bellowed. “Do it!”
    Lysandir muttered some words and the air around them stirred. A ring of fire sprang up from the ground, surrounding them. Several dark creatures died instantly, falling in a pile of ash. Soon only Iarion and his companions remained within the circle.
    The dark creatures howled their frustration from the other side. A few of them tried to cross the flames, but none survived. Iarion and Silvaranwyn shot some arrows through the wall, which became a fiery hailstorm for their enemies. The dark creatures drew back, just out of range.
    “I can keep it up for now, but I can’t hold it forever,” Lysandir said. His face was streaked with soot and sweat. “When it does fall, it will be well after sundown. I probably won’t have enough power left to be of much use.”
    “Maybe they’ll get bored after a while and leave,” Barlo said.
    “That won’t happen.” Lysandir shook his head. “They may have fallen back, but they are still waiting.”
    Silvaranwyn collapsed to her knees and began to vomit. Her entire body was trembling. Barlo rushed to her side, surprising Iarion. He stood beside her, rubbing her back.
    “That’s it,” he soothed. “Let it all out. There’s no shame in it. Everyone feels bad after their first kill. You held yourself together better than most.”
    Iarion was even more surprised when Silvaranwyn flung her arms around Barlo’s neck, sobbing into his beard.
    “I felt them die! It was horrible.” The rest of her words were incoherent.
    Barlo put his arms around her in an awkward fashion. “There, there. It’ll be all right.”
    “What are we going to do?” Iarion asked Lysandir.
    “I don’t know.” Lysandir chewed his lip. “I knew it was likely we would be attacked, but I