The Fated Swords (Mystics of V'nairia #1) by J.C.Ritchie Read Free Book Online Page A

walked out of the inn.
    Outside they walked by the small shops and stands, taking a few moments to smell the food that had been prepared. A few moments later they had stopped at the nearby river just south of the town.
    “Why are we training down here?” Zander asked.
    “This river is on the outside of town and it is secluded, no one will spot us here.” Heiro explained.
    It was definitely the prime place to train; they knew that the militia would be looking for them. The river would be the last place anyone would think to look. “Today we’re going to learn a few simple spells.” Heiro said. He walked out to the middle of the river, “I can normally only use earth and fire magick, but I happened to learn a couple of other spells from an old mystic I met a while back.” He went on to say.
    “So I take it since we’re at the river I’m going to learn water magick?” Zander asked.
    Heiro began t o laugh, “Nothing gets past you. Yes I’m going to teach you a defensive water spell.” Heiro replied. He had begun to focus and gather his energy, “You have to take in all the energy you can and release it down into the water through your feet like so, Water Art: Water Wall!” Heiro said as the water in front of him began to bubble. Suddenly it sprang up and formed a wall, “Normally water can be sliced through easily, but when you infuse it with magick it strengthens it making it harder to penetrate.” Heiro explained.
    Zander walked out to the water and joined him. He had begun focused his mind on gathering the energy he needed to perform the technique. “Water Art: Water Wall!” Zander shouted as the wall formed from the river, it wasn’t as large or as strong as Heiro’s spell but it would have to do for now.
    “Looks like you’re a natural when it comes to spell casting, that’s good.” Heiro said.
    “Now I understand how defensive spells are useful but what about offensive?” Zander asked him.
    “That’s your next lesson, wind magick.” Heiro said pointing to a tree across the river. “ This time you will be using your sword instead of your body. You must channel your magick through the blade, Wind Art: Slicing Gale.” Heiro said as he released his sword and sent gusts of air towards the tree slicing off several of its branches.
    Zander faced the tree and released his sword, he gathered energy and just as Heiro instructed he channeled the magick through the blade. W ith one quick motion he released it but instead the blades were so powerful the sliced the tree itself in half. “I figured as much, Ivory amplifies all magick that is passed through it. That will be a valuable asset later on.” Heiro explained.
    Zander had no idea he was this powerful, and by his parents no less. He no longer cared whether they were mystics or not he was glad he was born with the power to bring his friend h ome. That was his main focus; he would bring Vallus back to the capital nothing else.
    Later that evening the boys had made their way back to the inn. As they walked past Kerra’s door and knocked, there was still no reply.
    “Something’s wrong, we should check on her.” Zander said. Heiro nodded as they slowly opened the door, inside the room there was no sign of Kerra. Her window was open and a breeze blew in through the cloth curtains.
    “Where co uld she have gone?” Zander asked himself.
    Heiro spotted a note on the bed out of the corner of his eye. He picked it up, examined it and was in immediate shock. “Zander she was kidnapped!” Heiro shouted.
    “What does it say?” Z ander asked snatching it from his hand. It read:
    We’ve taken the girl, if you want her alive
    Then you will meet us at the old shack outside of town
    We’re ask ing 100,000 yol in exchange
    Come alone at midnight or she dies.
    “Damn bandits.” Heiro said.
    Zander noticed an odd symbol on the bottom of the letter, it looked like a claw. “What does this mean?” he asked Heiro.
    “That is the symbol for the Iron Claw