The Spell of Binding (Part One) by Glen Johnson Read Free Book Online

mention our mission. You are simply traveling with me to Keep Safe . You are to make up your own excuse as to why you need to go there.”
    Minika read the letter that had been sent to her one more time, to memorize it. Then holding on to it she started to whisper some incoherent chant, while tracing a rune with her finger. The page flared up into a ball of flames. She dropped it to the floor. It had completely di sintegrated before falling half way.
    Droncin took a step back. Dwarfs couldn’t abide magic. Never trust something you can not see , as their saying went. But trust your solid axe – the dwarven proverb finished. H e had his large axe swung over his shoulder . It shined radiant metallic silver. He had spent hours polishing it after the meeting w ith four different types of oil , while he thought about all that had been discussed.
    His mind was set. He would do whatever was required for him to become a famous hero. Songs will be sung about him for decades to come. He could even rank up along side King Dracko the Great, who had led his people forth from the Great Battle of Tarnac, destroying all that stood in his path .
    Droncin’s chest puffed up with pride, a legend in his own lifetime. He would be the gre atest dwarf who ever wielded an axe. The dwarf that had sent the evil in this world back into its prison bonds. He quickly wiped away at a solitary tear before any of the other saw it.
    Minika was walking around her small home, checking everything was in order for their long jo urney ahead. She stopped beside a large red blossoming plant that took up one whole side of the room. With a delicate swish and flick of her wrist a collection of blue runes gathered and floated down and wrapped around the large terracotta pot; these would keep the soil moist while she was away. The plant had been her mother s . She gave one of the plants large light green leaves a gentle ca ress. Then she drew a healing rune on the plants stalk and plucked the leaf from the stem, and placed it in her pocket.
    “All ready?” Minika asked . “Then let’s go.” She headed towards the door, standing to one side while the others exited. All a part from the elf who walked in to the doorframe, smacking his long bony nose on its hard surface. The dwarf barked with laughter.
    A few people had gathered around Minika home. Re alizing something was happening they want ed to be the first to hear about it and pass the gossip along.
    Minika walked past them all, unconcerned with their idle speculation.
    The village was set up many decades ago because of the fresh water spring that bubbled up from what was now the center of the village. Minika’s home was right on the main square.
    Pramos and Droncin commenced filling theirs and the other twos water skins from the bubbling fresh water fountain. They only needed to fill them once; Minika’s rune magic would replicate what they already had.
    Leinthren was busy on one side, annoying a young woman, asking her where he could procure some bottles of drin-wos wine.
    Minika walked over to an elderly human male who was sat on a rickety chair that looked almost as old as its occupant. She leant down and whispered into his wrinkled ear. The elderly human merely nodded once to say he understood. He n ever r ose or ma de any comment. He then simply watched as the small group of four headed off into the distance , walking along the main street towards the shielded barrier.
    A small group of children and nosey adults followed the four to the edge of town, stopping a safe distance from the protective barrier, even though it w ould do them no harm.
    Minika didn’t turn, and said nothing as she walked up to the shimmering shield and proceeded to walk right through. The shield was made up of billions of runes, all lock ed together creating the vast dome that enc ompassed the small village. It was Minika’s job to monitor the barrier to make sure the runes stayed joined and didn’t start to unravel. As she