The Wrathful Mountains by Lana Axe Read Free Book Online Page B

higher reaches, in the shadow of the mountain’s summit.
    They pressed on, the weather becoming fierce. Snow
swirled about them, forcing them to shield their eyes. After stumbling over a
few large stones, Kaiya focused her mind to the wind. Though she lacked the
ability to stop the snowstorm, she could make travel more tolerable. Holding
her palm outward, she shifted the winds before her, cutting a narrow clearing
through the air. This would allow her and her companions to see where they were
going, and hopefully avoid some of the obstacles that were quickly being buried
by the snowfall.
    For more than two hours, heavy snowfall bombarded
the freezing travelers. Their feet disappeared beneath them, buried in a
blanket of white. Kaiya continued to hold her spell, slicing through the
madness as they pressed onward. Finally, the snow relented to a softer, more
tolerable level. Flakes of white still tumbled from the skies, but there was no
longer a need for magic.
    It would be another hour before the skies cleared,
the snow retreating to the higher elevations. Raad’s stomach gurgled loud
enough for the others to hear, and he insisted on having a few bites to eat
while the weather permitted.
    “Just eat fast,” Kaiya insisted, removing her
pack. Reaching inside, she retrieved the meal her mother had prepared for her and
shared it with her companions.
    They nibbled hungrily, each of them eager to get
moving again. The mines were growing nearer, and they might reach them before
the next round of snow hit.
    Raad poured himself a mug of ale and downed it in
one long gulp. His cheeks becoming rosy, he said, “Gotta keep warm out here!”
    “Let’s get a move on,” was Kaiya’s only reply. She
took one step forward and paused, struck by the sensation that they were not
alone. Her mind raced, searching for the presence she had sensed before, but
this was something different. She detected no magic, nor did she detect the
presence of any sort of beast. This was a person, possibly more than one.
    “What is it?” Galen asked, noticing her tensed
posture.
    Kaiya held a hand up to silence him as she
swiveled her head to locate whoever was near. Movement caught her eye from high
above, a glistening object descending from the sky. “Move!” she cried to the
others as she spun to one side.
    The shining tip of a spear landed in their midst,
embedding itself in the frozen ground. The trio looked at one another,
realizing they were under attack. A second spear followed the first, but Kaiya
was ready. Steadying her hand, she forced the spear away, guiding it to rest at
Raad’s feet. He swooped to grab it, clutching the weapon in his hand.
    When the third spear neared her location, Kaiya
had had enough. She summoned a gust of wind, turning the spear and forcing it
back toward its owner. A cry of surprise echoed through the mountains as the
spear found its mark, nearly missing the man who had thrown it. It was not
Kaiya’s intention to hit him, but rather to let him know that she would not
tolerate a continued attack.
    The trio moved close together, staring ahead as
their attackers moved into view. A group of no less than a dozen figures moved
their way, led by a female figure in a long wooden mask. The mask’s expression
displayed anger, but the figure’s body language displayed caution. With her
head shaved smooth and rows of beads dangling across her chest, Kaiya knew the
woman must be of some importance to these primitive people.
    Kaiya furrowed her brow impatiently. “Why have you
attacked us?” she demanded, shouting.
    The masked woman moved closer, her ebony skin
contrasting against the snow. In her hand she clutched a staff, the bleached
white skull of a goat upon its end. “You have invaded our land!” the woman
called back. “You will come with us, and we will determine your fate!”
    Raad laughed low in his throat. “I guess they
don’t know who they’re dealing with,” he said, nudging Kaiya slightly.
    Raising her