torg 03- The Nightmare Dream by Jonatha Ariadne Caspian Read Free Book Online Page A

dark mage. "We have no desire to become hosts for evil spirits, but we also have no desire to give you the stone shard."
    "You have no choice," Markham raged. "The chthon will destroy you."
    "Perhaps," Djil agreed. "But perhaps not." He started to sing then, and though Bryce didn't understand the words he somehow sensed their intent. It was a song to the spirits of the dead insects, intoning them to return to their rightful resting place.
    "No!" Markham raged, and began making gestures with his hands and arms.
    Bryce could feel the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck stand up as the dark mage gathered power. He was preparing to cast a spell. The priest had seen Grim make similar motions throughout this trip, but Markham's exhibited none of the dwarf's joy or light. These motions were dark and forboding, suggesting evil intent.
    The chthon staggered as Djil sang, the words and melody striking the creature like blows from a hammer. Toolpin was rising, but still looked dazed. Neither would be able to protect themselves from Markham. It was up
    to Bryce.
    With a yell, Bryce ran at the dark mage. Markham saw him from the corner of his eye and spun to meet his charge. They locked hands, caught in an enemy's embrace. Bryce could feel power emanating from the man, but he also felt the gathering energy s(ip away as Markham lost concentration.
    "You are a brave fool, priest," the necromancer proclaimed through clenched teeth. "You may have interrupted my spell, but I have other weapons at my disposal."
    The two pushed back and forth, testing each other's strength as they grappled. It was obvious to Bryce that the mage was stronger than he, but not by much. But as they struggled he could feel some of his own strength sap away, seemingly swallowed by the blackness that surrounded this man.
    "You are... evil," Bryce said, searching for the words to express himself. This close, actually touching the dark mage, Bryce could feel the evii of the man as a tangible thing. "You cannot have the shard, or us." Bryce pushed then, throwing all of his strength into the action in hopes of unbalancing his opponent.
    Markham slipped, but caught himself before he fell. "This is not a battle you can win, priest," he warned. "Don't you feel your strength slipping away? Don't you feel my darkness smothering your light?"
    Markham shoved back, and Bryce went down hard. Air exploded from his lungs as he landed. For a moment he thought he was going to black out, but he fought the tug of unconsciousness. He managed to roll out of the way as Markham brought a booted foot down into the dirt where Bryce had been.
    The priest rolled back, catching the mage behind his legs. Now it was Markham's turn to fall, and he did so with no grace or style. He fell in a tangle of black robes, hitting the rotting log he had been sitting on when Bryce first saw him.
    Bryce got to his feet, keeping his eyes upon the mage. Markham also began to rise, and Bryce saw that he had produced a gleaming dagger from out of his robes.
    "I am not going to waste magic on you, Father Bryce," Markham said as he twisted the dagger. "I am going to cut you and watch you bleed."
    "That's not very nice," Toolpin said.
    His voice surprised Bryce, who was so engaged with the mage that he forgot the others. Apparently so did Markham. He barely turned to look at the dwarf when Toolpin's battle spike caught him across his bald forehead. He collapsed without a sound.
    Bryce whirled to see how Djil fared. The little aborigine was standing in the middle of a puddle of dead insects, sifting through them curiously.
    "Djil?" Bryce asked, checking to see if the shaman was all right.
    "Insect spirits are not as stubborn as other spirits," Djil said, stepping out of the litter of carcasses toward Bryce. "They decided to listen to my song and return to their place of rest."
    Djil reached into his pack and produced Bryce's cross. "I found this," the shaman said as he handed it back to the priest. "You should