A Darkness Unleashed (Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

slicing where she could. He took a blow on the side of his arm, but the old Highspur mail he had barely removed for days held firm against the glancing strike, and he returned the attack with a vengeful shout. Shar’leen tasted orc blood once more.
    A brimstone smell cut through the blood and metal in Jaerd’s nostrils. Another flare shot out from Joslyn Britt, this one more orange than argent. A small clutch of orcs burst into flame, screaming in agony. The two who could still run did so, shouts of fear in their voices. Tilli took one in the neck with an arrow, while Gael appeared in front of the other, his twin longknives ending the orc’s shouts.
    The elf trotted toward Earl Boris and Magus Britt. Jaerd watched them between controlled breaths. He had grown used to the sudden quiet at the end of a fight, when the enemy could do little more than moan at his feet. He looked about with a pang of fear, making certain that was the case. Other than the involuntary twitching of orc nerves coming to grips with their new situation, nothing moved, barely even among the Highspur survivors. Save Gael.
    “We must break camp and continue onward. Another patrol is not far behind. They move in great force along the edge of the Bloodwood, already on this side of the Gallond.” The elf moved one hand to adjust his patch, changing at the last moment to run it through his lengthening white crew cut. “Dozens of orcs are on the move not much more than an hour away.”
    Boris sheathed his sword. “Then let’s go.”
    Khalem Shadar had already begun saddling horses, and Jaerd joined him after cleaning and sheathing Shar’leen. Before long they rode out of their sheltered hollow. Brawny loped ahead with Gael and his mount.
    In between the giant Bloodwoods, the party made good time. Once the great trees disappeared, normal sized pine and fir replaced them, closing in the passage. But with an elf in the lead, and less snowfall upon the ground, they still traversed the forest with great speed. By the time the sun breached the horizon, the southern spur of the Dragonscales loomed to their left, covered in even thicker stands of pine.
    Day wore on and Jaerd walked next to his horse, giving the steed a rest. Dawne yawned and stumbled beside him, and he offered her his arm.
    “Come on, sis, we’re almost there.”
    “Where?” she sighed.
    “Kirath,” Boris called, his hand extended toward the distance.
    A small town with no wall but several large keeps stood on the last low peak of the mountain spur just a few leagues away.
    “I hope they have baths,” Dawne whispered.

 
    Healing Talent is a blessing above the skills of mages. To save a life is sacred. – “Healing Abscura” by Lord Doctor Balon Harish, 322 A.R.
     
    S hoving aside her feelings for Tallen, Maddi closed the door to the Lord Doctor’s office behind her. Even though she was quite practiced at focusing on a task at hand, a knot of thoughts still hung in the back of her mind regarding him, offering an enticing distraction. Damn him.
    Lord Doctor Tymin Marten sat behind his garish desk, suddenly over-carved and over-gilt to Maddi’s tastes. He steepled his fingers in front of his face, his mud-colored eyes boring into Maddi’s heart.
    “Welcome, Lady Doctor ,” he sneered. “I assume you have come to deliver your student reports for the semester?”
    Maddi stopped the hand that reached for one of the daggers in her sleeve. I don’t want this to turn violent – at least not yet.
    “I’ve come to resign the College, both as student and teacher.” She ached to hurt the man, but thoughts of what he might do with Tanya held her hand. “I also demand that you tell me where my friends are. What have you done with Tanya and Ami?”
    “Whatever are you talking about?” The doctor feigned innocence with such absurdity that Maddi almost gave in to the urge to pull her knife. “Your little urchin probably ran back to the sewer she crawled out of.”
    Maddi stepped back,