Beyond the Sapphire Gate: Epic Fantasy-Some Magic Should Remain Untouched (The Flow of Power Book 1) Read Online Free Page B
the main bloodstream.
Sealing her blood vessel with what she thought of as symbolic gauze, the symbol drifted across the artery, applying mesh on the opposite side.
Concentrating, she rotated the symbol a full turn, performing a quick reconnaissance. Her blood flowed normally, delivering platelets as usual. Slowly, she continued the rotation, only to halt at the gauze patch installed on the arterie’s far side. A dark green substance had eaten through part of the seal and was pouring into her bloodstream from deeper within her organs. Now what was she supposed to do? Scarcely half her symbol remained.
A symbol she’d read under the heading Dilutions: formed in her mind. Combining them, she redrew the symbol into a new one. Intricate gold and silver lines, winding back and forth, filled the pentagram inside. Where webbing was before, there was now a hedge-like maze of lines with no beginning or end. Glowing faintly silver and gold, and triple the size, she rode it into the mossy stuff invading her organs and circulatory system.
On contact, the fluid vaporized into puffs of transparent mist, her bloodstream sweeping it away. The silver-gold symbol poured into the gap leading deeper inside her, filling it with an almost tangible fury. Finished, she sealed the opening with the remainder, releasing her awareness back into herself.
Comprehension of the outside world coalesced around her, bringing with it a splitting migraine. Consciousness began to slip away, draining from her like a mountain stream racing to a canyon’s edge. She fought the sensation, willing her body and mind to coherence.
The alley sprang into clarity. Movement caught her eye.
The girl meticulously wiped the jewel-encrusted dagger on one of the swordsmen’s pants leg. Once satisfied, she lifted her taupe dress to the thigh and stowed the dagger in a sheath. Then her small hands moved over the corpse with a practiced ease, patting the body. Several coins, a plain dagger, a small wood box, and several other items vanished into a leather bag hanging at her hip.
Crystalyn’s stomach churned strong enough she felt she was going to vomit. Thankfully, the feeling passed. She needed time to replenish her strength, but she wasn’t going to get it. The girl would soon realize she still lived.
Using her legs and hands to push herself to a sitting position, dizziness assaulted her. Crystalyn rested her head on her chest, fighting the sensation. Please don’t let me blackout, she pleaded in silence. Please, Great Father!
After a while, the lightheadedness lessened, the pack at her feet sprang into clarity. Both leather-bound tomes lay half-exposed inside the main compartment. A warm feeling spread through her as she looked at the white-lettered book of symbols. It was a good thing she’d read it; the book had taught her the symbols to use. In a way, tier one of The Tiered Tome of Symbols had saved her life. What other wonders might she gain from the black-lettered book?
Soon, she would study every page. It might save her life or someone else’s. Providing she lived long enough here—wherever here was.
Right now, her list-ordered mind demanded goals. First priority—search until she found Jade, no matter what it took, or how long. Second, once she found her sister, both of them would look for a pair of obelisks. Third, once they found them, she would open the gateway using the same symbol. The last part was important she was convinced, for a safe return trip home. It was a simple strategy. But it was a strategy.
Without straining her upset stomach as best she could, Crystalyn shoved the books in her pack, keeping the girl inside her peripheral vision. Busy with her macabre task, the girl ignored her as if she was no longer among the living. With any luck, she would continue to believe so long enough for her strength to ebb back.
Crystalyn stole a look around. Sunlight faded from the mouth of the alley, the shadows stretching long from it. Soon,
Sealing her blood vessel with what she thought of as symbolic gauze, the symbol drifted across the artery, applying mesh on the opposite side.
Concentrating, she rotated the symbol a full turn, performing a quick reconnaissance. Her blood flowed normally, delivering platelets as usual. Slowly, she continued the rotation, only to halt at the gauze patch installed on the arterie’s far side. A dark green substance had eaten through part of the seal and was pouring into her bloodstream from deeper within her organs. Now what was she supposed to do? Scarcely half her symbol remained.
A symbol she’d read under the heading Dilutions: formed in her mind. Combining them, she redrew the symbol into a new one. Intricate gold and silver lines, winding back and forth, filled the pentagram inside. Where webbing was before, there was now a hedge-like maze of lines with no beginning or end. Glowing faintly silver and gold, and triple the size, she rode it into the mossy stuff invading her organs and circulatory system.
On contact, the fluid vaporized into puffs of transparent mist, her bloodstream sweeping it away. The silver-gold symbol poured into the gap leading deeper inside her, filling it with an almost tangible fury. Finished, she sealed the opening with the remainder, releasing her awareness back into herself.
Comprehension of the outside world coalesced around her, bringing with it a splitting migraine. Consciousness began to slip away, draining from her like a mountain stream racing to a canyon’s edge. She fought the sensation, willing her body and mind to coherence.
The alley sprang into clarity. Movement caught her eye.
The girl meticulously wiped the jewel-encrusted dagger on one of the swordsmen’s pants leg. Once satisfied, she lifted her taupe dress to the thigh and stowed the dagger in a sheath. Then her small hands moved over the corpse with a practiced ease, patting the body. Several coins, a plain dagger, a small wood box, and several other items vanished into a leather bag hanging at her hip.
Crystalyn’s stomach churned strong enough she felt she was going to vomit. Thankfully, the feeling passed. She needed time to replenish her strength, but she wasn’t going to get it. The girl would soon realize she still lived.
Using her legs and hands to push herself to a sitting position, dizziness assaulted her. Crystalyn rested her head on her chest, fighting the sensation. Please don’t let me blackout, she pleaded in silence. Please, Great Father!
After a while, the lightheadedness lessened, the pack at her feet sprang into clarity. Both leather-bound tomes lay half-exposed inside the main compartment. A warm feeling spread through her as she looked at the white-lettered book of symbols. It was a good thing she’d read it; the book had taught her the symbols to use. In a way, tier one of The Tiered Tome of Symbols had saved her life. What other wonders might she gain from the black-lettered book?
Soon, she would study every page. It might save her life or someone else’s. Providing she lived long enough here—wherever here was.
Right now, her list-ordered mind demanded goals. First priority—search until she found Jade, no matter what it took, or how long. Second, once she found her sister, both of them would look for a pair of obelisks. Third, once they found them, she would open the gateway using the same symbol. The last part was important she was convinced, for a safe return trip home. It was a simple strategy. But it was a strategy.
Without straining her upset stomach as best she could, Crystalyn shoved the books in her pack, keeping the girl inside her peripheral vision. Busy with her macabre task, the girl ignored her as if she was no longer among the living. With any luck, she would continue to believe so long enough for her strength to ebb back.
Crystalyn stole a look around. Sunlight faded from the mouth of the alley, the shadows stretching long from it. Soon,
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