Elves: Beyond the Mists of Katura Read Online Free

and joined their casting, seeing the mana shape flicker before it steadied and deepened, widening to encompass the mid-mast and the deck on which their entire surviving mage
strength was now gathered.
    ‘Brace yourselves,’ said Stein. ‘Here they come.’
    Orbs of dark fire raced across the sky. Stein could sense their force through the mana spectrum as they flew for the shield.
    ‘Steady,’ he whispered.
    The orbs struck the shield with the force of a cavalry charge. The shield shivered and every mage was driven back across the deck. Black tendrils of shaman magic searched the invisible barrier,
seeking weakness. The shield held.
    ‘Well done,’ breathed Stein. ‘Let’s keep it strong.’
    Stein took a breath and looked aft. The fire was raging over a third of the ship now. Sailors still tried to beat out the flames but it was a hopeless task. Clouds of smoke billowed across the
deck and out over the ocean. The ship would sink. The only question was whether or not they could cover an escape.
    ‘Incoming!’
    The ship wallowed again, affording Stein a view of another enemy ship horribly close to their stern. Spells spiralled from her bow, slamming into the unprotected aft deck and burning mast. Stein
felt every blow through his feet. He heard the cracking of timber and the sharp whip of lines torn from their stays . . .
    . . . as the aft mast fell along the length of the ship, colliding with the mainmast, bringing down rigging, pulleys, spars and sail on the defensive mage group.
    ‘Break!’ roared Stein, scrambling away. Others weren’t so quick and were able only to cover their heads as the avalanche of heavy rigging fell on them.
‘Dammit!’
    Stein and a handful of crew ran back to try and pull the mages clear, but all three enemy vessels were on them now, their shamen preparing to cast the killing spells and the Wesmen ready to mop
up any survivors. Stein felt a hand on his shoulder and spun to face the first mate.
    ‘You have to go.’
    ‘No,’ said Stein. ‘We can’t leave anyone. They’ll offer no mercy.’
    ‘Casting inbound!’ yelled a voice.
    Spears of black fire tore into the ship, ripping up timber, throwing deadly splinters into the air to bury themselves in the bodies of the mages still at the rails, trying to fight back. More
dark orbs crashed into the mainmast and landed nearer the bow. The ship shuddered and Stein fell. The mate dragged him back to his feet.
    ‘It’s too late for the rest of us. Go. Now. Someone has to take the message south.’
    ‘I—’
    ‘Stein! We knew what we were facing. I am proud to die for my college and my country.’
    Stein stared into the first mate’s eyes and saw belief shining through fear. Stein nodded, bit down on his guilt and began to cast. ‘The council will hear of your courage.’
    Another volley of spells crashed into the ship, and water burst through already shattered deck timbers. The first mate turned from Stein, took a single pace forward and was struck by a tongue of
flame. His burning body was flung clear over the port rail, his screams lost in the tumult of the dying ship.
    Stein cast his Wings of Shade and shot straight up into the air. Fingers of black fire chased him, ripping into his boot and up his left leg. He screamed and barely clung on to the casting,
feeling the wings gutter on his back and his stomach lurch as he lost altitude, plunging back towards the deck.
    Black smoke billowed across the ship. He could just make out some of his mages trying to cast, but the shamen were too close and the dark fire was all-consuming. Stein focused, strengthened the
spell and climbed once more, orbs still chasing him into the heavens but unable to reach him before they fell back to the ocean.
    Below him the wreckage of his ship was sinking fast while the three enemy vessels circled like sharks contemplating their kill. Stein banked and flew south. They had been six days’ sail
from Calaius – an enormous distance for a fit