Heir of Shandara (Book 4) Read Online Free

meeting the Elitesmen’s attack. No longer were the Elitesmen put off by someone who could actually fight back, and they fought all the more ferociously because of it. Amid the storm of swords, the bladesong bit into the Elitesmen’s blades. One after another, they threw themselves at him, bringing all their training to bear. A few unleashed attack orbs, which Aaron deflected with his blades. The crystals in the pommels of his blades glowed with the energy, casting a white glow around them. Knowledge of souls past melded themselves into his style, allowing him to quickly unravel the pattern of Elitesmen attacks. They would never surrender, preferring to fight to the death, and while Aaron would fight, it still sickened him that he had no other choice but to kill the Elitesmen. He feared the day when killing Elitesmen didn’t matter to him. Then he would be like the High King, whose insatiable appetite to kill went hand in hand with his lust for power.  
    Verona fought by his side. His friend had grown in his abilities by leaps and bounds. Verona harbored a lifetime of fear and hatred for the Elitesmen and held no such misgivings where their deaths were concerned. Two Elitesmen sent attack orbs their way, which bounced harmlessly off an invisible shield created by Verona.
    The medallion became as ice on Aaron’s chest. He spun around, scanning the area, and amid the shadows two glowing red eyes bored into him. Aaron charged, closing the distance between them. The Elite Master narrowed his baleful gaze and raised his swords. Aaron swung his Falcons, and as the blades met, sparks showered down around them. The Elite Master leaped away, and Aaron followed, quickly catching up to him. The Elitesman cut to the left, heading into the courtyard. Aaron caught a glimpse of Verona following and saw that the FNA forces were pushing in on all sides.
    Aaron went over the wall and was met by three Elite Masters in their silver cloaks.  
    A trap it is then, but not enough for this quarry.  
    A squad of FNA soldiers charged in, and the Elite Masters lifted their hands. The squad of men screamed in pain, their skin blistering everywhere. Before Aaron could move, the squad was already dead, their bodies steaming husks. Their blood was boiled from within. Growling, Aaron spun, sucking in a torrent of energy, and swung his swords, sending a swath of pure energy into the Elite Masters. He was on them before their bodies hit the ground. His blades cut down two of them, but the third scrambled away and came to a halt before the portcullis.
    “Surrender,” Aaron said.
    The glowing red eyes of the Elite Master narrowed. “Never, Shandarian.”
    Verona crested the wall, and more FNA soldiers led by Sarah appeared outside the portcullis.
    The Elite Master glanced behind him and smirked. “Your weakness presents itself, Shandarian,” he said, and raised his hands.  
    A soldier stepped in front of Sarah and collapsed to the ground. Aaron dashed forward and was in front of the Elite Master in the span between moments. He brought down his blades, severing the Elite Master’s outstretched hand.
    “You will never be able to protect them all, Shandarian.”
    Without another word, Aaron plunged his sword into the Elite Master’s heart.
    Sarah helped the soldier regain his feet and closed the distance to Aaron, while the FNA soldiers fanned out through the courtyard.
    “My Queen, I thought you were feeling ill,” Aaron said with half a smile.  
    “I felt better and wanted a bit of fresh air,” Sarah said.
    Sarah had become the High Queen of Khamearra after they had defeated her father, the High King. Aaron had taken to calling her his queen ever since, and it had been a running joke between them.  
    A deep, cavernous roar echoed through the courtyard. The roar appeared to come from within the castle. In moments, more Elitesmen and renegade soldiers poured out of it. Behind them followed an immense creature easily fifteen feet tall. Dark