Legends of Marithia: Book 3 - Talonsphere Read Online Free Page A

as another bunch of twigs snapped in the forest.
    A warrior barked, “There! I knew I heard something!” He took the lead into the forest.
    By the gods, I can’t thank you enough, Kassina , Tusdar thought.
    The sound of a woman’s humming echoed all around them. Windows unanimously slammed shut throughout the town.
    That wasn’t me , Kassina said, Get out of there. Now!
    “ What are you? Come out and fight, you coward!” Marr said, fogs of breath puffing from his mouth.
    Tusdar didn’t want to stick around to find out what creature or demon was coming their way. Whatever it was, the elves should serve to slow it down. He quickened their pace and reached the town’s inn. A red, star-shaped crystal hung above its door, glowing and flashing furiously. Tusdar was distracted for a moment, staring at the strange artefact. He was unsure if it was detecting their presence, or the worse alternative, a demon’s.
    If it stops demons and is this strong, then we are in serious trouble , he thought.
    Mestal bumped into his side and let out an involuntary whimper. She quickly covered her mouth and stared, wide-eyed, far behind him. He turned to watch Drubb and Marr bear down on their position. His dead heart sank at the realisation that this wasn’t going to be the easy escape he had hoped for.
    The elves had split into two groups. The other two headed into the forest.
    “Halt!” Marr said. “Who goes there?”
    Tusdar and Mestal shared a glance before turning toward Tr’Arch River. Mestal’s eyes glowed crimson as she hissed in the elves’ direction, baring her glistening fangs. They fled at an inhuman speed under the moon’s burgundy glow.
    “Vampires!” Drubb said. “Kill ‘em both!”
    Tusdar turned to see Drubb attempt to give chase, and Marr kneeling with a readied arrow, taking aim at their path. The gleam of the arrow’s head looked familiar and he clenched his teeth.
    Silver! This could mean the end of us , he thought, swallowing hard.
    A blood-curdling scream escaped the forest. Marr released his arrow, before turning back toward the dark woods. Mestal flicked her gaze to her left and grabbed Tusdar by his clothes. She jerked him back as the arrow split the air in front of his face, landing a nearby home’s bricks. They grimaced as they heard an approaching group of Marithian warriors marching from their right flank.
    “It’s our reinforcements!” Drubb said, his voice ringing.
    Tusdar seized Mestal’s hand and they ran together. They slowed as their energy was sapped away. He knew that they couldn’t sustain this, and for a moment, his mind clouded with doubt.
    “It’s been too long since we’ve fed!” Mestal said.
    “Vampires! Sound the alarm!” a voice said, in the direction of Greenhaven. The sound of a battle horn soon followed.
    Tusdar’s face drained of blood as he heard the fire order. The likelihood of avoiding a barrage of silver arrows was incredibly unlikely. He knew he had to do something, and fast. His mind scrambled for options, and his breath quickened. They reached Tr’Arch’s flowing waters. He turned to Mestal and snapped, “Follow me and do exactly as I do.”
    She nodded and he heard her struggling to keep pace as he leapt to the other side of the river. He ran a short distance on the opposite bank, and then leapt back to the other side. “Mestal, keep up or we’ll die out here!”
    The whistling in the air was a short warning. Volleys of silver arrows rained down on their position, narrowly missing them. Some arrows slid through the water and embedded into the river. They caught their breaths and pressed on. Their blurred vision worsened as they struggled to retain their strength. Mestal continued for a few moments before falling hard to the rock bed. She stumbled forward before Tusdar caught her, her bodyweight dropping into his embrace. He fell to his knees. It was at that moment that he knew they couldn’t go on.
    “If we die here tonight, I want you to know that I