Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Three Read Online Free Page B

like a pile of rubble. When he looked closer, he realised it was actually made up of debris from the rockslide outside, and not a solid wall as he had first thought. He began to clear the rubble using his hands. As he did so, he felt the wind coming through the widening gaps strengthen, and he instinctively knew it would lead him to the far side of the rockslide. Several minutes later and he was proved correct, when the last of the debris fell in on itself to reveal a small tunnel that led around the rockslide outside. He squeezed through the gap and crawled for a short distance, before emerging on the opposite side of the rockslide.
    While standing close to the rockslide, Lusam used his mage-sight to check the path further along. For as far as he could see the path was clear, but it turned a sharp corner and disappeared from view about half a mile in the distance. He wished he had time to check the path further ahead, but he knew he had to return to camp now if they were to have a chance of attacking the Empire agents at first light. He crawled back through the cave, returned to his normal-sight, and exited back out onto the path at the other side of the rockslide. Happy with his discovery, and the fact that he could now deliver much better news, he started to retrace his steps back to their camp further down the mountain path, this time being much more careful not to stub his toes again on any large rocks.
    ***
    Zedd’s patience was wearing thin, but he knew his plan to exhaust the boy-mage would work eventually. He had tried to physically chase them down, but without supplies he had found it impossible to maintain the pace necessary to close the gap between them. He had tried a direct magical assault, but at this range it had also proved ineffective. He had been fortunate that amongst the men he had acquired there was a summoner. Summoners were magi who specialised in summoning magical items, and one of the things they could create was a type of bread. It was created using the magical reserves of the summoner, and although it sated the hunger of the men, it held little in the way of nourishment. One thing a summoner was able to do however, was to summon real water from the ground, or even the air, which meant at least no one went thirsty.
    Zedd had noticed the boy-mage always used his magical shield while they pursued him, and had given strict orders to fire on him should he attempt to drop his defences. He knew only the boy-mage and the paladin were capable of seeing them in the darkness by their auras, so he knew one or the other had to always be on lookout duty each night. At first he had issued orders for all his men to maintain their shields at all times, just in case they were fired upon, but after a couple of days Zedd had noticed his own magical reserves depleting. There simply wasn’t enough time overnight to recoup the energy used during the previous day, and so he had issued new orders not to use their magical shields, unless fired upon first. He had seen first-hand some of what the boy-mage was capable of, and refused to underestimate him again. Anyone else, and Zedd would have already ordered an all-out attack, but he knew this boy was far more powerful than an average mage, and he needed to be weakened enough in advance for his attack to succeed.
    Zedd glanced up at the enemy’s camp and counted only three auras visible. “Report!” Zedd commanded the man on lookout duty.
    “No movement, sir. They seem to be sleeping, or at least resting for now,” replied the lookout.
    “Why are there only three auras visible?” Zedd asked.
    “One is sitting behind the paladin, sir. I saw one of them move and sit down behind him earlier, and now the paladin’s brighter aura is blocking the view of the fourth person.”
    “I see,” Zedd replied still looking up at the enemy’s camp. “Wake me if they attempt to move, or anything out of the ordinary happens.”
    “Yes, sir,” replied the lookout.
    Zedd turned