Realm Of Blood And Fire (Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

Stay together.” Privately, to her brother, she said, If anything happens, defend Blayke, and I’ll protect Bronwyn, if she needs it. If we have to sacrifice anyone, let it be Corrille and Toran. I would hate to see anything happen to that young man, because he seems nice and Bronwyn likes him very much, but our children are more important.
    I hear you.
    Bronwyn shouldered her pack and drew her sword. “Auntie, is it okay if I hold some of the power, just in case?”
    “Yes, dear. You don’t need to ask. You know the risks and you know what danger outweighs that now. It’s time you took responsibility for yourself.” Bronwyn’s mouth fell open as Avruellen led the way off the dock. Had she really just said she could make her own decisions? I never thought I’d see the day , she thought as she drew power from the Second Realm’s symbol-flecked darkness.
    Corrille clutched Blayke’s arm as they walked. He held both power and sword. “It’s too quiet,” he whispered, not wanting to disturb the silence of the wharf. As they walked, he noticed two other ships tied to the pier—empty. No sailors loaded or unloaded cargo; there was no one cleaning the decks, no merchants with fancy coats strutting around watching their money being made. This was supposed to be one of the busiest docks on Talia, but not today. Even the seagulls stayed away. Blayke wished they had too.
    Arcon, Phantom perched on his shoulder, led the way up the hill to the town, Avruellen and Bronwyn close behind, Sinjenasta protecting their backs. Everyone’s eyes scanned the surrounding shrubbery, looking for hidden danger.
    As they reached the top of the rise and started on the sandy road into town, Flux’s ears lay back against his head, his hackles raised. Flux’s low growl reached Avruellen, and she tensed. They stopped when the first house came into view.
    Nothing.
    A northerly wind blew in their faces, whipping sand around their legs, sighing through the long grass that bent, throwing invisible arms to the south. Arcon stopped and held his hands up. Everyone halted. Sinjenasta and Flux padded to stand on either side of the realmist, noses poised to steal any scent they could from the breeze.
    Arcon looked up as a shadow darkened the main street. A black smudge of cloud covered the sun ; similar dark shapes quickly approached from the north, pushed in by the ever-increasing gusts. Flux and Sinjenasta edged forward until they were level with the first house, the realmists close behind. Sinjenasta spoke to all the realmists. I smell gormons.
    Lightning flashed. Bronwyn, staring at the window of a house to their left, saw red eyes shine through the glass pane. Opening her mind fully, she drew from the Second Realm. With static lifting strands of her hair, she held her hands in front, as if she were holding a ball. Silver light filled the space between her palms. She shoved her hands forward, and the shining orb shot toward the house.
    The energy exploded into the cottage. Timber splintered outwards —igniting—glass shattered, and pieces of roof speared into the sky. Two creatures, aflame and screeching, stumbled toward them. Arcon shot successive fireballs from his palms. The immature gormons fell to their knees, their skin hissing and crackling. “Run!” Bronwyn shouted, sprinting toward the inn, and hopefully to their horses.
    The clouds layered themselves unnaturally , one atop the other, dimming the light—it was as if dusk had fallen. Avruellen, running to catch up to her niece, shouted, “What in the Third Realm were you thinking? Have you gone mad?”
    “No, Auntie !” Bronwyn shouted back, turning her head without slowing. “You know gormons prefer to come out when it’s dark, especially before they’re adults. If we don’t hurry, we’ll be overrun.”
    Ten feet from their destination, two hunched -over, but hulking, creatures scuttled out of the inn, blocking the realmists’ way. Bronwyn stopped, relieved to see Sinjenasta