She Who Has No Name (The Legacy Trilogy) Read Online Free Page B

violent, and it was a tragic waste of power, but such was the unpredictable nature of the Argum Stone’s magic.
    A wailing horn sounded from amongst the horde and the clot of N orth-men around the trio gave up their efforts and instead pulled back to form a solid wall.  They held onto their axes and weapons and snarled impatiently, barking to each other in the rough Garten tongue.
    ‘What’s this?’ Goodfellow asked.
    ‘Magicians,’ Samuel responded, for the pause had allowed him to squeeze the ring from his finger and gather his breath.  With his head clearing, he could see the telltale glow of magicians making their way forward through the pack.
    ‘Where are they, Samuel?’ Goodfellow asked, for neither he nor the other Eric possessed Samuel’s uncanny ability to see magic itself.
    A moment later and the question did not need answering, for five costumed magicians stepped into view, bearing necklaces of bones , demonic features painted upon their faces. .
    Samuel could see that his friends were equally bewildered, for they had never seen magicians dressed so savagely.  Yet, as he did recall, the far north was an enormous and varied land, with many simple and isolated clusters that still held to their old traditions.  These were undoubtedly tribal shamans from the frozen steppes in the north of the world.
    The Garten magicians chattered to each other in hushed but hurried tongues and then at once began their work.
    ‘They’re forming a Manyspell,’ Samuel said, examining the conjoining shape of the Garten magic.  ‘Be ready.’  For several weaker magicians could match the power of a greater one by conjoining their spells.  Samuel only hoped the others could protect him, for he was not ready to face the power of his ring just yet.  He needed more time to let the pain in his bones subside.
    Thankfully, before the Garten spell could finish, Eric had set a spell of his own upon them.  One shaman fell screaming and clutching his throat as blood spouted from his mouth, but the other four dived back into the cover of their countrymen before they could be harmed.  It would be difficult for them to cast their spells while being jostled and bumped in the crowd so , for the time being, Samuel and his friends could claim victory over them.
    ‘Shields!’ Goodfellow called just in time, as a volley of arrows came hurtling out upon them.  Such things were easily turned aside, but the Garten archers had fired from down low, between the legs of the warriors in front of them, hoping to catch the Turian magicians off guard.
    ‘Cunning buggers!’ Eric called out.
    ‘Watch out!’ Goodfellow again cried, as an earthenware bottle crashed beside them, spilling a bubbling and steaming liquid across the blood-drenched soil.
    ‘Keep away from it,’ Samuel said, but Eric went one better and sent the liquid flying back amongst the Gartens with a flick of his wrist that carried a Moving spell.  The horrid juice began burning through the men’s skin and they hollered and wailed and rolled in the dirt in a vain attempt to get the stuff off.
    More arrows came whistling in from another direction , and Samuel and his friends found themselves back to back, holding their B arrier spells at full strength.
    ‘If they charge in now, we’re done for,’ Goodfellow stated.
    ‘They can’t charge in and shoot,’ Eric declared.  ‘At least, I hope not.’
    ‘You two hold off their arrows.  I’ll take care of anyone who steps in too close,’ Samuel offered, jamming his hand into his pocket, but then he noticed that something had changed in the atmosphere of the battle.  The countless Gartens that had passed by them had now reversed their course and were retreating, back from where they had come down the valley.  The furred and bearded N orth-men who surrounded the trio looked unsure and , as moments passed, their fortitude broke completely and they joined the others, running as if for their lives, retreating in full