The Godling Chronicles (Shadow of the Gods, Book #3) Read Online Free Page A

in a wide stance,
and steadied himself for the onslaught. His sword was fire in his
hand as the Vrykol reached him and swung its blade upward. Gewey
easily dodged the blow and stepped to the side, ready to take the
beast’s head. Then, in the corner of his eye he saw a flash; as the
creature stabbed at his neck with the other hand, its fingers
wrapped loosely around a small dagger. Gewey turned again, but the
tip of the blade found flesh, cutting deeply.
    Pain shot through Gewey's body, as if burned.
He stumbled back slashing wildly, but the Vrykol moved away, just
out of reach.
    “ Arrogant fool,” the Vrykol taunted,
twirling the dagger in its hand. “And you hope to challenge my
master?”
    Gewey felt dizzy and his vision blurred. He
struggled to keep his focus on the Vrykol, waiting for it to charge
again, but it remained still. He reached up and touched the wound
on his neck. Blood poured down, soaking his shoulder. Though the
cut was deep, it shouldn't have been bleeding so badly. 'Poison,'
he thought, with disgust.
    “ So frail,” laughed the Vrykol. “So
foolish.”
    The Vrykol feinted left, then right, throwing
Gewey off balance, then swung its sword in a wide arc. Gewey just
managed to bring his sword up in time to deflect the blow. He could
feel the flow draining from him as the beast pushed forward. Soon
he knew he would be defenseless. He tried to counter, but his
blurred vision caused him to strike off target each time. A wave of
sudden nausea wracked his body, and he fell to one knee. Gewey
glared up defiantly, jaw clenched tight.
    “ You see,” the Vrykol jeered. “You are
not even a match for the servants of the Great Lord.” He kicked
Gewey's sword from his hand.
    Gewey leaned back on his knees and held his
head high, readying himself for the final blow. He heard the whip
of a blade approach. But instead of feeling the slash of steel, the
Vrykol roared with anger, a small dagger protruding from his left
shoulder. The beast spun to meet his attacker, but Linis was upon
him before it could react. Linis' long knife cleaved off the
Vrykol's leg, just below the hip. It toppled back and fell to the
ground. Without missing a step, Linis swung again, this time
decapitating his enemy. Thick black blood oozed from the wounds,
hissing as it touched the soft forest turf.
    Gewey smiled with satisfaction and slumped
over. The cut on his neck burned with an evil fury. He looked at
the head of the slain Vrykol. It was twisted and scorched, but
clearly human. Its skin blackened, as the others he had
encountered, but not nearly as badly. He thought about how the
first one looked and sounded. This one was most certainly...better.
Definitely stronger. But why? These thoughts vanished from his mind
as another wave of nausea took him. He emptied his stomach with a
groan. Linis was at his side in an instant.
    “ Poison,” Linis spat, examining the
cut. “Red Spider Blossom, from the look of it.” He smiled. “Nothing
to worry about. It is meant to incapacitate, not kill.” He reached
to his belt and removed his flask.
    Gewey drank greedily, nearly draining it dry.
The jawas tea was cool, and instantly settled his stomach. His
wound still throbbed, but the burning slowly subsided. He sighed
with relief. “And the other Vrykol?”
    “ I don't know,” Linis admitted. “They
seemed to have retreated. Why I could not say, but I take it as
good fortune. We will need to rest for at least a few hours. You
cannot continue until the poison wears off.”
    Gewey shook his head. “We rest until I can
regain my feet, and not a second more.” He tried to let the flow
pass through him, but it was sluggish and weak.
    Linis looked at Gewey, disapprovingly. He
thought to object, but could see that Gewey would not be dissuaded.
He closed his eyes and placed his hands on the wound.
    Gewey felt as if a blade of ice had shot
through his neck. The shock made him gasp. “What-” Then the intense
cold became a pleasant cool