The Southern Trail (Book 4) Read Online Free

appeared around the perimeter of the square, a pen that trapped Marco within its confines, while Iamblichus began to fire random energy balls around within the square, exploding buildings and holes in the pavement as he hoped to kill or injure his adversary by chance.
    Marco, in the meantime, climbed up onto the square’s central fountain, scrambling upon the dark bronze castings, seeking to reach the top of the elaborate structure.  He reached the top, and waited as Iamblichus slowly cruised through the air.  “I’m going to hit you sooner or later,” the sorcerer warned.  “Let me see you and I’ll make sure it’s a quick, painless end.”
    There were sounds in another part of the city, a set of booming explosions.
    “Come along child, I have other duties I need to perform, and this is slowing me down.  This hunt is wearisome,” Iamblichus complained as he floated close to the fountain, and fired off another series of explosions.
    “Then let’s put an end to it,” Marco said through gritted teeth, as he jumped off the fountain, his sword held high over his head.  He released his invisibility to allow himself to focus, as he flew past the sorcerer on his descent towards the pavement below.  As he became visible, and as he passed the startled sorcerer, Marco swung his sword sideways with a two-handed grip, and sliced it cleanly through the man’s neck, decapitating him.
    Marco continued to fall.  He had a glimpse of many things.  He saw the wall of energy around the square fizzle away.  He saw the sorcerer’s head tumbling down beside him.  He saw the pavement rushing up to meet him.  And then he blacked out.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    “Marco, can you hear me?” a woman’s voice called softly.
    He wasn’t sure where he was, or why he felt such pain.  The place where he lay smelled musty.
    “Marco, they’re out searching for you.  If you can hear me, we need to move you,” the woman told him.
    Marco opened his eyes; his vision was blurred, and the room was dark.  There was a single point of light somewhere behind the silhouette of the woman who was bent over him.  He instinctively raised his hand to his mouth and sucked on his enchanted finger, sipping the cool, refreshing water momentarily, then dropped the hand back to his side.
    “Oh thank God!” the woman said.  “I was so worried you might not awake.  That was a hard fall to the pavement,” she said.
    She bent down and kissed him on the lips, a thorough, familiar kiss.  The lips that pressed against his were full, and soft.  Their taste was warm, and salty, and desirable.
    “Pesino,” he murmured.
    “Yes Marco!  Yes!” the former mermaid spoke eagerly.  “It’s so good to see you alive, here on the surface of the earth.  And fighting so hard – you’re a warrior and a sorcerer now!
    “But we have to get you out of here.  Can you move?   There are people from both sides of the war out going from house to house looking for you, and they’re not far away,” she spoke with urgency in her voice, her face so low and close to his that he could feel her breath on his cheek.
    Marco moved his legs and felt them respond.  “It’s a miracle, but I think I can move,” he said.  He felt innumerable points of pain all around his body.
    “Where are we?  How are you here?” he asked.
    She responded by placing her arms beneath his back, and helping him sit up.
    “We’re in the cellar of Asterion’s and mine house,” she answered.
    “Oh Marco, it’s so good to see you!   I’m so excited, even if you’re not,” she gushed, and she gave him a light hug.
    He suddenly snapped out of his daze, and understood who he was with.
    “Pesino!” he gasped.  “Pesino!  You’re here!  Let me see you,” he demanded.
    She slipped away from him, then returned with a candle that had been on the table on the other side of the cellar room they were in, illuminating her face in the warm glow of the small