Ultimate Magic Read Online Free Page A

him one last time, he leaped into the air, spun a wide turn, and flew back into battle.

3: B IGNESS
    Perspectives can always change, but never more than when you go from outside to inside.
    Three flamelon warriors climbed the fallen fire dragon where Urnalda still battled, attacking her from different sides. Simultaneously, they charged at her, their armored boots scraping on the scarlet scales of the dragon’s chest.
    Their grim faces and copper-colored eyes betrayed no emotion as they stabbed at her with double-edged swords, forged for extra strength in the molten River of Fire. Working with practiced coordination, they timed their blows so that she couldn’t pause for even an instant. Blades slashed incessantly at her face, arms, and legs—which, though short, wore no protective armor.
    The dwarf maiden fought back fiercely, swinging her battle-ax with added zeal. But she panted hoarsely, grunting with effort each time she swung the heavy weapon. One of the flamelons slashed at her knee, slicing the skin and drawing blood. Another drew her off balance with a false thrust at her face, then lunged hard at her chest. Just barely, she knocked his sword aside with the ax handle. But the blow nudged her backward a step too far, making her boot slide off the dragon’s chest.
    Urnalda wobbled, standing on one leg. Desperately, she leaned into her attackers, struggling to keep herself from pitching over backward. She managed to swing her ax again, connecting with a warrior’s temple. His helmet split instantly. With a moan, he tumbled off the dragon.
    But his companions, sensing their opportunity, lunged at her with all their strength. One of their blades whizzed past her neck, so close that it sliced off a lock of red hair and the pair of quartz crystals tied to it. They clattered on the scarlet scales by her boot.
    Precarious though her stance was, she tried to swing the ax again. But its weight threw her completely off balance. She took one hand off the handle, clawing at the air, trying to keep from falling.
    Meanwhile, a warrior’s sword tip slashed at her face. The blade grazed her chin. Instinctively, she leaned back—
    Too far! She fell over backward, straight at the flamelon warriors who had gathered below. They cheered as they raised their swords, savoring this chance to end her life.
    A gigantic claw hooked the strap of her breastplate, catching her before she reached them. A gargantuan shadow fell over the warriors, turning their cheers into gasps of astonishment. That was the last sound they made before Basilgarrad’s clubbed tail smashed down on top of them.
    As she rose into the sky, carried by the enormous dragon, Urnalda gazed up at her savior. Clutching her battle-ax, she peered into one of his glowing green eyes. Then she cocked her head, clinking the quartz crystals strung through her hair.
    “Bad timing,” she said gruffly, turning her mouth down in a scowl. “I was just about to slay them all!”
    Basilgarrad’s eye kept watching her. He didn’t speak, but merely flapped his immense wings, lifting them higher.
    Slowly, her scowl melted into a grin. “But I thank you anyway.”
    “You’ve grown a bit since I saw you last.”
    “You haven’t,” she replied. “Though you didn’t really need to.”
    Basilgarrad chuckled, a rumble from deep in his throat. “Try to keep yourself alive now, will you?”
    “Absolutely.” She twirled the ax in her hands. “I have some more work to do.”
    “As do I,” thundered the dragon.
    Urnalda scowled again. “Basilgarrad,” she said, her voice suddenly sounding worried, “beware of that evil-looking tower, will you? The one shaped like a pyramid. Never have I seen it before in battle. And I fear it is meant for . . .”
    “What?”
    “For you. ” The dwarf’s eyes shone like fire coals. “For harming—even destroying—you.”
    Despite his own concerns about the tower, Basilgarrad merely snorted.
    Her scowl deepened, filling her face with