A Path of Oak and Ash Read Online Free PDF Page B

ridiculous.  “Focus your mind, envision yourself as you wish to be until you are.”
    “That’s it?  Just think it so?”  Great if he wished to be a pony, would he gallop across the room?
    “You’re judging, not trying.”
    Carrick closed his eyes, his mind caring nothing for the request he had been given.  He thought of his mother, of his friends, of the world left behind.  He wanted to go home, he wanted to be in class bored to death during math, something normal.  He was terrified, in many ways that were quantifiable and a good many more that were not.
    “You’re still not focusing Carrick.”  The exercise was interrupted by a knock at the door.  “Ah. Perhaps some more vitals in your belly will increase your focus.” 
    He opened the door at an angle to obstruct Arcedes from view.
    “Your room service sir.” 
    Carrick could see the twenty something waiter over his uncle’s shoulder.  Dark haired with a tan complexion, thin nose jutting north from his face with a slight indication of superiority. The man at the door was a cliché in his white servant’s coat.
    “Thank you, you can just leave the cart here.”  Erik politely blocked his entrance from the room.
    “Yes sir.”  Complying with a nod, the prim delivery boy wheeled the cart aside Erik, then clicked the break on the wheel.  Then took a step back, one hand extended for a tip. Erik placed a five into his extended palm, the other was behind his back, slowly coming forward with-
    “Gun!”  Carrick shouted, but the struggle had already begun.  The tray and all its delicious smelling items went flying, scattering on top of the expensive looking rug.  Erik had him by the arm, struggling for control of the firearm. 
    A shot rang out-muffled by the silencer on the gun-striking the expensive ceiling above Erik and the waiters head.  Bits of plaster falling down onto the pair.
    “Arcedes! Flee!”  Erik shouted. The brilliant creature wasted no time in complying, disappearing out the window into the morning sky.  Carrick found himself desperately wanting to intervene, yet his legs did not comply.  He stood motionless as a statue, watching the tussle. 
    It was very clear that his uncle had prior training in hand to hand combat.  In a blur of motion he disarmed the intruder. The heavy handgun knocked from the aggressor’s hand, landing on a pile of rubble of its own making.
    The assassin head-butted Erik, following up with a punch to his abdomen while he was momentarily stunned.  A series of follow up blows from the assailant forced him back behind the door towards the sitting area, the man striking at the druid’s chest and face. 
    Erik growled, grabbing the man by the extended arm on a missed punch he flipped him over his shoulder onto the coffee table behind him. The glass shattered under the weight of the man, yet the obvious pain that a fall like that would cause did not slow him down.   He scrambled to his feet, wiping the blood from his face onto his white jacket.  Arms raised, his mouth twisted into a sneer, motioning for Erik to come at him.
    It was then that the tall Druid smiled, stretching his back he retreated from his fighting position to stand at his full height.  Carrick felt a hum in the air, a sound that grew the moment Erik flipped his right palm forward. 
    The potted plants on either side of the loveseat in the sitting area started to churn.  In a moment that was too surreal to comprehend, the branches stretched out towards the intruder snapping and cracking like a log in a fire.  Long leafy hands wrapped around his arms while he cursed and struggled.  Picking him up like a rag doll, they slammed his body into the wall above the sofa, breaking the glass out of the framed painting behind him.
    The wood that held the assassin to the wall tightened around his neck and wrists, his skin blushing where circulation was limited.  Gasping for air, the man glared at Erik with wild eyes.  Erik ignored his stare