Aegis of The Gods: Book 00 - The Shadowbearer Read Online Free PDF Page B

debris, and fragmented weapons swirled into the air around the woman as if a miniature tornado formed. The wind snatched the pike bearing Dedrick’s head and flung it into the sky. Corpses flew from the ground. Wounded soldiers clung to the closest things at hand, even if it was only brush. When their hold failed or the gale ripped the foliage from the earth, the soldiers screamed as the storm swept them away. Their voices lasted only moments before the wind’s howls drowned them out.
    Stefan’s horse whinnied and pranced. Cloak whipping about him, he yanked on his reins as he realized his mount was being drawn inexorably toward the tempest’s center and the lone Ashishin. Pebbles pinged off his armor, and dust stung his eyes. The clouds above rotated to match the wind, forming a gray maelstrom. From its center, the sun shone through to illuminate the Ashishin’s form shrouded within the mass of glinting metal, swirling debris, and bodies.
    A man–shaped glint of silver crashed through the vortex to land a step behind the Ashishin. One of the Pathfinders. The soldier’s sword flashed up.
    One hand formed into a fist, the Ashishin spun. The silver–armored Pathfinder’s blade took her head in a spurt of blood. In the same motion, he dropped to one knee and stabbed the earth.
    As the Ashishin toppled, the storm died. The debris swirling around her fell. Bodies, stone, dirt, wood, and weapons rained to the ground in a deadly deluge. Stefan sucked in a breath as they dropped toward the Pathfinder.
    But the man simply kneeled, both hands on his sword hilt. Anything falling toward him spilled to the side without touching him. It appeared as if a small dome had formed two feet above the Pathfinder. Not once did anything strike him. The debris piled until it hid him from view.
    The rain of rubble ended, and Pathfinder Kaden stepped forward. “Shin!” he yelled and pointed at the mound of rubble burying his brethren. “Shield.”
    Four Ashishin gave nervous bows as they hurried over. Each one took up a position to form a rough box at the four corners of the mound.
    “Free yourself, Pathfinder Clarus,” Kaden called from where he stood a few steps beyond the Ashishin.
    The mound exploded outwards. Rubble struck invisible walls between each Matii. Clarus staggered to his feet.
    “Help him,” Kaden ordered, “and have your fellow Shin take a break until tonight.”
    The Ashishin bowed and hurried to Clarus’ side. Kaden wheeled his mount and headed toward Stefan.
    The Knight Commander glanced around to check on Garrick and Kasimir. Dust coated their armor and their faces were grimy, but beyond that and their unkempt hair, they seemed no worse for wear. Both Knight Generals peered toward the other Ashishin as if expecting another outburst.
    Garrick was the first to turn to Stefan. “This is why they’re not worth the risk in a battle.”
    “There would be no risk if your King hadn’t pulled the Alzari.” Pathfinder Kaden reined in next to them. His eyes glittered deep within his helm. “With the amount of wounded here what did you expect?”
    “Bah. A few more Astocans dying here or there would have been fine,” Garrick countered. “The blame is partly yours too. If you hadn’t allowed your Matii to Forge for so many hours without rest—”
    “Stop it, Garrick,” Stefan commanded. “I asked Kaden to do this. It’s my fault this happened as much as it is the King’s for withdrawing the Alzari.”
    Garrick gave a grudging nod and mumbled an apology to Kaden.
    Stefan focused on the damage the Matus had inflicted. Not as many bodies as he expected stood out in the rubble. He’d once before seen what happened to a battlefield when a Forger lost control and went insane with no Pathfinder to hold them in check. The results were blood, mangled flesh, and death on an unimaginable scale. He shuddered. If Clarus had been a moment longer, everyone in the vale would have perished. Maybe, I should count us lucky the