Champions of the Gods Read Online Free PDF Page A

quickly scanned the village for trouble and, finding none, regarded Gretzen.
    “Do you remember what happened?” Gretzen asked.
    “Yes. Each time I am summoned, the fog of confusion lessens.”
    “You are doing well,” said Dirk. “It took me a long time to get used to the transitions.”
    Gretzen was overcome by a coughing fit, and she bent at the waist, looking ashen.
    “Are you alright?” Krentz asked.
    “It is nothing. I am tired from the ritual. That is all. Do not waist your worry on me,” said Gretzen. She drank from her water skin and took up a stick. With it, she drew a rune in the sand and addressed Dirk and Aurora. “This is a Krellr Turr —spirit shackle, in the common tongue. If used correctly, and with a strong force of will, you will be able to bind spirits to you from the realm of shadow and bring them forth into our world when you are summoned.”
    “Any spirit?” Dirk asked.
    Gretzen nodded. “Any that you can conquer. Do not attempt this with strong spirits yet. First you must try to bind a lesser creature to you.”
    “Have you ever seen this done?” Dirk asked, sensing that she hadn’t.
    “No,” Gretzen admitted. “But it is the same symbol that I used in the creation of Chief and Aurora’s figurines. I believe that it will work for you as well. You must practice drawing this symbol until it is perfect. Once that is done, we will dismiss you into the spirit realm, where you will try to bind another spirit. You must do this by drawing the Krellr Turr on their spirit body.”
    She showed them how to draw the symbol with her finger in three fluid strokes. Two dozen times she wiped the dirt away and told them to start over. It was Aurora who finally got it right first. Dirk soon followed.
    “Good,” said Gretzen. “We are ready to begin. When you return to the spirit realm, find a small animal, perhaps a rabbit or squirrel. You must focus, use your force of will to dominate the creature. Brand them with the rune and we will call you back. If my theory is correct, the spirit animal will return with you when you are summoned.”
    She lifted the figurine of Aurora. “Are you ready?”
    Aurora drew the rune one last time in the dirt and stood to her full height. “I am.”
    “Back to the spirit realm, Aurora Snowfell.”
    “Be careful,” Krentz told Dirk and dismissed him as well.
     
    Dirk glanced around at the surrounding glade. In the distance a backward flowing waterfall surged upward into a star-lit sky. A large bird flew past and disappeared into the luminescent forest. Many spirit wisps floated in the air lazily, and Dirk watched as one of them floated to the ground and turned into the ghost of a panther. Heeding Gretzen’s warning, he found another—a small rabbit. He drew the symbol of the rune in the air, and to his surprise, the outline glowed faintly for a moment and was gone.
    Satisfied, he focused his will on the spirit animal and flew toward it with blinding speed. The rabbit leapt high into the air just before Dirk reached it and turned into a wisp to glide over the backward flowing river. Dirk gave pursuit and caught it just as it reached the outer bank. The animal thrashed and cried, but Dirk held firm. He could feel its inner power trying to repel him, but he easily dominated the creature and traced the rune in the luminescent fur. As he connected the final line, the rune flared to life.
    The rabbit went still.
    Dirk carefully released it, expecting the spirit to quickly fly away. Yet it remained. He turned and walked a few paces along the bank. The rabbit followed. Dirk’s excitement grew and he flew up into the air. When the rabbit turned to a wisp and followed, he gave a triumphant cry.
     
    “Dirk Blackthorn, I summon thee!”
    The figurine flared to life, and Dirk’s spirit swirled out of it, taking form before Krentz and Gretzen. Another, smaller spirit wisp emerged as well and shifted into a small rabbit.
    “It worked!” Krentz said with a