Clash (The Arinthian Line Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

Leera. “From what army?” There was no organized resistance against the Legion, at least none that they knew of. Everyone’s hopes pretty much rested on Mrs. Stone.
    Leera acknowledged the point with a nod while sneaking over to the door. “This should be fun,” she whispered.
    “Leera Jones, get away from there,” Bridget hissed.
    Leera shrugged and stepped away. “Whatever, guess we’ll know soon enough how it went down.”
    The door opened again. “Excuse me, how does one work this thing?”
    “I’ll help, Mr. Harvus,” Bridget volunteered, and disappeared into the room with him.
    Mr. Okeke filled a large copper kettle with water and placed it over the fire. “Mrs. Stone believes this … undead army … powerful enough to stop your father?”
    “I guess so, Mr. Okeke,” Augum replied.
    “It’s Occulus’ army, Kwabe,” Mr. Goss said, “armed with Dreadnought weapons and armor. From Augum’s earlier descriptions, it sounds like there are thousands of them.”
    “Tens of thousands, Mr. Goss,” Leera said. “If not more. Occulus used to teleport them right into the heart of a city, using the Agonex.”
    Mr. Goss swallowed. “Perhaps it would be best if we all hid in the country.”
    “I will not leave my son, Albert.” Mr. Okeke removed his tunic and folded it onto a chair, straightening his silk shirt. “Jengo would never leave without Priya, and Priya would never leave without her mother.”
    “We all know what might happen if my father discovers us here,” Augum said, referring to one of the darkest days in his life, the day his father slaughtered an entire village before his eyes. Leland and Mr. Goss were one of only a handful that had survived that day—and Leland only barely so. His father had murdered Mr. Goss’ wife, Bridget and Leera’s parents, and all their friends and relatives. That infamous day, Augum gained a great-grandmother and a father while his friends lost everyone.
    Standing there in the Okeke home staring at the hearth, Augum once again saw the flames of Sparrow’s Perch and Willowbrook leaping tall into the night sky. Then he saw Mya’s throat being cut by his nemesis—a boy his age! —and had to shake the thoughts away. He could not change the past, though his worst nightmare now was the same thing happening to Leera or Bridget.
    He glanced at Leera, only to find her gazing at him with—was it fear, bittersweet affection, or both? He broke the gaze, cursing himself for liking her so much, wanting to spend so much time with her. What kind of danger was he putting them all in? His father did not care one spit about anyone here—all he wanted was Augum, and that was only because through Augum, he could get the scion.
    And who could save them? When not spending precious few moments with them training, Nana was constantly on the run. Now she was even asking the trio for help with a dangerous quest! And Sparkstone’s armies surely were only increasing in strength. He had to agree with Mr. Goss. If he had it his way, he’d evacuate the entire village of Milham.
    Feeling the world closing in on him, Augum had to take a breath.
    After a hushed conversation, Bridget and Mr. Harvus emerged from the room, the latter as pale as a sheet.
    “It seems there is no changing the great archmage’s mind,” Harvus said, numbly handing the orb over to Bridget. He slumped back into the armchair, hairpiece slightly askew.
    “It’s late, I know,” Bridget said, placing the orb into the basket, “but I think we should study a bit. You two up to it?”
    “Definitely,” Augum replied.
    Leera flashed Augum a mischievous smile. “It was polite of Mrs. Stone to stop practicing the spell to talk to you, Mr. Harvus. Guess we got some work to do now that the quest is on.”

A Foolish Attempt
    It was dusk when the trio set out.
    “Shall we snag Haylee?” Leera said.
    Augum nodded, admiring how far Leera and Haylee had come together since rescuing Haylee from the Legion. They