Frostborn: The Undying Wizard Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ridmark needed. He thrust the staff with both hands, all his strength behind the blow, and slammed its butt into the orc’s skeletal face. The skull shattered beneath the staff, its end clanging against the back of the orc’s helmet, and the white light in the staff drowned out the ghostly blue fire of its eyes. Ridmark retracted his staff and scrambled upon dry ground, but the headless orc did not pursue him.
    It fell into the pool with a mighty splash, the black armor sinking.
    The glow from the sigils painted the water the color of blood. 
    Ridmark looked around for more foes, and saw the remainder of the undead orcs fleeing. 
     
    ###
     
    Calliande lowered her hands, blinking the sweat from her eyes. Maintaining the auras over the weapons was not as draining as casting spells of attack, but it was still an effort.
    Yet the undead orcs retreated, fleeing around the earthwork outer wall of the ruined fortress.
    Kharlacht started to pursue.
    “Hold!” Ridmark’s voice rang over the marsh. “Hold here! They might be trying to lure us into a trap.”
    Kharlacht glared at Ridmark, his black eyes gleaming red with the battle fury of his orcish blood. But the big orc took a deep breath, calmed himself, and gave a sharp nod. 
    Ridmark strode back to Calliande’s side, and the others rejoined him.
    “They fled from us?” said Gavin, peering at the fortress. “That…seems odd.”
    “It is,” said Ridmark. “One more peculiar thing in a day filled with them.”
    “Undead like that do not flee,” said Calliande. “They have no minds of their own, and act as their master commands.”
    “So their master commanded them to fall back,” said Gavin.
    “That seems likely,” said Ridmark, staring at the ruined tower. 
    “Perhaps the wizard wishes to draw us into a trap,” said Kharlacht.
    “Or,” said Ridmark, “he desired to test our strength, and is now preparing something new for us.”
    “A cheering thought,” said Caius.
    “Ridmark,” said Calliande, “before we go any further, I should destroy that armor. The spells of dark magic upon it are potent, and I fear that anyone who claims it might be driven mad.”
    He frowned. “Will it cost much of your strength?”
    She shook her head. “A single spell should suffice.”
    “Very well,” said Ridmark. “We’ll destroy the armor, and then we’ll scout the interior of the fortress. It is a logical place for the necromancer to hide, and even if he isn’t there, we’ll have a good view of the countryside from the tower.”
    He led the way to where the armored orcish chieftain had fallen. Even if Ridmark had forgotten the location, the eerie blood-colored glow in the water would have been easy to find. Calliande took a deep breath and gazed into the pool, and then worked a spell to probe the dark magic upon the armored corpse.
    “Do you think the trolldomr summoned the undead, sir?” said Gavin to Ridmark. 
    “That seems unlikely,” said Caius. “The trolldomr are alien, but that is not the same as malevolence. And I have never heard a single account of a trolldomr using dark magic.” 
    “But you said that Rjalfur was acting oddly for a trolldomr, Brother,” said Gavin.
    “Aye,” said Caius. “But he did warn us against the undead.”
    “Or,” rumbled Kharlacht, watching the fortress, “it could have been a ploy to lure us here.”
    Calliande closed her eyes and focused upon the armor. The spells upon it were potent. Their long-dead creator had been powerful, but unskilled. The spells were crude, and Calliande thought she could unravel them without much effort. 
    “I am inclined to agree with Brother Caius,” said Ridmark. “Still. Rjalfur did act strangely. If we encounter him again, best be on our guard.”
    Calliande opened her eyes and raised her hand. A shaft of white flame burst from her palm and stabbed into the water. The crimson light flared once and vanished as her magic shattered the spell. 
    “It is done,” said