Into The Dark Flame (Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

tried again. Two-handed he managed to raise the sword from the ground, but was visibly borne down by its weight.
       The brigand leader looked on with interest. In one gauntletted hand he held the ornate sapphire helm that Leth had attached behind his saddle. He studied it carefully. His gaze flickered across the gorge to Leth. He ordered Derman to bring the sword, and crossed the bridge, swinging the helm at his side. Derman staggered behind him, cradling the Orbsword in his arm-crooks, his legs bent, taking little steps, his cheeks puffing and eyes bulging as if he was carrying a load twice his own weight. He let the blade fall with a loud clang before the cavern entrance.
       The outlaws were silent now, all eyeing the glowing rose blade. The leader squatted before Leth. 'Now this is interesting. Your helm, and I'll warrant this too - ' he leaned forward and flicked Leth's gorget with the back of his middle finger, bringing forth an almost musical metallic sound ' - are far less weighty than they appear. Yet your sword weighs as much as twenty of its normal kind. And you carried it without effort. So. . . what do we have here?'
       'I am Leth,' said Leth. 'My companion is Lakewander. We are travellers, nothing more. The sword and armour I came upon more or less by chance. I can tell you nothing more about them.'
       The brigand leader leaned away from Leth and casually let fly with one forearm, smashing the back of his fist hard into Lakewander's face. Her head jerked back and hammered against the rock behind her. Her eyes rolled; blood dribbled from her mouth. She was knocked almost senseless.
       'Bastard!' yelled Leth, straining against his bonds.
       'Now, let's start again, shall we?' said the brigand leader. 'I'll warrant that you and your pretty companion will fetch a handsome price in the slave-market. Your armour and this sword may well be worth more, to the right buyer. But first I need to be sure that I know all I need to know about you? Do you understand?'
       'Hey, Harg, we're going to get to sample her before we sell her, aren't we?' demanded one of the men. 'Establish the quality of the goods, so to speak?'
       The others sniggered.
       'You will all get your rewards,' replied the leader, Harg, without taking his eyes from Leth.
       'Well, don't mess her up too much, then,' said Derman, with a smirk. 'I like my women in good condition.'
       The others sniggered. Through clenched teeth Leth said, 'Have you no honour?'
       Harg eyed him mockingly. 'Honour? Why of course not. Perish the concept.'
       'I yielded to you that she might be saved.'
       'How chivalrous. How foolish.' Harg rose to his feet. 'Now, we are going to remove your armour. To do so we must untie your hands. Do not try anything foolish. There will be blades at your companion's throat as well as your own.'
       Harg stepped back, folding his arms upon his chest. Two men dragged Leth roughly to his feet. They unbound his hands then began to work on the straps of his armour. Leth stood helplessly, racking his brains for a way out.
       His gorget, breasplate, vambraces and shoulder-guards were removed. Lakewander, slumped against the rock, opened her eyes. Seeing Leth with his hands free, she cried out, 'Swordbearer, call the sword! Summon it to you!'
       Leth stared at her, half-stupefied.
       'Call it!' she cried. 'It will come!'
       Something - could it have been a memory? - stirred within Leth. He pushed away one of the brigands working at his armour, and simultaneously reached out a hand. 'Orbsword, to me!'
       The glowing blade, lying in the bright Orb-light outside the cave entrance, suddenly rose as if lifted by an invisible hand. The outlaws gasped; the sword flew at arrow's speed straight into Leth's open grasp.
       The outlaws fell back, reaching for their own weapons.
       Leth stepped towards Lakewander. Two men knelt with blades at her throat; most of the others had formed a semi-circle around