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

Leth, out of reach of his sword.           
       'The sword is enchanted!' Leth warned, aware of their reluctance to approach its unnatural light, and wondering whether he had any chance at all of fighting his way free, even with the Sword of the Orb. 'Let her go!'
       The two brigands holding Lakewander looked with some lack of certainty to Harg. He stood near the entrance, seemingly unperturbed, the fingers and thumb of one hand stroking his jaw.
       'Most impressive,' he said. 'But wait.'
       He turned and strode without hurry from the cavern, disappearing momentarily from Leth's view. He came back with two of his men. All three carried loaded crossbows. The two thugs knelt and took aim at Lakewander. Harg stood a few paces in front of Leth, the crossbow braced against his hip, aimed at Leth's middle.
       'You wear only a linen shirt. I'll wager that neither that nor your magic sword will stop this bolt. And should they do so, can you move swiftly enough to prevent these other deadly bolts piercing your lovely companion's fair breast? Well, let us see. I will count to three. If on the third count your pretty pink longsword is not lying upon the ground again, beyond your reach, bolts, I'm afraid, will speed towards their destinations. And, oh, what a mess will be left when their work is done.' He smiled, almost charmingly, and lazily scratched his nose. 'Are we ready, then? One. . . .'
       Leth knew he could not defy the bolts. Nor, indeed, was he swift or skilled enough to deal with so many foes. Yet, what was his and Lakewander's fate if he did not act now? She to be raped by these fiends; both of them to be sold into slavery. Was it not preferable to die now, taking as many brigands as he could with him?
       And abandon Galry and Jace to their unknown fate?
       'Two. . . .'
       'Do not yield, Swordbearer!' Leth glanced across at Lakewander. She was glaring at him, her eyes like bright steel. 'Do not give in!'
       He looked back at Harg, who met his gaze and was plainly deriving amusement from the conflict.
       If I am alive at least I have hope, thought Leth. But if I fight even life will be taken from me. My children will be alone.
       'Three. Time's up, I'm afraid.'
       Leth bent and quickly laid the Sword of the Orb upon the cavern floor. He stepped back. Lakewander sagged back against the rock wall and closed her eyes.
       'Good. I think that was the right decision,' Harg said. 'Now, stay well back, and please do not attempt to call it back to you. Your blade may be well-trained and obedient, but I will waste no more time on such charades.' He signalled to the surly youth. 'Bind his wrists again.'
       The youth leapt forward to comply. A dark shape loomed at the cavern mouth, blocking the light from outside. Two massive hands reached into the cave and grasped a pair of brigands by the backs of their mail shirts, lifted them, crushed their heads against the stone ceiling, and let them drop. Then the Bridgekeeper bent and punched hard into the pack of astonished men, catching one full in the chest.
       Leth reacted. He dived for his sword, grabbed it and rolled towards Lakewander. The man the Bridgekeeper had punched flew past him, travelling backwards, and disappeared with a cry over the lip of the steps leading down to the Shore of Nothing.
       Leth swung with the Orbsword, slicing into the neck of the first of Lakewander's guards. Without pausing he struck at the other. The man deflected his first blow. Leth lunged again. The brigand made to parry his blow, but Lakewander kicked upwards, knocking his sword-arm high and leaving him wide open. The Orbsword passed through his throat. He staggered back, sucking hopelessly for air, his hands going to the bloody wound, his legs folding beneath him.
       The remaining outlaws were in total disarray as they struggled to deal with their new assailant. The Bridgekeeper reached in, scooped Tag from the cavern and tossed him over his