Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Three Read Online Free PDF Page A

to find Cole following him like a faithful hound dog as usual. He had considered distancing himself from Cole several times since they had first entered the mountains, but he had somehow taken on the role as an unofficial second-in-command in the men’s eyes, and so now they pestered him with any minor concerns, instead of Zedd; and that alone was worth keeping him around for.
    “Sir, all the men report that their magic reserves are fully restored. All except the summoner that is,” Cole said.
    “Good. Then we shall attack them tomorrow at the first opportunity we get. Inform the men to prepare for battle. Tomorrow we end this chase, once and for all,” Zedd said, and he started to walk away before Cole had a chance to reply.
    “Yes—sir,” Cole replied to Zedd’s back as he disappeared into the darkness.

Chapter Four

    “I was beginning to wonder if you’d got lost, or fallen off the cliff, lad,” Renn said quietly as Lusam re-entered their camp.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to take so long. It looks like neither of us will get any sleep tonight. It will be starting to get light soon and we need to prepare for our attack,” Lusam half-whispered, not wanting to wake up the girls.
    “Before you fill me in on any details, lad, come over here and sit down behind me again. You’ll need to slowly reveal your aura again, so our friends down there don’t get suspicious. I haven’t been able to move since you left, and this rocky floor isn’t exactly comfortable you know,” Renn said, fidgeting a little on his bottom. Lusam smiled to himself, but decided it would be best if he kept his humour hidden from Renn. Lusam did as Renn asked, and a few moments later he stood up from behind Renn with his aura now clearly visible to anyone watching their camp from below.
    Lusam sat back down on the ground and left Renn to stretch out his stiff legs, before telling him what he had found further along the path. While he was up Renn woke Neala and Alexia, so they too could hear what Lusam had to say about what lay ahead of them in the hours to come. Once everyone was ready, Lusam began to describe what he had found. He told them all about the rockslide blocking the path, and the small cave he had accidentally discovered at the side of it. He explained how he had dug out the loose rocks at the back of the cave, and how it had revealed a small passage through to the other side of the rockslide. When he had finished describing what he had found further along the path, he fell silent, and waited for any questions or concerns they might have, but he didn’t have to wait too long.
    “It sounds to me like we may have just got lucky for a change,” Neala said yawning and stretching.
    “It certainly could have been a lot worse by the sounds of it,” Alexia agreed.
    “Maybe, but that large flat section of path will leave us very exposed. You two girls will have to make it to that cave before the Empire agents arrive at that part of the path. If you don’t, and they gain line of sight of you, you’ll both become a target for sure,” Renn said, sounding a little concerned.
    “Neala, I need you to promise me that you will run as fast as you can to that cave, and not stop for anything, no matter what you see or hear behind you. I can’t protect you or Alexia once you start running, and I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you,” Lusam said leaning over and taking Neala’s hand in his.
    “I’ll be fine, it’s you I’m worried about. You’re not strong enough at the moment to defend yourself against so many Empire agents, especially if anything should go wrong with your plan. How can you expect me to live with
myself
if something happens to
you
, and all I did was run away?” Neala replied quietly.
    “Neala, you know as well as I that even if our plan fails and I’m killed, there would be nothing you could do against the Empire agents, they would kill you and Alexia far too easily. Promise me, you will run, and