Mage Hunter Omnibus (Complete 5 Book Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

years.
    “Do you know the outcome of the battles along the border?” he asked
    “ No,” she said, “at least not yet. I have my ways of discovering such information, but at the moment I am more concerned with you.”
    “ Me ?”
    “ I was drawn to you after Ildra allowed you to live.”
    “ The wyrd woman?”
    “ Yes, that is her. I have had my sights on her for some time, which is why my gaze fell upon you.”
    “ What do you have to do with any of this?”
    “ Little,” the witch said. “I am no friend to the Dartague and, despite your own countrymen’s wrath against my kind, I have never done harm to one of your own.”
    Guthrie thrust up his hands. “Then why are we here? Why am I here?”
    “ You are here because your captain sent you forth to hunt down a small party of raiders,” the woman said, “but the truth is you were played a fool and your Ursia will suffer along with you. You came to this village to seek aid, but instead you find me. I am here because I have been awaiting you. For my safety, the weather is my own doing. Once your stronghold has been taken, the Dartague are more likely to remain there for a few days if there is a storm blowing across the land. I wanted to keep them there long enough for us to meet.”
    His shoulders slumping, hope fled from Guthrie’s features. His country attacked, many dead, and him miles from any safe haven. And still he was not out of the army. Most likely he would never be discharged now, not if the witch was right that a major border conflict had now erupted. The sergeant had no hatred for the army, but he had done his ten years and was ready to move on to a more simple, less dangerous life. But now that was not likely to happen.
    Still, he did not know what the witch wanted with him. He turned to face her once more, placing his back against the wide expanse of the snow-covered realm.
    “ Why have you sought me out?” he asked.
    She grinned yet again. “Finally we are getting to the heart of the matter.”
    “Which is?”
    “ I have seen the years to come,” the witch said. “I have seen my own fate. My kind live for many of your lifetimes, for thousands of years, but we can be killed. My doom lies within the wyrd woman Ildra.”
    “ She is to slay you?”
    “ No, it is her grandson.”
    “ Her grandson?”
    “ Yes, he will use a weapon of flame to burn me alive. I have seen this with my ancient sight. It will come true many years from now unless I do something to subvert the future, to change the path of fate.”
    Guthrie’s eyes narrowed once more. “If you think I am going to hunt down and kill this woman for you, then you are a fool.”
    The witch cackled. “You will have no choice in the matter. Your military leaders will not give you a choice. They will make you go forth to kill. It is Ildra who is behind this uprising of the Dartague. The wyrd women play a unique role in the society of the northern tribes, part priestess, part witch, but one who can master true power can rise above her station and take the reins of control, becoming master of even the chieftains themselves, including the High Chief.”
    The sergeant nodded. “I won’t disagree with you about my future. When I find a garrison or a marching regiment, I’m sure I’ll be pulled into duty regardless of my years of service. But that would have happened anyway. None of this explains why you have chosen me for your needs.”
    “ Because you know Ildra by sight, for one thing,” the woman said. “She allowed you to live to spread the message of the Dartague might and wrath, but what she does not know is the situation will be turned upon her. You will deliver a message of death to her .”
    “ And why should I do this?”
    “ Because I will present you a gift, one that will allow you to hunt her down. Would you not want to use such to end the hostilities as soon as possible?”
    “ I might,” Guthrie said, “but I would be a fool to take a present from you.”
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