Maylin's Gate (Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

disintegrated a score of the witch's minions.
    Shouts erupted from the baerinese soldiers. The soldiers nearest the energy curtain turned and ran. A foghorn echoed through the valley and shouts of retreat sounded along the line. Roars came down the line as panic rolled through the baerinese lines like a storm front.
    He reached out and latched onto the soul threads feeding the curtain. He tried in vain to sever their flows.
    Sweat rolled down his back, and a lump of dread sat heavy in his stomach. He couldn't cut the power flows. Like a flood-swollen river, the weave moved beyond his ability to control.
    The energy curtain flared and bucked. Tremors rocked the stone beneath his feet.
    His stomach flip-flopped, and his legs wobbled. Blackness crept at the corners of his vision.
    Devery shouted commands, but he couldn't process their meaning. Shields. He needed shields around the men.
    A sickening crack split the air followed by an earthquake's rumbling force.
    He dipped into his own power reserve and channeled shields around those he could find. Devery and the militiamen. He collapsed, and the world undulated with confusing color and sound.
    The ground rocked and pitched his body sideways. Devery's shouts, lost in the roar of crashing rock, went unanswered.
    He wretched and hot vomit erupted through his mouth and nose. The putrid stench of bile filled his nostrils, and the world flashed black.
    Movement. He could no longer tell up from down. A war bird's shrill screech filled the air before darkness overcame him.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
    Arber’s Key
     
    Suspended in mid-air, Elan’s and Lora’s spheres buzzed. Green, yellow, and blue light danced across the Heart Room’s marble floor.
    The lights comforted Danielle, but an unsettling dread pinged at the back of her mind. She needed to know where to find the heartwood sapling. If Trace didn’t tell her, millions would die. How long until the plague spread to Meranthia? How long would her own immunity last?
    A burlap knapsack, plain by a poor man’s standards, sat in a misshapen wad atop a narrow table.
    She tugged at the drawstring. She’d sifted through the few items inside a dozen times, but found nothing she could use against Trace. The emperor had turned mute offering not the slightest shred of information. Maybe Kelwin was right. Had she overlooked an item significant to Trace among the collection of oddities?
    A low creaking came from the double iron doors behind her. A bald head peeked through the opening. Arber’s gaze settled on her.
    She flashed Arber a warm smile and stood.
    Arber’s gaze drifted to the floor. “Kelwin said you wanted to see me.”
    “Yes, come in.”
    Arber pushed the door open and entered.
    She crossed the room and took Arber’s callused hands into her own. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the former guardian’s rough cheek. “Tank you for coming so quickly. I hope I didn’t pull you away from anything important.”
    Arber’s cheeks reddened. “If cleaning out a horse stall qualifies as important, then I guess you did.” Arber’s gaze settled on the marble floor at her feet. “But, I suppose the horses can wait.”
    Heat spread across her cheeks. “Arber.” She lifted Arber’s chin until she met her friend’s gaze. “I’ve forgiven you for what happened with Merric Pride. We all have. You can stop berating yourself for the past.”
    A weak smile spread across Arber’s face. “I have a hard time letting it all go. Especially here.” Arber’s gaze drifted to the spinning spheres. “This room brings back bad memories.”
    Her head buzzed. Of course the room made Arber feel uncomfortable. How could she be so insensitive? She glanced around the room. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think —”
    Arber waved her off. “Please, you don’t owe me your sympathy.”
    “Nonsense.” She invoked her sternest voice. “Besides, what’s done is done, and I’m hoping you can help me.”
    Arber raised a bushy