Shaper of Stone (The Shapers Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

crossbows were in the process of reloading.
    Nothing stood between us and them. We
were screwed!
    There was a roar of rage as Carvis
leaped over the burning wreck, his sword slashed down on the closest
bowman. Without slowing down he charged the next one. The archer
swung his crossbow wildly and managed to block the lizard man’s
attack. It wasn’t enough to save him. He never saw the dagger
in Carvis’ other hand. It found its mark and the bowman fell to
the ground.
    Unfortunately the third bowman had
loaded his bow and aimed it at Carvis. The bow twanged as the bolt
was released. Carvis fell backwards with the quarrel sticking out of
his chest. The bowman then turned toward us and drew his sword.
    “Devin. I can’t do it. I
need you.”
    I had already anticipated that Vatrale
would need to siphon my power again. I rushed back to him and placed
my hand on his shoulder.
    Behind the bowman Carvis fought his way
back to his feet. Black blood covered his chest where the bolt was
still embedded. He screamed in fury, drawing the attention of the
bowman away from us.
    Vatrale shoved a bracelet into my hand.
“Put this on. Quickly! I need to draw on your strength, and the
bracelet will create a link between us.”
    Even as he was telling me this, I could
hear the sounds of fighting as Carvis was being pushed back. I
glanced in his direction and he wasn’t looking good. I had no
idea what kept him on his feet.
    I slipped the bracelet on my left hand,
“It’s on. Give them all you got!”
    Vatrale smiled at me, “Oh, I
will,” and suddenly the arrow in his shoulder popped out, spun
around and flew into the leg of the last bowman.
    I screamed! The tingling in my stomach
ignited as if I was on fire.
    The old man leaped to his feet as I
stumbled to my knees. He raised his arms and I heard him scream a
challenge, “You fools! Come! Face the powers of a master!”
    I tried to tell him to stop. That he
was draining too much, but I couldn’t. All I could do was curl
into a ball as my body burned from within. Until the pain was too
much, and then there was only darkness.
    -o-

Chapter 5 - Blood and Smoke
    The sound of fighting faded away after
Lord Vatrale charged into battle. The smoke from the burning wagon
rolled in to fill the street. Tavi and Abella had lost sight of the
others from their position deep within the doorway.
    Tavi grabbed Abella’s hand and
made a dash from their hiding place. The two kept along the walls
where the visibility from the smoke was slightly better. The
occasional clash of steel on steel or a cry of pain would rise out of
the smoke, but they didn’t see anyone.
    Tavi ducked into the first alley they
reached. A cool draft kept the worst of the smoke at bay. They
stopped to catch their breath. Abella moved to the mouth of the side
street and tried to see into the cloud. At first she didn’t see
anything, but a muffled curse caught her attention. As she watched
she began to make out the shadowy forms of three men. They were
headed in their direction.
    “I’m telling you, they ran
this way,” one of them whispered far too loudly.
    Abella didn’t waste any time
waiting around. She spun and grabbed Tavi. This time it was her
leading the way down the alley. She had no idea where she was or
where the road would lead them, but it had to be better than waiting
to be caught.
    “There they are! Get them!”
    The three men approached the alley.
Without the smoke to block their vision, they easily spotted the two
running from them.
    Fortunately Tavi and Abella had less
than thirty feet to go before they would reach the opposite end. Once
they were free of the alley, they could head off in any number of
directions.
    Escape looked like a sure thing until
two men stepped out of the shadows at the end of the street.
    “Where do you two think you are
going?” asked one of the men as he reached for his sword. He
stopped when his companion smacked his hand.
    “Don’t be stupid. It is
only a boy and a woman.