The Blood King

The Blood King Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: The Blood King Read Online Free PDF
Author: Gail Z. Martin
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic
the stud-ded leather armor of a fighter. She carried herself like a seasoned soldier.
    “I wish to see you fight.”
    “Very well,” Tris’s hand fell to Mageslayer’s pom-mel.
    Theron launched herself at him, moving so quick-ly that Tris barely had time to draw his sword. Their blades clashed; Theron’s strength was easily equal that of any man Tris had fought. Parrying took all of his concentration as they traded blows that could cleave a man shoulder to hip.
    Theron swung into an Eastmark kick, and seemed surprised when Tris blocked her, although the force of her kick almost knocked him off balance. Sweating hard, gripping Mageslayer two-handed, Tris saw the ensorcelled blade flare a brilliant green as Theron’s lips moved in the words of a spell. A streak of fire blazed from her left hand. The blade’s warning was all the time Tris had to summon his shielding, while deflecting another sword stroke that nearly tore the sword from his grip. Theron’s fire bounced away, only to be replaced by darkness so complete that only Mageslayer’s glow enabled Tris to see Theron’s attack.
    He thought he saw a glint of approval in Theron’s eyes as he cast away the darkness, and before it cleared he swung into an Eastmark kick of his own, almost knocking her sword from her hand. As Theron’s lips moved once more, Tris felt blinding pain sear through his body. For an instant, he thought Theron had run him through.
    He staggered, and Theron scored a gash on his forearm. Reeling, Tris held on to Mageslayer, gasp-ing as he struggled to counter her magical assault. As he focused his power to dull the pain, the gash on his forearm began to burn. Wormroot!
    Tris thought, managing to deflect the worst of another thrust from Theron’s sword. This time, she scored his thigh, a deep cut that burned with the poison on her blade.
    Tris nearly fell, swinging his blade wildly to keep Theron at bay as he drew on Mageslayer’s power to neutralize the effect of the poison. Even with the rope vine, the wormroot was beginning to take effect. Another wave of pain swept over him, as if he were being burned from the inside with hot coals, and his eyes stung. But he kept his grip on the sword, battling Theron’s press.
    The tip of Theron’s blade opened a deep cut on Tris’s shoulder and he fought to retain control of his magic. His heart hammered and his palms sweat as he countered her blows, slowly losing control of his magic. Theron murmured another spell, and this time the pain seemed to be crushing his skull. Tris cried out, resisting the urge to drop his weapon and clasp his head in both hands.
    Focusing all of his remaining power on Mageslayer, Tris saw in his mind an image of blue fire streaking from the sword’s tip, engulfing Theron and ending the pain. A heartbeat later Mageslayer blazed with light, fire streaking from its tip. He heard Theron gasp, her shields barely snap-ping up in time to deflect the attack.
    Tris stumbled. The wormroot was making it dif-ficult for him to stay on his feet. With a predator’s smile, Theron whispered another spell. Mageslayer was torn from his hand by an irresistible force. With the blade’s magical protections gone Tris fell, unable to counteract the wormroot. As the worm-root pushed the magic beyond his reach, Tris felt his power fail him. Another wave of excruciating pain swept over him, and he nearly blacked out. Theron kicked Mageslayer beyond his grasp.
    “Is that the best you can do?” she taunted, stand-ing over him. “Without your magic, you’re just a man, and a mage can break a man with a thought.” She whispered and the pain came again, worse this time. Tris’s screams echoed in the stone vault. The wormroot burned in his veins, and his magic was far out of reach.
    Theron raised her sword over his neck like an executioner, and Tris rolled, scything his legs and bringing Theron down with him. She hit the ground hard and gasped. Tris dove for Mageslayer, barely able to keep his
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