The Gems of Raga-Tor (Elemental Legends Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

not? Anger erupted and he threw the daggers at the floor. They struck with such force that they didn’t quiver when the points gouged twin holes in the wood. Eris glared at the man and then strode to the door. If the red beard wouldn’t leave, he would.
    “Feel better?” the man taunted.
    Eris ignored him. He reached for the knob on the bolt to slide it back and instantly the metal blazed white-hot. He drew in his breath sharply between clenched teeth. The intense heat radiated against his open palm, which he closed angrily into a fist.
    Eris stood for several silent, angry moments facing the door. He realized he had to be calm and reclaim his mental acuity. Action wouldn’t win this struggle. Before turning around, he quelled his physical anger into a mental strategy. Threats and weapons were useless and as the red beard had him at an overpowering disadvantage; it was his only strategy. Two could play at this absurd game, and he played as well as anyone. He folded his arms across his chest and turned around to look at the stranger with a raised eyebrow.
    “So be it, illusionist, you have my complete attention. Tell me again—what is your problem?” Eris asked in a pleasant voice reeking of insult. It had the desired effect.
    “I’m not an illusionist. I'm a practitioner of the sacred arts.” The man was obviously offended. A look, something akin to a pout and very uncharacteristic for a man of his stature, appeared on his face.
    “Listen to me carefully,” Eris warned. “There are very few things I hold sacred, and sorcery, in any of its forms, is absolutely not one of them. Keep that in mind, old man.”
    “I’m not old either. Not that old anyway.”
    “Listen, old man , cease your nonsense and tell me plainly what I need to know and stop wasting my time.”
    Eris walked to the table and picked up a silver goblet, which was filled with ruby-colored wine. He sniffed it. It smelled normal and half wondered if it was. Of course it wasn’t. It wasn’t there when he returned. Even in the semi-darkness he would have seen the shadow of a table so large, and more so would have smelled it.
    When the red beard remained silent, Eris prodded, “Why don’t you start by telling me your name, or have you forgotten it?”
    “I told you before, Raga-Tor. Your attempt to quell me with the sea hasn’t changed that.”
    “Not this again.”
    Eris frowned and shook his head. He sniffed the wine again and decided to take a drink. At the most it might kill him, at the least it might wash the nasty taste of brine from his tongue. He was pleasantly surprised to find it was quite good.
    “I’m telling you the truth,” the red beard insisted.
    Eris looked at him over the rim of the cup still at his lips. From behind the rim, a smile pushed up his cheeks. Taking one more gulp, he lowered the cup and wiped his mouth on a damp sleeve.
    “If you expect me to believe you are Raga-Tor, the Raga-Tor , first-level elemental sorcerer of countless legends, then you are gravely mistaken. Elementals have nothing to do with human kind except to kill them, and you’re wasting my time. Now, get out. You’ve caused me enough trouble for one night,” Eris said firmly.
    The man shook his head. He stepped closer to the table, picked up a goblet and drank.
    “I made up that cave story, by the way. Quite clever don’t you think? A rumor, which I see has spread quite nicely, to keep that witch, Charra-Tir, from interfering further into my business. Oh, there is a body in the cave with my face on it, but that’s a long story. Perhaps you would like to hear it. It really wouldn’t take that long. I could explain it all to you while we enjoy this wonderful meal and—”
    “Shut! Up!” Eris glared at him. “I don’t believe you, so stop this senseless chatter. It’s going to take more than an illusionist’s trick to convince me of anything you have to say.” However, he had to admit he had never seen or heard of a man blasting