The Maelstroms Eye Read Online Free PDF Page B

northern gate. It shows no sign of hostility. It is also invulnerable to scrying, so I cannot say more about it.” The frail old man looked toward the windows and grinned mirthlessly. “We should be so fortunate. The air is itself a window for the ants, if not for those insects that fly.”
    We’re being magically spied upon by the intruders on the base and possibly by the flying pyramid’s inhabitants, Vorr interpreted. “Do, um, the ants and bees travel together these days?” Vorr asked. He felt foolish trying to speak in riddles so those scrying on him couldn’t make out his intent. Usso was so much better at deception, making it an an.
    Usso pointed a narrow finger at the top report. “The answer lies here,” he said, and his fingers began working again. No. Pyramid from other world. Elves from Spiral. Bad timing. I go. Stay alert.
    Vorr sighed heavily, his huge hands resting on the cool stone desk. Then he straightened and busied himself with filing papers in a desk drawer. “Work to be done, then. I will see to greeting our visitors from the pyramid – and I’ll be watchful.”
    “I shall stay watchful as well. A little fresh air would not hurt you, so I’ll leave your door open.”
    Usso meant for reinforcements to get to the general rapidly if necessary, Vorr knew. A closed door would not stop magically armed commandos. “Fine,” Vorr said, still storing papers. “I’ll be on my way in a minute.”
    The wizened man bowed formally, though the general ignored him, and turned to walk back to the closed doors. “Call if you need me,” Usso said as he left – but his voice had changed. It was now a very feminine one, seductive and young. After opening a door and motioning for Gargon to leave it ajar, Usso was gone.
    Vorr had most of the paperwork put away in a wall safe behind his chair and was about to take the last of it with him when a loud thump came from the double doors. He turned around. The door that had been open was now closed. After a startled pause on the other side came the sounds of heavy, pounding fists, followed by regular body slams against the wood and steel.
    A locking spell. That was quick, Vorr thought. He had no time left. He was on the wrong side of the desk and couldn’t go for his weapon. Vorr dropped his papers and reached for the only two solid objects on the desktop: the steel globe and the red tarantula statuette. He spun, scanning the room.
    An elf stood before him, having appeared out of nowhere just thirty feet away in front of the double doors. It was a female with silver hair and no armor, her staff sparkling with spell power. The coiled emblem of the massacred House of Spiral blazed from her fiery diadem.
    General Vorr threw the steel globe in his right hand with all the force he could summon. The impact of the sphere against her upper chest flipped the elf completely over in the air, her staff spinning away. She struck the wall behind her, then fell in a crumpled heap, her wide blue eyes staring at the ceiling. More teleporting images came into view. A tall human in a coveted helm and plate armor appeared to his far left. Teeth bared, Vorr flung the forty-pound red spider with his other hand. Solid iron crashed into the knight’s upraised shield, knocking the attacker into a dwarf who had appeared nearby. Both fell cursing into a heap.
    Eyes of Dukagsh, Vorr thought, they must want me badly. The room was still filling with teleporting intruders. Out of nine attackers so far, six were still on their feet. All stood at least twenty-five feet from the general. Several were making spell-casting motions. He knew instantly what was coming and almost relaxed to enjoy it.
    The spy reports from Usso!
    Vorr turned and snatched the last stack of papers on his desk, flinging it at a short male elf in a glittering green cloak. The elf sidestepped the papers, which sailed out of harm’s way. The elf pulled something small from his necklace – a golden bead, it looked