The Oathbound Wizard-Wiz Rhyme-2 Read Online Free PDF

women.
    He pulled the younger women out, tossing them to his men. He seemed to have an unerring instinct for the unmarried. One young farmer saw, howled, "Dolores!" and turned, plunging toward her. A halberd flashed, and he rolled on the ground, his eyes glazing.
    "Corin!" his sweetheart screamed, and ran toward him, but a soldier caught her and swung her about, catching the back of her head and planting his mouth over hers. She gave a muffled scream, writhing and striking at him. He lifted his head to laugh and ran a hand over her body.
    The last farmer fell.
    The soldiers had three of the women down, their skirts above their waists; they fumbled with the fastenings of their pants.
    "You cannot!" a mother screamed, wrenching herself loose and dropping to her knees to try to shield her daughter. "She is too young!"
    "Never too young!" The sergeant shoved her aside; she fell, sprawling. He guffawed, then bellowed, "We have been too long besieging your lord's castle, woman, and my men have grown bored. I mean to find them some diversion--and what could be better than raping virgins?"
    "We are no virgins!" a terrified girl shrieked from the ground. "None of us in this village!"
    "Why! Do ye hear that, Sergeant?" cried one of the men, with a gap-toothed grin. "Seems like we're invited."
    "Aye. Never turn down hospitality, says I," the sergeant answered. The girl screamed.
    "She lied!" the mother cried, pale-faced. "All these lasses are virgins!"
    "Why, the greater pleasure for us, then," the sergeant retorted. "No woman is ever too young for this sort of game."
    The mother scrambled up, but the sergeant stopped her with a hand under her chin. "And perhaps not too old, neither. Nay, you've looks enough left." He shoved her back; she fell sprawling, and two of his men caught her ankles, tossing her skirt up. The sergeant fell to his knees, unbuckling his belt. Matt had had enough. The spells he'd tried should have already attracted any pursuit that was coming--and if he brought down any more, he'd just have to deal with it when it came. He pulled a leather thong loose from his shirt and began to tie knots in it, chanting,
    "Let there be no blade in your scabbard,
    Let your lust become much the laggard,
    And that which should stand to attention,
    Lie low, like a coward's intention!"
    Below him, the soldiers stilled. Then one of them began to fumble frantically, but another quickly tied himself back up. One or two men howled, and the sergeant bellowed, "Witchcraft! Which of you old hags has done this?"
    "Done what?" one of the oldest women asked, her face blank.
    "You know well what!" the sergeant snarled, and whirled to backhand her across the face. "But it won't work, granny! If we can't hurt you one way, we'll hurt you another! Have at 'em, men!"
    His soldiers turned to with a bellow of loosed frustration. Matt realized, all over again, that rape really was a crime of violence more than of sex. Without even thinking, he chanted,
    "Seek out--less often sought than found-A soldier's grave, for thee the best; Then look around, and choose thy ground,
    And take thy rest!"

The soldiers froze. Then, one by one, they toppled over, eyes glazed. The women stared, uncomprehending.
    Matt didn't stay to watch the sequel. They'd figure it out, fast enough--and for himself, he didn't know whether the soldiers' rest was temporary or permanent. Not that it mattered--those women had a score to settle, and no one could blame them if they did it. Especially because, if they didn't, and the soldiers revived, they would take the revenge they had just now intended. No, Matt couldn't blame the ladies for self-defense--and he didn't think anyone else would, either.
    He was about a hundred feet away on the other side of the hill, and going fast, when he heard the huge, massed scream of rage behind him. He went faster. Half an hour later, he figured he was clear, no matter who came--even if it was a sorcerer homing in on the location of a spell. Matt didn't