The Path of Giants, B.T. Narro [the speed reading book .TXT] 📗

I was startled as an arrow passed beside me and struck the fire mage in her chest. She let out a sound of pain as she collapsed to her knees.

“Go for cover, Jon!” Hadley yelled, a bow in hand. She was running to fetch another arrow on the ground, but she screamed as she stepped in a bear trap.

I ran toward her as I heard my enemies behind me complaining that no spells could be cast. Arrows zipped around me. I couldn’t tell if I was the target or Hadley as I rushed toward her. She was attempting to crawl behind the nearest tree but wasn’t moving very fast.

An arrow impaled her shoulder, causing her to fall flat to the ground as she yelled out. I was shot in the back of my leg and practically rolled the rest of the way to her. I half dragged and half carried her behind the tree with the use of my one good leg.

“The healer’s injured,” I could hear Endell yelling frantically. “There, behind that tree.”

I looked out as I was prying the bear trap off Hadley’s foot. A dozen enemies were rushing toward us.

“Heal yourself first,” Hadley said, yanking out the arrow from the back of my leg.

I made a quick connection to my mana just to check that I had access to it. I did here, but not earlier. I took her advice and healed my wound.

“Face them before they leave the cursed area,” Hadley said. “Go.”

I rushed out. Many of the men charging at me stopped and lifted their hands as if to pin me with dteria, but nothing happened. Confusion spread across their faces.

I figured any spell I casted would dissolve as soon as it entered the cursed vicinity, so I had a different idea. I picked up a large rock with two hands. Holding it steady, I pushed dvinia hard against it one way as I pushed the other way physically. Then I suddenly released my physical hold, shoving it as hard as I could with my spell.

It shot forward like an arrow, smacking one man in the chest with deadly force and throwing him back into two others. I picked up another rock about the same size, and this time every enemy stopped charging at me. They started hollering as they ran in various directions, colliding with each other. I used the same method as before to hurl it at the biggest cluster of them, taking out two more.

Then I checked on the group of archers. They had no cover with the dark mages unable to provide barriers and were now fleeing as they were bombarded with arrows from every angle. I rushed back to Hadley to heal her foot and shoulder. I thought about asking for the bow, but she took aim confidently with a practiced stance and let loose an arrow, striking Endell in the leg as he looked to be escaping with many others.

Kataleya was walking toward him with a bit of a stagger, blood running down. I rushed over to her as the rest of our enemies scattered. Endell started crawling away, dragging his impaired leg. He had a terrified look as he saw Kataleya trudging toward him.

I got to Kataleya first. “Do you need healing?” I asked her.

“In a moment. I need to do something first.”

“Kataleya, I’m more useful to you alive,” Endell explained a little too calmly for my taste.

“I know that. And I don’t care.” She cried out as she fell onto him with her dagger, burying it in his chest. There was a brief struggle between them as she stabbed him a few more times, Endell trying to wrestle her off him. Eventually he succeeded, but he had about four deep wounds in his chest by then.

“Heal me!” he told me frantically.

I offered my hand to Kataleya instead and pulled her to her feet.

“Heal me!” Endell screamed, trying to cover his bloody wounds.

“Endell Gesh,” Kataleya intoned. “The king has granted your death sentence. No one will save you now.”

He went pale as he lost strength and fell flat to the ground. His arms went limp. His eyes rolled back.

His face continued to hold fear as the last of his life drained away.

I took Kataleya’s hand and close my eyes, letting my mana course through her to find every injury. She had been pierced a number of times across her arms and stomach, but it didn’t seem to be from a blade. I opened my eyes when I finished.

“I triggered a trap of wooden spikes that swung at my torso,” she explained. “I managed to get my arms up.”

“I’m glad you did.” I paused. I had been shocked to see Kataleya kill Endell like this. I had to make sure of something. “The king really ordered his death with no questioning first?”

“The king has questioned enough of Valinox’s followers to know that he doesn’t tell them anything important. The demigod does not plan carefully. He’s figuring this out as he goes and using people based on whims. The king agreed with me that Endell probably knows nothing and would just lie to keep himself alive. We’re better off with him dead.” She spoke all of this as she stared at his body.

“I see.”

“There are many more people who need healing,” she said, then finally tore her gaze away from Endell. “Let’s go.”

Kataleya was right. Many members of the Thieves’ Guild were gesturing for me as they squatted near their fallen comrades. There were hundreds of arrows scattered across the encampment, many sticking out of my allies. I still had a lot of work to do before this was over.

I looked around for Eslenda briefly. Because she could cast an illusion, I had always figured she could heal as well because the same range was needed for both spells. But I didn’t see her.

“Where did the elf go?” I asked Kataleya.

“She claimed Souriff needed help. She and Eden went for her.” We