Hunted Sorcery (Jon Oklar Book 2), B.T. Narro [digital book reader txt] 📗

of concentration. A barrier of the clear energy pushed my shoulder, inching me toward the wall. I hardened my mana to resist, but the mage was putting everything he had into the wrestling match.

“Now!” Shaw yelled.

Jacob ran around the long table as Shaw came at me from the other side. I dropped down to escape beneath the barrier of dteria pressing my torso against the wall, then dove under the table.

Shaw came after me headfirst. He was about to stab me with the sword when I kicked him in the mouth.

Still under the table, I could see Jacob’s feet changing directions to come around the other side. I prepared my spell, aimed, then slammed his shins with energy. He fell forward, slapping the ground with both hands as his face struck the hardwood floor as well. He let out a satisfying shriek as he rolled over, his hands covering his face.

Shaw, teeth bloody, tried to stab around my foot, but I kept kicking his hand back. Eventually he dropped the long sword and grabbed my shoe with both hands, then yanked me toward him. He grabbed my shirt and partially climbed on top of my legs.

He started to get his hands around my throat, but I got my palm underneath his torso and cast Expel upward. He shot up a foot and slammed his head against the bottom of the table. Shaw cursed up a storm as he came down to my side while grabbing his head. I took the chance to get out from under the table, grabbing the sword along the way, but I had to scurry back under to avoid the dinner knife stabbing at my head.

The dark mage tried to stab my leg as I darted away, but I got under the table cleanly. Shaw grabbed me from behind, his arms around my neck. I reached back and found his eye with one of my thumbs. As soon as I started to push, he let go of me and reeled back with more cursing.

The dark mage was showing his double chin as he leaned down in hopes of stabbing me, but a quick kick to his nose knocked him on his back.

I looked around for the sword, but it had been pushed away, so I grabbed the dinner knife next to the dark mage instead. He tried to grab me as he was getting up, but I pricked his hand.

“Bastard!” he cursed.

Soon I was the first one on his feet. Jacob was up next, the table between us. Blood ran out of one nostril as he seethed at me, the hammer in hand. I noticed something out the window and took a quick glance.

There stood Burda, gaping in horror. She must’ve followed us.

“Get the guards!” I yelled to her.

She darted away. Jacob cried out in anger as he slowly climbed onto the table and lumbered toward me. It was hammer against knife, but I had dvinia on my side. And unlike the sweaty dark mage still cursing at me, I still had plenty of stamina left.

I used Expel to hurl Jacob off the table. He flew into a wall, shattering a tall mirror framed in bronze.

“You idiot!” yelled the dark mage. “That cost me five gold coins!”

Jacob was especially slow getting up this time. He cursed at the dark mage as he pulled a shard of glass out of his shoulder.

There was so much cursing between the three of them that I couldn’t hear myself think.

“The guards are coming!” I yelled over them. “Give up.”

“You will die!” the dark mage said furiously as he slammed a sheet of dteria into me.

But he wasn’t nearly as strong as he thought himself to be now that he was so tired. I stood my ground as I pushed against it, my mana shielding me.

“Kill him!” the dark mage yelled.

Shaw crawled out from under the table wielding the ax, but I just tossed him away with Expel. The dark mage tried to knock me over with his dteria once more, but I stood tall.

Then the dark mage fell to a knee in exhaustion.

Shaw looked as if he would charge me again, but I brandished the dinner knife, and his expression showed defeat. He dropped the ax.

“It’s over,” he said. “We’ll cooperate.”

“I’m with Greg,” Jacob said, blood staining both sleeves of his coat. “It’s over.”

“Cason will kill you both!” the dark mage told them between wheezing breaths.

“You’re the one who couldn’t stand against the bladedancer,” Shaw argued as I went to the door to open it.

Two guards arrived, both men much older than me with their swords drawn. Burda was hustling over behind them. They all slowed when they saw my calm demeanor.

“It’s over. They’re cooperating with the arrest.”

The guards hesitantly entered and surveyed the scene. Most of the chairs were turned over, the table askew. Remnants of the broken dresser sat in a pile near the door. The shattered mirror was scattered around Jacob. All the men were bloody except me. The dark mage was pulling himself up from the floor, using the table for support.

Burda stuck her head in as the guards approached Jacob and Shaw with ropes. The men held out their hands begrudgingly.

“How did you fight all three of them on your own?” Burda asked me.

“I’m a sorcerer,” I told her. “These men are suspected of corruption.”

“So you were just fooling them earlier?”

“That’s right. You should get home. It’s past curfew.”

I was looking forward to getting back to my own bed as soon as I could. I had stayed out past the two hours necessary for my punishment, but the king was a fair man. I figured he would offer me some leniency and allow me to sleep in, perhaps even rid me of this pointless punishment after I had done so well tonight.

Burda seemed stunned as she looked at me. I left her alone so I could assist the two guards in cuffing the three criminals.

I was disappointed to see she was waiting outside the dark