Fire of Ages (The Powers of Amur Book 6) by J.S. Bangs

Author:J.S. Bangs
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2017-04-07T06:00:00+00:00

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Basadi and her Devoured bore torches, making them easy to spot. They had descended on a tiny speck of a village about a mile from Virnas. The sun’s glow in the west had entirely died, and only the stars and bulging half-moon illumined the field below.

Mandhi, Kest, Vapathi, and Aryaji ran toward the village. There was little time to look for the perfect place. Mandhi spent all of her attention making sure she didn’t stumble on the uneven ground. When she could pick out Basadi’s silhouette in the firelight of the torches before her, she stopped and threw herself on the ground.

Aryaji and Vapathi hit the ground next to her. Kest had hidden himself behind a dense, gnarled bush ten feet away.

“Are you ready?” he whispered hoarsely to them.

Vapathi nodded. She stepped out into the space between Mandhi and Kest.

“Basadi!” she called.

The Empress flinched. Pressed flat against the ground, Mandhi couldn’t see clearly what occurred. But she heard Basadi speaking in imperious tones to the Devoured around her, then a pause.

“Who dares use the devoured name?” she shouted back.

“I do, you bitch,” Vapathi said. “Aren’t you looking for me?”

A cackle sounded in Basadi’s throat. “Oh, so that’s how you’re doing it. Come back, Devoured. Leave the other rabbits. We have found the jewel.”

Vapathi took a step back. Mandhi peered through the grasses. There were many Devoured behind Basadi at the edge of the village, but only two accompanied her carrying torches. Mandhi prayed no more would come closer, or what followed would be even more difficult.

The dried grasses crackled beneath Basadi’s feet. The fires of the Devoured cast lurid shadows. Basadi approached until she was about four paces from Vapathi.

“That’s close enough,” Vapathi said. “I want you to promise you’ll leave my friends alone.”

“They can starve in the countryside, if they want,” Basadi sneered. “There’s nothing for them out there.”

Vapathi glanced toward Kest, still hidden in the shadows. “All right, then.”

Basadi took a step forward. Kest leaped out of hiding.

He crossed the space between them in three monstrous strides and tackled Basadi. He crushed her beneath him, pinning her to the ground with the force of a falling tree. She cried out in alarm, then her voice was smothered beneath Kest’s bulk. For a stunned heartbeat, the Devoured hesitated.

It was long enough.

Vapathi kicked at one of them and swatted at the hand holding the torch. The torch went flying and landed in the dry grass. A moment later the grass was a blaze of fire and sparks. Mandhi launched herself to her feet and charged toward the other Devoured, a woman. Her shoulder connected with the woman’s stomach, and they both tumbled to the ground.

“I got it!” she heard Aryaji shout. The swirling light of a torch spun in the air above her, and the crackle of sparks rose.

Hands pulled at Mandhi’s shoulders, bringing her to her feet. Aryaji and Vapathi. The Devoured woman rose as well, but a swift kick knocked her back to the ground.

“Run!” Kest shouted.

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