Silent Shield by S.T. Bende

Author:S.T. Bende [Bende, S.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: S.T. Bende

Chapter 9

THE ATTACK WAS SWIFT. The frost monster cleared the room in seconds, his long legs making easy strides through the water. He was nearly to Torstein when the mage fired his white orb. The projectile struck the monster’s chest, stalling him long enough for me to give Axel one instruction.

“Run.”

The assassin didn’t hesitate. He tucked the crystal beneath one arm, drew his broadsword with the other, and raced for the southern wall—the one closest to the large entrance to the cave. I raced after him, my speed slowed considerably by the two feet of water still filling the cavern. Loud splashes echoed through the space, and when I turned my head the monster had changed course. Instead of battling Torstein, his blue flaming eyes were fixated on Axel. He stomped across the cave, intent on pursuing the one person in all the world I most wanted to keep safe.

“Frosty’s pretty determined,” I yelled to Torstein. “Can you stop him?”

“I’m trying.” Torstein threw a light beam at the creature. It grazed Frosty’s shoulder, but the monster didn’t stop. Torstein sent a second, then a third, each slamming into Frosty’s back and shaking loose a layer of ice. The fourth beam struck Frosty in the head. This time, the beast paused long enough to shoot an irritated glare over his shoulder. He opened his mouth, turned his head to Torstein, and let out a battle cry.

“Rrrroooooaaaarrrr!”

Fist-sized ice balls barreled from Frosty’s throat. They launched at Torstein, who promptly threw up a bubble of protection. The ice missiles bounced off the barrier, landing in the water with loud plops.

“Any chance the rest of us could get bubbles, too?” I shouted.

Torstein sent another series of beams at Frosty, then shook his hands and turned them on me and Axel. A single, filmy layer surrounded us both, stretching across the ten feet that separated us. When the protection sealed, he sent streams from each hand. One shot over my head, encasing Brigga and Raynor, while the other closed tightly around Janna. I ran harder, closing the distance until Axel and I were side by side. But the big entrance was still a way away, and Axel seemed to be struggling with his contraband. The crystal wrenched violently beneath his arm, pulsing brighter with each step he took.

“It’s trying. To get. To. The. Portal.” Each word came on a pant.

“Why would it do that?”

“No. Idea.” Axel grunted.

“Ja. Well.” Frosty let out another roar. This time, the ice balls bounced off of our shared bubble.

“Ingrid!” Brigga yelled. “Look out!”

A loud rip spiked my heart rate. From the corner of my eye, I noted Torstein’s stream of beams, Raynor’s swinging sword, and Brigga charging at the monster, her dagger raised overhead. But what was most concerning was the enormous white arm arcing above me. It drove what looked to be a three-foot icicle into my apparently not-so-impenetrable bubble.

“Torstein!” I screamed. “It’s not working!”

“The ice spear must be laced with dark magic! Nothing else could have pierced this shield.

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