The Battle of Verril by Joseph R. Lallo

Author:Joseph R. Lallo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, magic, warrior, epic, epic fantasy series, the book of deacon
Publisher: Joseph R. Lallo

"You can't be Epidime!" she cried.

A pulse of magic threw her from his back. He turned and stalked toward her, the greater threat. The same darkness that had encompassed his weapon now seemed to be pooling about his hands, trailing from them as he walked. He grasped at the air and Ivy suddenly felt a crushing force about her. She was hoisted into the air and held before him. Slowly, he paced toward the channel of lava with her.

"A weakness is a useful thing, Ivy," he said calmly, as though to a student. "Once those who would destroy you discover it, it is all that they target. It makes people predictable. They rely upon it, expend all of their energy on it. I don't have a weakness, so I provided myself with one."

With his other hand, he willed Myranda into the air.

"It is just as well you destroyed it. In the years since I selected the halberd, I've been through the minds of hundreds of warriors skilled in thousands of other weapons. In truth, I was beginning to feel constrained. In the future, I shall have to select something more benign. A medallion--or a ring, perhaps."

Myranda's eyes slowly began to focus. She raised her hand, only to have it pinned down again. The blow had dizzied her, but already her senses were returning. She focused her mind on Lain. Not the body, but the soul within. Epidime was on the surface now, a greasy black slick in her mind's eye, staining Lain's form with his influence. Far behind it was the tiniest flicker of the soul she knew. She reached out to it.

"No, no, no. That will not do," Epidime scolded.

With a flick of his fingers, Myranda was hurled to the center of the room, bouncing painfully against the spire that had held Lain. She fell, barely catching the scalding hot edge of the channel. Instantly, there came a crash strong enough to shake the walls--then another.

Epidime turned to find Myn throwing herself against the entryway. Cracks were creeping along the walls. What remained of the metal vines were little more than twisted, useless lengths of metal. With one final heave, she shattered a piece of the wall away, charging into the chamber. The dragon pounded past Epidime and skidded to a stop at the edge of the channel, scooping Myranda to safety. She then turned to Epidime, a look of betrayal in her eyes.

"Ah, Myn. You bring an interesting mix of emotions to Lain's head. Surprise, relief," Epidime said, eying the gashes the creature had suffered in her attempts to enter. "Concern. I wouldn't have thought the old assassin capable."

Myn was growling, though the word had not been conceived with a dragon in mind. It was a sound like distant, rolling thunder. It was a sound that shook the earth. Epidime dropped Ivy unceremoniously from his grip.

"Well, Myn, what will it be?" Epidime said.

Myn took a few significant steps toward him, placing the stricken heroes behind her.

"You know, I have the greatest respect for dragons.

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