The Thirteenth Shard by O'Faolain J.L

Author:O'Faolain, J.L. [O'Faolain, J.L.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2013-06-03T22:00:00+00:00

8

THE inside of the auto shop was darkened, like twilight. The barrier was casting shade over the whole building, leaving Cole’s team members with low visibility. Marcel would be fine, Cole knew, and he smiled with relief when Joss switched his eye patch over. That left Corhagen and Rainette for certain. Staffelbach was still an unknown, but they would have to make do. Cole could feel it stirring in the air with each step he took.

The party was about to begin.

Joss was rolling his sleeve up. The flesh from his hand poured away, revealing the silver and obsidian arm hidden underneath. The arm began glowing, sending wisps of power into the air like fog rolling off ice. Cole drew out Aed Deigh as Joss tapped his metal arm against a barrel. The sound concealed the noise of both blades snapping out at the same time.

“Knock. Knock.”

Joss’s voice was cool and calm, a sharp contrast to everyone else’s mood. “I’m not getting anything yet,” he said, turning his head from right to left with each step he took. “My eye isn’t picking up their auras. Anything from your end, Cole?”

“Nothing,” Cole said, sniffing the air. “There’s too much metal and grease in the air. I can smell that they came in here, but pinning their location down will take time. It will be easier if we just search.”

Rainette had summoned one of her liquid spheres. It was a spell of hers that called upon water’s corrosive power. She could cast it multiple times, and was now splitting the sphere into three smaller orbs to conserve power.

Marcel took point by her side, prepared to give her cover if she needed it. Corhagen had pulled out his gun and was searching behind some of the equipment for signs of movement. Staffelbach, finally, was keeping his hands out in front of him. He hadn’t drawn his gun yet, but Cole wasn’t about to reprimand him for it. The best experience a fledgling with power could get was during combat. Cole gave him one small nod of reassurance. Staffelbach returned it with a smile before his eyes went back to sweeping the large area.

A loud crash came from somewhere off to the left. Everyone turned to see Corhagen recoiling in shock from a welding area.

“Rats,” James said, moving even further away. “Sorry, I mean, this place has rats. I saw one over there.”

Joss rolled his eyes. “We’re hunting creatures that cannot die inside of a grease pit,” he retorted. “I think rats are the least of our concerns.”

“I beg to differ,” Rainette said, looking revolted.

“Agreed,” Marcel said.

Rainette gave her ogre boyfriend a look. “I find them unpleasant,” Marcel insisted, staring back at her with a vexed expression. “How is that strange?”

“You’re an eight-foot-tall ogre that can punch through solid walls,” she reminded, giving the corrosive orbs in her hand a practiced spin. “How can rats get to you?”

“Quiet, you two,” Joss ordered. “Let’s stay focused on the problem at hand for right now. We can tell the nice people who own this place about their rat problem once we’re done here.

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