It had killed Trevor. He’d destroy it for that alone.
‘Mine.’ Ghostly fangs sank deep into his soul.
If it wouldn’t let him go, they’d die together. He poured all the power he could reach into the spell.
The flames inside him roared higher. His mind melted, flowed, burned away everything inside him. Lava inside his mind bubbled, threw out limbs, and hardened into bars of obsidian. Bars he willed to close in around the ghost.
RedAdder shrieked. Scrabbling claws tore at his mind.
He fought to tighten the bars, to hold the creature closer to his fire shield.
The ghost squirmed out of his brain. Faint red light flashed across the clearing, bounced off a tree, and streaked skyward, heading northeast.
Viper belatedly raised his hand and tried to drag it back. Disappointment flooded over him. His concentration broke.
It had escaped.
The spell fragmented. The flames inside him shrank to sparks.
His knees gave out. He collapsed to the ground and leaned his forehead against cool moss. His heart tried to hammer its way out of his chest. He was breathing so hard he felt like he’d outrun a bahtdor.
Trevor’s lightning-blasted murderer had escaped. For now. Eventually he’d track it down and–
And what? Punish a slave? Destroy a dead wizard?
Or find her master and set her free?
Sprinting footsteps pounded the ground. He heard them even over his gasping breath.
Blast. At least this threat sounded physical. After a driving away a wizard’s ghost, he could fight off anything.
He crawled to his pack and yanked out a saikeris. He grabbed one crutch and forced himself to his feet. Foot. His single, sandblasted foot. Some warrior he was. Where was his bodyguard?
Sword over her head, Lorel charged into the clearing. “Where is it? What happened?”
She was soaked with blood. Her voice was so rough he barely recognized it. What had she been doing? Slaughtering a hog for supper?
Viper slammed his saikeris back into his knapsack and dropped back to sit on the soft ground. He wrapped his arms around his legs and pressed his eyes against his knees. Determined to show no weakness, he fought to control his breathing.
“What happened, kid?” Lorel sheathed her sword. “You see a lizard?”
Only his turybird could confuse a ghost with a lizard. He peeked up at her. “Something like that.”
Of course, she hadn’t seen it. And couldn’t have protected him if she had. He’d have needed to protect her.
He leaned his elbows on his knees and rested his chin in his hands. He’d have protected her, the way she always tried to protect him. Whether he liked it or not. Who was the boss here?
She glared down at him. “You’re a mess. Ain’t you gonna–”
“Stop. Right there.” He wobbled to his foot and planted his fists on his hips. Maybe it was time to set everyone free. “Do you remember the day you begged to come traveling with me?”
She nodded hesitantly.
“You offered to come along as my bodyguard.” He lifted his chin and tried to glare down his nose at her. His neck cramped, and he gave the gesture up as physically impossible. “There is a difference between a guard and a nursemaid. I may need a guard. I don’t need a nursemaid.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“Remember this, pine tree.” Leaning on a single crutch, Viper sauntered past her, around the smoldering campfire, and picked up his mandolin. “You have choices. We both have choices, and we must live the decisions we make. Do you still want to be my bodyguard?”
She blinked and nodded. “Sure, kid.”
“Then remember this. I’m the boss.” He strummed a single chord and looked directly into her eyes. “From now on, I call the tune.”
“I hear you, kid.” To his surprise, she seemed honestly relieved. Her aura sharpened to a brighter red, sloughing off some of the muddy tones. Her voice still sounded like ground glass, though. Was she sick?
He reached out his hand. “Adventure lies ahead?” He hadn’t meant to sound so uncertain.
“Adventure’s good.” Lorel’s bloody hand grabbed his and they shook on it. “So where do we go next?”
“As far north as we can go before the world falls off the map.” Viper grinned up at her and pointed the head of his mandolin toward the pole star. “Into the mountains. No more swamps and snakes for us.”
About the Author
I’m a misplaced Californian who now lives in Texas, but I’ve also lived in Colorado and Northern England. I’ve been a waitress, a receptionist, and a computer programmer, and I’d love to become an interstellar traveler.
My other fantasy novels are Illusion’s Child: The Mindbender’s Rise #1 and coming soon, Serpent’s Child: The Mindbender’s Rise #3.
Feda’s Anchor is a stand-alone novel based in the same world.
You can read more about my novels at www.djsalisburysbooks.com.
I’m also the owner of The Mantua-Maker, quality historical sewing patterns for the modern sewing artist, established in 1993. I fell in love with costuming when my boyfriend took me to BayCon’s Masquerade, and I’ve been making historical and fantastic clothing ever since.
My costume designs have won awards at World Con, Costume Con, WesterCon, and BayCon.
If you’re interested in costume history, please have a look at my nonfiction books:
Elephant’s Breath and London Smoke:
Historical Color Names, Definitions, and Uses in Fashion, Fabric and Art
Now in its second edition.
Fabric à la Romantic Regency:
A Glossary of Fabrics from Original Sources 1795 – 1836
Victorian Bathing and Bathing Suits:
The Culture of the Two-Piece Bathing Dress from 1837 – 1901
The Art of the Mantua-Maker: 1870 - 1879
Fashion, Sewing, and Clothes Care Advice
You can see my costumes and patterns at www.mantua-maker.com.
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