Read Mira's View for Free Online Page A

father. She
found them fighting with torlic swords, attacking with gusto. Rage
filled their eyes as they spun in frenzied circles, cutting and
slashing any torlic that came across their path. Elenio came behind
her and taking in the sight, pulled the dagger that he had stored
under his tunic and threw it into the back of a torlic charging
Melan. Melan, noticing what had just happened, nodded in a brief
display of gratitude before plunging his sword into the belly of
another monster.
    Racing to the torlic he had slain, Elenio
grabbed its sword, jumped into the air while he turned, cutting the
head off yet another beast. He grabbed this one’s sword and tossed
it to Galena, who was jerking up elves roughly, snapping them out
of their confusion, and shoving them toward the woods and safety.
But seeing the sword come her way, stopped and snatched it out of
the air, determination filling her as it always did when she held a
sword. She spun around, cutting the legs out from under a torlic
who chased the elves that were attempting to escape. Spinning, she
stabbed the next torlic in the back. She pulled her sword out just
in time to block the sword that was aimed at her neck. Sliding the
sword off her own, she swung the blade around, cutting off the
attacking torlic’s hand, which sprayed blood all over her.
    He bellowed as both his hand and sword fell
to the ground with a clang. With his other hand, he hit Galena
across the face, sending her flying a few feet before she landed on
her back. She felt the air leave her lungs, momentarily stunned.
The torlic charged her, holding his bloody stump at his side and a
dagger in his remaining hand. Without hesitation, Galena thought of
fire, burning everything in its path. Instantly, her hand felt as
if it had received a shock. She cried out in pain as she watched
the torlic’s head catch fire. He screamed in agony, dropping to the
ground, thrashing around, and wailing into the night. Galena
cradled her hand, the pain was fading, but now, it felt as if it
had fallen asleep. She couldn’t control it at all, because of the
lack of feeling.
    Melan stood above her, staring with wide
eyes. “You used magic and you’re okay...” He reached down to help
her up.
    Seeing another monster charging Melan from
behind she opened her mouth to yell, but didn’t have time to get
the words out. The torlic came up behind him and thrust his sword
into Melan’s back. The tip stuck out from Melan’s chest. Screaming,
Galena jumped up and over both Melan and the great beast, swung her
sword around, and removed the monster’s head from his shoulders.
Melan collapsed to the ground, dead before he landed. His eyes
still held a surprised look, but they were empty of life.
    Galena wailed her grief, cradling Melan’s
head, blood was dripping from his mouth and the horrible wound that
had taken his life. She called his name repeatedly with no effect.
Elenio ran over to her and grabbing her arms, he hauled her up.
    Shaking her slightly as he held onto her, he
shouted, “We’re not done yet. Use your grief and avenge him. Don’t
let his death be wasted.” Letting her go, he ran back into the
fight, and engaged another vile creature with his sword.
    Galena felt as if she had been slapped.
Standing, she gripped her sword, knowing that she was needed in
order for them to win. She still couldn’t feel her hand, but she
didn’t let that stop her. Screaming her pain, she charged an
oncoming torlic. She jumped up, doing a somersault high above his
head and landed gracefully behind him, she stabbed him in the back.
Kicking him off her blade, she turned to face the next one. After
what seemed like both an eternity and no time at all, there was
just her, Tark, Elenio, and her father standing.
    Tark had a shallow cut across one of his
cheeks and a gash in his arm, but otherwise, he appeared to be
fine. Elenio was streaked with blood, though none of it appeared to
be his own. Her father, likewise, appeared to be no