Read Realm Keepers 01 - Realm Keepers for Free Online

pain.
    From nowhere, a bare fist smashed into the creature’s face, and its entire head erupted in a ball of flame. The hand clutching me spasmed once and then released its grip.
    Blade fell to the ground, screaming and clutching his hand. Smoke rose from it like a hot frying pan dipped in cool sink water. One of the soldiers reached out and shoved Blade back to his feet and into line, although not harshly.
    Cara turned back to us again. “I told you not to touch them,” she said.
    Blade glared at her, still holding his hand and breathing in and out rapidly through his teeth. I looked at his hand. The knuckles were black, and cracked. At first I thought it looked like a burn, but then I realized that was only because I’d seen the steam. Now that I had a moment to see, it looked more like frostbite—like the skin and the flesh beneath had died in an instant.
    “Thank you,” I said gratefully.
    Blade looked at me and shrugged. “Yeah,” was all he said.
    The soldiers continued to press onward, and we were still caught in their momentum. It looked as though we’d almost reached the humans fighting on the other side of the creatures, when I heard the bellow of a war horn rip out across the land. It was so loud that it made the soldiers stop walking, and around us there was a brief lull as the fighting ceased.
    I turned to look in the direction of the blast. There, high on a hill in the center of the army of black creatures, stood a man. A normal-looking man, I realized. He wasn’t one of the creatures. But from the way the horde moved around him, the way they cowered from his outstretched hand, I could tell he was in command of them. He was massive. He wore no shirt, and every inch of his bronze skin bulged with taut muscles. Long white hair ran down to his shoulders, though he didn’t look like he could be over thirty.
    Beside him another man lowered the horn he’d just blown the blast from. This man was smaller, thinner, more weaselly. He glowered at us with hate, but also with fear.
    The gargantuan muscle-bound guy raised his hand and pointed directly at us. I felt like he was pointing directly at me . As one, the entire army of black creatures turned to follow his outstretched finger, gazing at us with hate and malice.
    “Kill the Rune Keepers!” the man bellowed, his voice carrying clearly across the now-still afternoon air.
    Behind me I heard the clanking of metal as Cara raised a plate-gloved fist high. “Protect the Chosen!” she called out.
    The army of blackness poured toward us across the field. Cara and her guard cut through the last few creatures between us and the portal, and then we were running, flying across the grass. The portal looked too far. Risking a glance over my shoulder, I could see the creatures gaining ground. More were circling in from the sides, and they were going to reach the portal before we could.
    “Rearguard!” cried Cara, and she turned to face the army of monsters. I stopped at the command in her voice, almost turning to help her fight.
    “Keep going!” shouted Greystone, grabbing my arm and thrusting me further toward the portal. It was only a few dozen yards away. Greystone turned to the creatures swarming at us on either side and waved his wand. Walls of what looked like crackling blue electricity erupted on either side of us and flew into the crowd, roasting the clustering throngs of monsters, who fell to the ground twitching and screaming. Greystone stopped at the portal and motioned us through.
    I almost leapt into the blue, swirling energy, but I turned and looked back. Cara was still there, fighting with her guard, surrounded by the remnants of the rest of the army. But they were disintegrating. The entire force was only minutes, perhaps seconds away from death.
    I turned to Greystone. “Tell her to run!” I shouted.
    Greystone looked at her sadly. “She will not,” he said.
    “Try!” I told him. Exasperated, I turned to the fighting. “Cara!” I shouted,