Read Shadowblade for Free Online Page B

flew from their noses when they snorted. Flames crackled from their pointed hooves causing the snow to hiss as it evaporated under the hooves of the dark beasts.
    “Urelis,” called the wizard as the four stopped to make their preparations.
    “Yes, Master?” replied the student as he ensured his long blond hair was neatly secured to his head. Although Urelis’ foppish nature tended to irritate the head wizard, the apprentice’s fastidiousness and attention to detail made him an excellent study, and it seemed his potential was great.
    “What is the purpose of this exercise?”
    “To test the theory proposed by Disciple Commander Coronus that the Shadow Tide can be manipulated with more precision and to greater effect when it is amplified by the fear of the mortal beings in the immediate area.”
    “And?” prompted the wizard. Urelis stifled a bored yawn, as though the proceedings were beneath him. Shalthazar poked him with the end of his shiny black staff and a slight “pop” was heard by all. Urelis yelped and held his stinging elbow.
    “Forgive me, Master,” said the apprentice with seeming humility. Shalthazar said nothing and the man went on. “We are going to apply that theory to the creation of your new spell, Corpse Golem. ”
    “Correct. The disguise spell is powerful and will require all three of you to complete it. Are we all prepared?” he was determined to avoid a botched raid. All three nodded. “Good. Apprentice Urelis, draw the Tides.”
    Urelis did as he was commanded quickly and with efficiency. Soon, all the men felt the Shadow Tide’s proximity and began to draw strength from within it.
    “Apprentice Charl, speak the commands. Apprentice Hinrik, create the Sigils.”
    While Urelis drew in the vast power of the Tides, Charl and Hinrik completed the required verbal commands and traced the Sigils in the air. Satisfied that the spell had been performed successfully, the head wizard instructed them to begin.
    “Apprentices,” he called. “Don your disguises.”
    Shalthazar watched as the men cast their disguise s pells and their visages changed. The men now looked ghastly, their flesh seeming to dangle from exposed white bones, red points of light illuminating hollow eye sockets. The apprentice’s robes changed with the spells of disguise a nd now looked tattered, frayed and bloodstained. Each man also wielded a great scythe burning with the darkfire t hat only a practitioner of the Shadow Sigil could create. The dark wizard was pleased. He turned his mount to face the village and enacted his own disguise to match those of his apprentices.
    And then the city watch came.
    Shalthazar smirked at the grim appearance he and his apprentices must present, standing atop the hill with their tattered robes fluttering in the breeze and the noontime sun glistening on pearly white bone. And yet, to their credit, the city guard was not deterred. Ten men on horseback rode out to meet the four horsemen.
    When the ten men had come close enough to be heard by their intruders, they did something that Shalthazar predicted they would do. They stopped and one man strode forward, away from the rest. That was foolish, the wizard knew. The men should have charged right in and not given him any chance to ambush them or fight without honor, and that was precisely what he intended to do.
    The leader of the group was pale and breathing hard, steam coming from his mouth, hanging like a cloud in the cold air. His face displayed his fear keenly for all to see and with a wave of his sword, another man from the rear of the group turned and raced back to the village. Shalthazar smiled, or he would have if his face did not currently look like a wicked skull.
    After a moment that must have seemed an eternity to the frightened villager, he finally croaked one word: “Leave!” The rest of the men were every bit as fearful as their leader but they were stalwart. A trait that would serve the dark wizard’s intentions very well