Fulcrum of Light (Catalyst Book 2) C.J. Aaron (unputdownable books .TXT) 📖

another small fireball into the remaining Lei Guard. He staggered backward, collapsing to a knee, dropping out of sight after the effort. The wounded Lei Guard facing the village dodged the flaming projectile with ease. Its clouded trail blocked his vision momentarily as it passed. Ramm exploded through the smoke; the warhammer struck down on the black cloaked guard with the force of an avalanche.

The Lei Guard raised his heavy shield at the last instant, taking the full force of the blow. The ring of metal on metal was deafening. The shield split in half; the momentum tossing the Lei Guard into the back of his companion. Ramm's warhammer followed with a focused strike on the bridge itself. The massive phrenic grunted as he swung the devastating weapon—its impact shook the ailing structure opening a hole between the staggered guard and him.

Though Vox's fireball had missed its initial target, it slammed into the back of the Lei Guard furthest to Ryl's left. The projectile detonated, tearing a hole in the guard's back, showering bone and blood over the bridge. Reeling helplessly and roaring with agony, his body pitched over the low railing, plummeting into the water below.

From the village, Nielix, Soldi and Dav sprinted toward the bridge, swords in hand. Their exertion was apparent though they moved as if they were running against a current of water.

Ryl rushed forward, wrenching the Leaves from their holsters, charging at the Lei Guard closest to the right side of the failing bridge. The nearest guard was still slightly off balance, trying to regain his footing after his companion had struck him from behind. The two still stood back to back.

The Leaves flared into life, their green blades burning with an eager fire. A wicked sword blade slashed at Ryl's head. What would have been a blur to the human eye was too slow to cause him harm. He ducked it without a second thought, sliding to his knees under the trailing edge of the spiked shield. The blood red spikes narrowly missed impaling him as they slammed to the ground.

The true target of Ryl's assault never saw him coming. The roar of anger that screamed forth from the wounded Lei Guard as it prepared to launch its strike at Ramm was cut blissfully short. Ryl's green blades neatly severed his head from his shoulders. A fountain of blackened blood poured from its neck as the lifeless body pitched forward, slamming into the crumbling bridge.

The walkway shuddered from the impact. Stones gave way, pulling the corpses down with it. A gap opened, swallowing the span of bridge toward the village. Kaep grabbed Ramm's cloak dragging him back as the stones plummeted away where his feet had been planted but a moment earlier.

Ryl and three Lei Guard now stood alone atop the crumbling remains of the center of the bridge. To either side, gaps of nearly fifteen meters separated them from the remaining pillars nearer to the banks of the shore. The street was now filling with the villagers, wide eyed at the spectacle they were witnessing as the battle waged on.

The three remaining Lei Guard charged as one, intent on forcing Ryl into the churning river. He sidestepped the assault, reached the top of the stone railing and launched himself over the Lei Guard; their slow-moving blades extended upward to strike, missing him by a matter of inches.

He struck the ground in a controlled roll that brought him back onto his feet; his body in a crouch, ready to spring. Ryl rocked back on his heels, his body twisting, leaning backward as a sword slashed at his throat. He felt the gust of wind from its passing brush against his neck. Without pause, he brought both Leaves up, his arms crossed in front of him to meet the shield that barreled toward his face.

Ryl slashed outward with both arms. The burning green blades sliced through the metal of the shield, splitting it neatly in two. The Lei Guard howled, a bloodcurdling unnatural scream, as the blade tore through his left hand. It backed away shaking the pieces of shield from its arm, blood flowing freely from the ruin of its hand as the others joined the fray.

Ryl found himself pinned between the two remaining Lei Guard; his agility put to the test as he dodged, parried and countered. The Leaves sparked gouts of green flame as they made contact with the wicked blades of his attackers. The heat from the flames distorted the air around them.

Clutching the wreckage of its hand to its chest, the third Lei Guard clumsily joined its companions. The sinking feeling of hopelessness threatened to ruin Ryl as he ducked under a vicious strike while blocking another with his right hand. His attackers backed off momentarily, slowly circling their prey like a pack of hungry wolves waiting for the kill.

The battle to this point had been intense. Ryl's focus had been on the nearly continuous onslaught that poured at him from all sides. With a chance to catch his breath, he took a moment to assess the abnormal feeling that had been growing in his left arm. The tingling sensation had increased steadily.

The circle of enemies rotated slowly around him; the injured guard was now at his front, the others just inside the outer reaches of his peripheral vision. Without warning, the injured Lei Guard lunged forward, its sword racing toward Ryl’s chest, intent on running him through. The guard to his right stepped forward beginning his slash high, while to his left, the black cloaked guard swung his sword low at Ryl’s legs. He was penned in—the simultaneous attacks came from all sides at once. He heard Kaep scream, her pained cry cutting through the air. The phrenics were helpless to intervene, relegated to watching his demise. He focused the woodskin over his body.

Ryl had not yet consigned his body to its doom. The alexen surged through his veins with a fury the likes of which he’d never felt.