Stolen Lives: A LitRPG/GameLit Novel (The Underhill Chronicles Book 1) Keith Ahrens (best e reader for epub txt) 📖

I know better than to get in the way of the Gnolls when they are pissed off, so I pull my mace out and approach the wounded figure with caution. So far, I only know it's a female human and a little taller than average. She's doubled over on her knees, face down on the ground, not moving.

“Gutshot, so she's not likely dead yet,” Jesse says from behind me. I agree with his assessment and take his warning seriously.

I plant a front kick to her left shoulder, just hard enough to roll her over before I leap back. Just as Jesse predicted, she was playing possum.

With a screech, she spins around, slashing with a wicked sharp blade right where I would have been if I'd gotten any closer.

She lands on her back, her right hand across her chest, still clutching the dagger in her hand. With no hesitation, I bring a powerful overhand smash of the mace down on her forearm. Her bones crunch and crack between the mace and her breastplate. The dagger flies from her spasming hand, and all the air rushes from her lungs. I'm pretty sure I cracked her sternum as well. Blood wells up around the wooden handle of Jesse's throwing knife, still sunk deep in her gut just below the edge of her cuirass.

I take a good look at her face and recognize Linda, Liam's psycho girlfriend. She is deathly pale and sweaty. It doesn't look like she has much fight left in her. Good, 'cause I have no interest in killing her.

With this threat neutralized, we turn our attention to the Gnolls' fight. They've backed their foe up the hallway. Sparks fly as blades clash.

With a flash of red light, Thirax's sword snaps in two pieces just above the hilt. The severed end of the blade spins off behind him and clatters to the stone floor. Nian steps in front to cover for his packmate and takes a nasty slash across his chestplate. Another flash of red light accompanies the sound of tearing metal. Nian howls in pain and backs away from the flashing red-tinged steel.

I drop my mace and pull a spear from the harness on my back and launch it all in one motion. My aim is good, but this guy is too fast. Cat-like reflexes don't do him justice. Like a Dexterity of 20 or better. He rotates just enough that the spear passes right by him, punching a hole in his billowing cloak.

He stops, motionless, and smiles at us, his glowing red blade held horizontal in a guard position before him. I crouch down to grab my mace as Jesse lunges forward with his sword. The cat-man brings his left hand out from under his mantle and shouts a word.

Next thing I know, I'm flat on my back, ears ringing as I blink away spots from my tearing eyes. I hear Jesse next to me moaning about being blind or something. I’m not too sure since I can’t hear very well at the moment. I sit up and scoot backward until my shoulders hit the wall. I sweep my hand to my left until I feel the rough wood of our arming room door. I bang on it three times, hard.

After a few minutes of confusion, we get the whole story explained to those inside the room. Both Cat-man and Linda were gone by the time the door opened. Hell, they could have been gone before I even banged on the door for all I know.

My vision and hearing come back shortly thereafter. It felt like I'd been hit with a magical flash-bang grenade. That’s a new one for me. Could have done without it though. Adding this to that long list of injuries I'm not eager to repeat.

Thorn shows up sometime during the aftermath and goes to work right away on Nian's injury. I have no doubt that if he hadn't been wearing his armor, he'd be dead right now. I've never seen a blade that could cut through steel with such ease. The others confirm what I'm thinking—the blade was magic. I guess the red glow should've been a dead giveaway.

“I have unfortunate news to share,” Thorn says while sealing the gash on the Gnoll's chest. “The battle will go on as planned. My contacts cannot stop it, much as they've tried.”

Stony silence or grunts of disappointment meet her statement. We were all hoping for better, but we expected this. Doesn't mean we have to like it.

“There is a bigger design at work here, bigger than even I know of. This entire plan hinges on a surprise distraction during the battle. It should be big enough that it will allow all of you to escape,” she continues.

“'All of you' just means all of us that survive up to that point,” interjects a woman I don't know.

“Of course, that’s what she meant. Don't be obnoxious. We all know what the stakes are. Up until last week, we had no plan! Now, we have some hope. I'll take some chance over none any day,” Haynes steps in to defend Thorn.

“Look, this is what we've been training for. We've developed new defenses against the magics, and many of you have already survived at least one of these fights. This is the best chance, no, the only chance we have. Let’s just listen to the Lady and hear the rest of the plan,” I can't help but add.

Thorn continues, ignoring the interruptions, “At some point during the battle, an opening will appear in the east wall. The grids that imprison you will be temporarily disabled. Just south of the opening, there will be several wagons and horses. But there will also be guards and others of the like that will have to be dealt with once you get to them.”

She pauses and scans the faces in the room. A few shrug, as if to say, 'of course, go