Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
He turned and twisted in the air as he fell, roaring in defiance. When he was ten feet off the ground, I slipped a net spell under him, one that Sebastian had perfected, catching him at a dead stop, then released him to the waiting shifters below.
My roar of victory was all for show. My appeal to Nathanial was urgent. Tristan got to take a break. I had to protect the rest of the house. No way would I be doing it with solely my wings.
He was with me in a moment, lifting me up and away.
Gargoyles swarmed the house, far more fliers than we had at our disposal. Sebastian flung spells like a madman, hitting them hard and turning them back. He could only maim, though, not kill. Without anyone to take them to the ground, they flapped around for a while until they were good enough to return to battle. I’d say this for gargoyles—their stubbornness was a definite advantage in battle.
Hollace swooped down with lightning shooting from him. It caught multiple gargoyles at a time, stopping them and making them shake in the air. It didn’t last long enough for them to fall, though. They shook it off much faster than a mage would, than a shifter, even, as their tough hides provided them with some defense.
Cyra darted and dodged all around, fast and agile. She threw nonlethal fire, blasting everyone she came across. Our gargoyles darted in after her, ripping into the stationary gargoyles and throwing them to the shifters waiting on the ground. Spears cut through the air, and one gargoyle flew as fast as he could from a whinnying Niamh. He wouldn’t win that fight.
Still they crowded closer, with Hollace and Cyra not wanting to use their magic over the house. Our gargoyles showed prowess, but they weren’t plentiful enough to do any real damage.
“We could use some wind elemental magic to shove them away,” Sebastian yelled as Nathanial flew me closer.
I leaned forward so Nathanial would release me, and then sent out a pulse of power. Gargoyles flapped, not liking the tingle that spell sent through their wings. With them stalling, I did as Sebastian had suggested and summoned my power for an intense blast.
A great plume of fire rolled away from me in all directions, hotter and denser than the blasts Cyra had been using and much too vicious for a friendly battle with a nonthreatening cairn.
Oops.
Gargoyles howled. Those trying to catch their breath from Hollace or Cyra dropped from the sky, balls of flame headed for the grass below. Those who’d avoided my blast pushed back quickly, trying to get away in case I did it again.
“That’ll work, too,” Sebastian said.
Trying again, because I might as well practice, I pulled more energy. My breath became heavy with the effort. Closing my eyes, I thought hard about the spell. I envisioned it in my mind and took care to notice every little detail. Only when I’d done that did I make another attempt.
Snapping my eyes open, I saw a gargoyle dive down for me. Nathanial darted in front, catching the gargoyle and wrestling him out of the way. They spiraled through the air, ripping and tearing at each other, until they hit the roof and bounced off.
Figuring he could handle it, knowing they wouldn’t actually kill each other, I let loose the spell.
Instead of fire this time, a great gust of wind blew, out and down. It was plenty strong to take anyone who was less than one hundred percent down to the basajaunak and shifters below.
Unfortunately, it was also strong enough to whisk Sebastian away and throw him off the roof.
My swear came out garbled. I launched from the roof after him, throwing hard spells at anyone who would take my plight as an opening for them to get to the house. Sebastian sailed then started to fall as gravity did its job. A magical net caught him, keeping him stationary in the sky. He looked back my way, his face utterly composed.
When on the job, the guy had courage of iron.
Mr. Tom battled my wind and swooped through the sky to grab him. I put up a magical shield for him, blocking the effects of the elemental spell. Then I did the same for the others, giving them free rein to grab the struggling gargoyles and throw them downward.
That was when I saw him—an older gargoyle, a little stringy and with gray hair, struggled behind two guardians toward the house. They flew low, probably level with the second story, looking like they were trying to sneak in.
Nelson.
My team saw him about when I did, and all of them looked to me for direction. I pointed at the guardians trying to block the wind from him so that he could make his way. Cyra and Ulric dipped through the sky immediately, attacking his helpers. I put a protective spell over Nelson, but if he knew it, he gave no sign. He just kept striving for the house, clearly wanting to be the one to get the bracelet and take the glory.