Free The Warlock in Spite of Himself - Warlock 01 by Cristopher Stasheff Page A

yourself.'
    He jumped on the rafter, bellowed 'Now!'
    Rod dropped into a crouch, hands drawn back to chop. Brom stood on the beam, fists on hips, great head nodding. 'Aye, hold yourself ready. But' - his eyes lit with a malicious gleam; he chuckled
    - 'Brom O'Berin is not a light man.' He leaped from the rafter feetfirst, straight at Rod's head. Rod stepped back, startled at the suddenness of the dwarf's attack. Reflex took over; his hand swung up, palm upward, to catch Brom's heels and flip them up.
    Then, expecting the dwarf to land flat on his back on the granite floor, Rod jumped forward to catch; but Brom spun through a somersault and landed bouncing on his feet.
    He slapped Rod's hands away with a quick swipe. 'A courtly gesture,' he rumbled, 'but a foolish one; your guard is down. Save gentleness for those who need it, man Gallowglass.'
    Rod stepped back, on guard again, and looked at the little man with dawning respect. 'Seems I underestimated you, Master O'Berin.'
    'Call me not master!' the dwarf bellowed. 'I'm no man's master; I'm naught but the Queen's fool!'
    Rod nodded, slowly. 'A fool.'
    He beckoned with both arms, and a savage grin. 'Well enough then, wise fool.'
    Brom stood his ground a moment, measuring Rod with a scowl. He grunted, mouth snapping into a tight smile, and nodded.
    He sprang, flipped in mid-air, feet heading straight for Rod's chin Rod swung a hand up to catch Brom's heels again, muttering, 'I'd've thought you'd learn.'
    He shoved the dwarf's feet high; but this time Brom flipped his head up under Rod's chin. He had a very solid head.
    Rod rolled with the punch, wrapping his arms tightly around Brom O'Berin's body in the process.
    The dwarf shook with merriment. 'How now?' he chortled.
    'Now that you've got me, what shall you do with me?'
    Rod paused, panting.
    It was a good question. If he relaxed his grip for a moment, he could be sure Brom would twist a kick into his belly. He could drop the little man, or throw him; but Brom had a tendency to bounce and would probably slam right into Rod's chin on the rebound. Well, when in doubt, pin first and think later. Rod dropped to the floor, shoving Brom's body out at right angles to his own, catching the dwarf's knee and neck for a cradle hold.
    But Brom moved just a little bit faster. His right arm snaked around Rod's left; he caught Rod's elbow in a vise-like grip and pulled. Rod's back arched with the pain of the elbow lock. He now had a simple choice: let go with his left hand, or black out from pain. Decisions, decisions!
    Rod took a chance on his stamina; he tightened his hold on Brom's neck. Brom grunted surprise. 'Another man would have yelped his pain and leaped away from me, man Gallowglass.'
    Brom's knee doubled back; his foot shoved against Rod's chest, slid up under the chin, and kept on pushing.
    Rod made a strangling noise; fire lanced the back of his neck as vertebrae ground together. The room darkened, filled with points of coloured light.
    'You must let go of me now, Gallowglass,' Brom murmured, ere sight fails, and you sleep.'
    Did the damn half-pint always have to be right?
    Rod tried a furious gurgle by way of reply; but the room was dimming at an alarmingly rapid rate, the points of light were becoming pinwheels, and a fast exit seemed indicated.
    He dropped his hold, shoved against the floor with his arms, and came weaving to his feet, with a throaty chuckle filling his ears. For Brom had kept his hold on Rod's arm and had wrapped his other hand in the throat of Rod's doublet, his weight dragging Rod back toward the floor.
    Brom's feet touched the ground; he shoved, throwing Rod back. Rod staggered, overbalanced, and fell, but habit took over again. He tucked in his chin, slapped the floor with his forearms, breaking his fall.
    Brom bowled with glee at seeing Rod still conscious, and leaped. Rod caught what little breath remained to him and snapped in his feet. He caught Brom right in the stomach, grabbed a flailing arm, and