Free Champions of the Gods by Michael James Ploof

coming soon.

Chapter 10
Attack on Volnoss
     
     
    Dirk swirled out of the figurine and floated a foot off the ground. Krentz watched with growing anticipation as the figurine continued to glow. Suddenly, it erupted once more in shimmering light, and a large form passed through it into the material world. To Krentz’s surprise, a grizzly bear took form beside the fire.
    “Not bad, eh?” said Dirk, grinning.
    “I believe that Blackthorn has outdone you,” said Gretzen, who was also sitting beside the fire. Aurora floated a few feet away and to the right, looking none too pleased.
    “Show off,” she said, enjoying the inside joke.
    Chief growled and scuttled over to the fire, eyeing the grizzly spirit dangerously.
    “Now, Chief, play nice,” said Dirk. “Stay,” he said to the bear, gently exerting his will.
    “Remember, Blackthorn. The spirits you bind to yourself will not be as strong as Chief,” said Gretzen. “They are new to the material world and will not be able to maintain form for long.”
    “I understand. It took me many months to be able to maintain form for long periods of time,” said Dirk.
    “Yes, but you were summoned immediately. The memory of flesh was fresh on your mind. Many of the spirits you will bring with you have been dead for years. For some it will take a long time to remember. Against the undead, however, they will not need to take form. Those creatures are caught in between worlds, and so they can be affected by both.”
    Dirk took note of her words, as did Aurora. They had both been practicing spirit binding for many days, and they had both picked up on it quickly. They had tamed nearly all of the larger beasts, yet neither had been successful in binding a dragon. Dirk had one particular dragon in mind, Fyrfrost, who had fallen in the final battle against the dark elves. He had yet to see the beast, and was working with Gretzen on a way to summon him. The old witch said that she was close to finishing the spell, and soon they would be able to attempt it.
    A horn blared in the distance, coming from the southern coast.
    “What’s that mean, eh?” Raene asked.
    “Warning,” said Gretzen as she got up stiffly. “Means an enemy ship has been spotted. The number of calls marks the number of ships.”
    They all waited, listening pensively.
    The horn blared again, and again. Ten times it sounded. The group exchanged glances and settled on Gretzen. An old barbarian man came running from the heart of the village, followed by other elders and the oldest of the children. They were armor-clad and armed with sword and spear.
    Gretzen turned to Aurora and held out the trinket. “I will summon you back shortly, see that you bring company. Now back to the spirit world, Aurora Snowfell.”
    Azzeal came from somewhere in the village. His eyes glowed soft blue and his ears were perked to danger. “The horn speaks of many ships.”
    “Quickly,” said Gretzen, “to the coast!”
    Dirk and Chief turned to mist and zipped through the village, heading south. Krentz, Raene, and Azzeal sped after them. Gretzen downed a small vial of glowing liquid and shuddered. She raised her long staff into the air and gave a grating war cry. The elders and young warriors echoed the cry as Gretzen led the charge through the village and through the forest. Soon she had caught up to the dwarf and the two elves.
    Azzeal laughed when he was overtaken by the elderly woman. Raene gritted her teeth and pumped her legs as hard as she could.
    The small group sped across the long green field leading to the beach. Up ahead they could see Dirk and Chief streaking across the sky to intercept a group of undead draquon flying low over the sand dunes and high grass. Three of the beasts flew on past the defenders. On their backs rode dark elves with glowing blades.
    “Spirit blades?” Azzeal asked Gretzen.
    “Possibly, or something worse.”
    Raene spoke the words that would activate her mace. It flashed and hummed with power,