Free The Wrathful Mountains by Lana Axe

to Kaiya.
    The sorceress
gladly took it, pulling herself back to her feet. As she stood, she felt eyes
upon her. The presence had returned. Its force was strong, focusing its will
upon her. A great malice entered her heart, burning throughout her body. This
was a force of pure evil, and she had angered it by defending these people.
Whoever had sent the beast was taking notes, and the next one would not go down
so easily.
    Not that Kaiya had
found the battle easy by any means. Her head spun from the effort, and she felt
as if she hadn’t slept for a week. The muscles in her arms ached from fatigue
and overuse, and her legs were jelly beneath her. These things she hid well,
knowing that she could not let the true enemy see any sign of weakness in her.
Conventional weapons weren’t going to banish this threat, and she knew of no
other in the mountains who could lend magical aid.
    The images from her
vision flashed once again in her mind. It was imperative she continue her
journey higher into the mountains. Her final destination would not be the
painite mines.
    “Are you injured?”
Tashi asked.
    The sorceress shook
her head. “Tired is all,” she said. “You?”
    “I am well, but
others have fallen,” Tashi replied. Her eyes looked to the fallen warriors,
whose bodies were being wrapped in blankets.
    Galen rose from his
position behind a boulder, the infant cradled in his arms. The doula, who had
pressed herself close to him to further shield the child, rose as well, with a
simple nod to a job well done. Together they reentered the village.
    Hearing footsteps
behind her, Tashi spun around. Her heart leapt to see the elf still clutching
her niece. “I thank you for protecting this child,” she said to him, bowing
slightly. She inclined her head to the doula, who reached for the child.
    Before passing the
child to her caretaker, Galen leaned down and kissed her forehead. As he handed
her over, he said, “She didn’t cry or make a single sound.”
    “That is because
she is Ulihi,” Tashi said, holding her head high. “She knows when danger is
near.”
    “Danger will
return,” Kaiya said. “We must continue on our journey.”
    Raad made his way
toward them, still clutching at his dislocated shoulder.
    “This man is
injured,” Tashi said, a line of worry wrinkling her brow. Reaching out for him,
she said, “You risked your life for my people. You are a warrior.”
    The miner swayed
and pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t go that far,” he said. “I did more damage to
myself than that monster.” To Kaiya, he asked, “What was that thing?”
    “I don’t know,” she
replied, “but I intend to find out.”
    Examining the
dwarf’s injured shoulder, the priestess said, “This will have to be reset. It
will hurt, but only for a moment.”
    Without another
word, she yanked on his arm, doubling him over in surprise. Pressing her bare
foot against his armpit, she wrenched the arm back into place. A sickening
crunch sounded, and a sharp pain shot through Raad’s body. For a moment he
thought he might lose consciousness, but as soon as the pain had started, it
vanished.
    “I will wrap that
in place for you,” she said, turning away and dashing inside a hut. She
returned seconds later with a strip of cloth which she fashioned into a sling.
“That will feel better in a few days.”
    His arm immobilized
and feeling much better, Raad said, “Thank you, ma’am.” His eyes scanned the
snow for his fallen backpack, his taste buds desperate for a sip of ale.
Looking at his arm, he said, “I don’t suppose I’ll be able to carry my pack.”
    “I’ll get it,”
Galen offered. Jogging across the village he retrieved the dwarf’s belongings
and adjusted the straps to fit his own frame. Returning to his companions, he
said, “It’s the least I can do for a warrior.”
    Raad rolled his
eyes. “Let me at that ale,” he said.
    “Later,” Kaiya
stated firmly. “We need to get going. I’m ready to find out what that