Free The Orphan Wars (Book One) by Shane Rowling Page A

HAVE TO RUN NOW!" yelled the ball of energy.
    "I don't even know what you are," replied Nemeth.  "All I know is that it's my turn to put up a fight against this thing.  I sure as hell know I can do a better job than Ferrin did."
    Nemeth instinctually reached for his sword but soon realized he didn't have it with him.  He would have to battle this creature unarmed.  Nemeth dashed towards the tree branch that the troll was carrying and leapt onto it.  Nemeth succeeded in balancing himself on the branch and began to maneuver his way towards the troll.  The troll started shaking the branch up and down.  Nemeth stumbled off of the branch but managed to remain hanging on the branch with both hands.  The troll then swung the branch back and forth.  Nemeth showed great persistence by continuing to hold on to the branch for a few minutes.  He tried to pull himself back on top of the branch but to no avail.  Finally, the troll swung the branch so hard that Nemeth released his grip and went soaring backwards through the air about 25 feet.  Nemeth managed to land on his feet safely.
    "Alright, now it's time to get the hell out of here," said Nemeth.  "No time to look back!"
    Nemeth began to run as fast as possible toward Justile Dormitory in a zigzag pattern.  He was quite a far distance from his dormitory.  Suddenly a bright flash of light illuminated the area as if the sun rose for a moment and then instantly set again.  Seconds later, the ball of energy was floating next to Nemeth.
    "What in the hell is going on back the re?" asked Nemeth.  "And who or what are you exactly?"
    "Save your breath for now and continue r unning toward Justile Dormitory," replied the ball of energy.  "All will be explained once we reach our destination."
    Nemeth listened to the ball of energy and continued to run towards his dorm.   He noticed in the distance the main gates to Lord Dragomir's Academy had been destroyed.  It appeared that the trunks of several red maple trees had been stacked together and were used as a battering ram to smash the main gates and gain entrance to the academy.  Nemeth continued to run towards Justile Dormitory.  He noticed from afar that the building was enveloped with a turquoise glow.  The Spiro Crystal that was mounted on top of the building must have detected danger in the area.  Nemeth looked behind him, but did not see the wolf-riding troll following them.  All around, the grass was wilted just like back at Serend Lake.  Eventually Nemeth had reached Justile Dormitory again.  A smaller but still dangerous wolf called a Blood Wolf was running around outside.  Suddenly a beam of turquoise light shot down from the Spiro Crystal atop the dormitory and completely eviscerated the nearby Blood Wolf.  Nemeth was now huffing and puffing from the long run from Serend Lake.
    "Alright we're here now ," said Nemeth.  "Now will you fill me in on just exactly who or what you are and what the hell is going on here?"

Chapter Five
     
    "My deepest apologies master Nemeth," replied the ball of energy.  "Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Jaida, your Guardian Spirit assigned to you by Darunda.  I will explain more, but let's go inside the dormitory so we are fully safe and secure."
    " I notice that you keep calling me master," said Nemeth.  "I like the sound of that!  Anyway, I think that if we try to get through this turquoise barrier, we'll be destroyed just like that Blood Wolf was."
    "The barrier will do no harm to either of us," replied Jaida.  " If the Spiro Crystal had thought we were a threat to the building, it would have attacked us just like it did to that Blood Wolf."
    "Alright, that makes sense," said Nemeth.  "Let's make our way inside the dormitory now."
    Nemeth ran through the turquoise barrier and opened the main gate into the dormitory.  There was no sign of Crimlore or anybody for that matter on the first floor but Nemeth figured it would be best to check.
    "IS ANYBODY IN HERE?"