Free The Rift War by Michelle L. Levigne Page A

the shield,
but his arm held. Grego heard the distinct sound of claws scrabbling against the shield, sliding
and scraping until the beast hit the ground.
    At the back of his mind, he was giddy with relief that he'd kept feeding power to
Emrillian.
    Then Mrillis was there, face calm as he brought his sword up high and thrust it down
with both hands. Grego heard a wet squelch and a thump. Curiosity overrode caution and he
tilted aside the shield. He looked down to see the rixil shudder, legs splaying, mouth opening in a
soundless shriek, the sword pinning it to the stone floor. Only a dozen or so centimeters lay
between his knees and the animal's fangs. Black blood gushed from the rixil's ears and mouth. It
died with one last spasm, outstretched claws scratching faintly against the edge of the
shield.
    "Thank you," Grego rasped.
    "You did well." He nodded and turned away. "Emrillian?"
    "Untouched." Her voice sounded ragged. Grego got to his feet and moved toward her on
trembling legs.
    Emrillian knelt over a bloody, burned body, wiping her sword on the hem of her cloak.
A shudder passed over her as she stood and Grego thought she swayed. Mrillis offered her his
arm for support. All around, silence rang with the subconscious echoes of the brief battle. The
enchanter gestured toward the horses and Grego complied, gathering up reins and leading the
animals over to him and Emrillian. She smiled at Grego as she took her mount's reins, and her
lips trembled.
    "May we leave, Grandfather? I doubt I can do my share to hold the animals calm for
much longer." She mounted as she spoke. Her hands shook a little as she gathered up the
reins.
    "Release them after we have mounted, but slowly."
    When they were all back in the saddle, the enchanter nodded to Emrillian and tightened
his hands on his horse's reins. Grego took warning from him. The next moment, the light around
them dimmed and his horse let out a squeal of terror. If he had not held the reins so tightly,
Grego knew the animal would have reared up and thrown him. Suddenly, the vaulting tunnel
roof was too close for his comfort.
    They resumed their journey down the tunnel. Grego wondered how long it would take
before they left the stench behind.
    "Grego." Mrillis' unusually soft tones surprised him, coming after what felt like hours of
tense, watchful silence once they'd left the rixils' nest far behind. "Keep watch over Emrillian. I
fear the strain was too much for her."
    "Too much for her ?" Grego barely managed to keep his voice down. He
glanced at Emrillian. She slouched forward in her saddle. Her hood covered her face completely,
but from her posture he could guess at the pallor of her face, the dazed look in her eyes.
    "Like you, she has never fought a battle in earnest until today, and despite our lessons,
never did so much at one time with her magic. The strain and the shock of killing so much, so
quickly, weighs heavily on her. I would stop and dose her now, but I wish to reach a more
hospitable place, first." As he spoke, Mrillis urged his horse to a trot. The sound of hooves
multiplied geometrically.
    "More hospitable?" Grego wished he didn't sound so doubtful. "You mean the whole
place isn't like this?"
    "I had hoped to ride straight to the waystop, the halfway point, where we will camp and
then go into the Vale of Lanteer. That isn't possible now."
    "Where Athrar--" Grego urged his horse forward as Emrillian leaned to one side. The
torch slipped from her fingers. The horse snorted and sidestepped the falling flame. Her
movement was slow, like in a dream. He managed to reach her before she lost her grip on the
reins and slid to the ground. Her horse stopped.
    "Can you carry her?" Mrillis called from ahead, as he halted his horse and the pack
animals.
    "Don't worry about me. You just keep a watch out for any more nasty surprises." He
gathered her into his arms and settled her securely across the wide saddle. Emrillian's face was
too pale, as if she had lied, and some blood