Free Epic Fantasy Adventure: The Angel's Blessing: Holy Paladin's Quest: Book 1 (Sword and Sorcery Epic Fantasy Adventure Book With Dragons and Magic) by Blaine Hart

fails, go for the wishbone .”
    With the cry of a berserker I did not know I had in me, I leapt toward the delicate V-shaped Wishbone and clove it in two as if I were slicing through water. The creature’s wings collapsed and its neck and head plowed into the dirt. The body began to thrash, but even as I looked for my escape I saw a wonder.
    Kell was shrieking down toward the newly animated and flailing dragon. Riding on the golden light from the statue’s eyes, he dove down, holding Ashrune with two hands over his head – and the mighty war-hammer was healed and bathed in a powerful glowing light. In a flash Kell came down and smashed his newly blessed Warhammer into the dragon’s skull. It exploded into thousands of pieces, a few digging deep in my side.
    Ignoring the pain, I raced from the crumbling disaster and looked up. Visalth was startled. He hung in mid air as he watched his triumph disintegrate before him. But then its dead eyes seemed to turn to cold murder. It gathered himself and plunged straight for Kell. But my master was well ahead, for even as Visalth dove Ashrune was launched into the air to meet him, and with a snap and a mighty crack, one wing was severed from the body and the bone-dragon’s wrathful assault became frantic as it crashed hard to the ground, shattering many bones near the ruin of its brother.
    But Visalth’s rage was not quelled. Even wounded and near paralyzed, his tail and head were still viciously flailing at my master and me. We leapt out of its deadly reach and watched its impotent frenzy.
    “There will be no more bone dragons from this place,” my master said.
    And so saying he strode to the base of the mystical statue and Ashrune shattered away a large chunk of the leg. Another blow and the marble statue teetered. And with a third mighty blow the footings burst asunder and the grand form began to fall. Kell easily stepped aside as the statue smashed to the ground, crushing what was left of the cursed undead bone dragon.
    But before we could taste success the warm wind whirled around us and we both heard the echo of the Angel’s voice;
    “. . .and oft will leave the blessed a lack thereof . . .”
    We turned from the devastation. Kell gripped the newly healed and magnificent Ashrune and hefted it aloft, giving thanks for the victory this day. We then launched into warm wind of the angel and high into the sky. And so, carried by the warm Angel’s wind and the power of the healed and mighty hammer, we sailed away from the ruins. We crossed the searing desert, past huddled remains of Galth’s outlands and out and over the sea.
    Swiftly we left the accursed lands and swiftly we were back in the mortal world. The sun was low in the west and Kell found a star to guide us. My master pointed Ashrune and its power flung us faster. The waters below whizzed by at a dizzying speed, the wind rushing in our ears louder than any dragon’s roar.
    We indeed needed that speed, for even as we flew like birds through the air, I began to feel a weariness creep over me. My limbs ached and I clutched at Kell. I saw his arm sag with the weight of his weapon. Then the wind behind us began to cool and our flight faltered. I heard Kell groan and felt his body tense as he strained and fought for every ounce of the blessed magic. But time and tides tarry for no man, no matter how desperate his plight nor how worthy his cause. And so we fell toward the wine-dark rolling sea.
    “I have failed you,” my master sighed.
    “No master,” I cried. “You need to…“
    We hit the ocean hard.

Chapter 7: Of Angels and Demons
    The waters were rough and I floundered, the waves filling my mouth with salt water. The sun was all but set and the rollicking waves cast deep shadows. I called for my master but a slap of salty water made me choke and sputter. My boots filled and were dragging me down. The weight of my weapons made swimming impossible and I strained just to keep my head above water. My strength was