Free Broken Mage by D.W. Jackson Page B

last ounce
of energy stored in his body to the attack. The monster acted
confused and continued to back away as Thad hacked at it with
abandon, each swing cutting deeper and deeper into the monsters
metal flesh.
    In the few moments Thad had seen the
monster through his magical sight he had noticed the glowing center
that worked as its core. Unlike a human its “heart” was in its
stomach right below where the ribcage would have been.
    With one last lunge, Thad shoved the
sword into the beast’s abdomen with all his strength. As the
creature fell back the sword was ripped from Thad’s hands causing
him to fall hard to the ground. He landed hard on his right arm
sending tendrils of pain shooting through his body.
    Thad laid on the ground breathing hard
exhausted. With what little strength remained in his body Thad
forced himself to a sitting position. If he was going to die he
wasn’t going to do it without fighting to his last breath. The
ending blow never came as the monster lay unmoving a few feet
away.
    Avalanche was at his side nudging him
worriedly with her nose. “I’m ok girl.” Thad said absentmindedly
running his hand down her back.
    With Avalanches help Thad got to his
feet. After calling his staff back to his waiting hand Thad made
his way over to the creature. Looking down into its featureless
face Thad let out a stressed laugh. Its eyes had lost the bright
glow that they had held in life. He didn’t have the energy to use
his magic to make sure the creature was dead so he decided it was
time to make his escape.
    Thad found the small man and was happy
to find that he still lived. His breathing was light and strained
but he was alive. Thad wished he had the energy to heal the man but
he was sorely lacking at the moment. Not knowing how much longer he
could hold on Thad grabbed the man’s arm and began pulling him
toward the nearest wall. Seeing what he was doing Avalanche joined
in grabbing ahold of the man’s armor right at the shoulder and
yanking with its legs helping him pull the man forward.
    With his friend’s help it didn’t take
long to get the man to the wall. After putting up the first two
magical walls Thad’s eyes noticed the man’s weapon laying a few
feet away. With both his weapons lost to him Thad quickly rushed
over to it and tried to pick it up. The axe was much heavier than
it had looked, forcing Thad to drag it awkwardly behind
him.
    Once he had the axe placed against the
wall Thad put the last section of wall up. He didn’t know if his
walls would hold if the large monster was still alive but it would
at least give him time to ready a defense.
    Thad pulled the lizard skins he had
been using for a pillow and carefully placed it under the smaller
man’s head. Now that they were in close quarters filled with light
the man looked slightly odd but in his exhausted state Thad
couldn’t put his finger on what it was.
    With his charge as comfortable as he
could make him Thad sat out his own bed roll. Using his pack as a
pillow Thad got out his personal shield and placed it on him. He
did it none too soon as Avalanche plodded over to where he lay and
laid down with her head across his abdomen. The last sight he had
before drifting off to sleep was her piercing ruby eyes staring at
him worriedly.

CHAPTER VII
    Thad woke the next morning his body
racked with pain. With the adrenaline gone the pain from his eye
and arm had come back in full force. After thoroughly checking his
right arm he was sure it wasn’t broken. It was stiff and sore but
he could still move it. He was sure it wasn’t broken just bruised
badly with large purple welts visible even in the dim magical
light.
    Lifting his hand to see if he could get
his left eye open Thad froze in horror at what he found. Even after
his eye was open he still couldn’t see out of it. Thad ran over to
the dwarf’s axe and used its blade as a makeshift mirror. It looks
as if his eye had simply been ripped out it didn’t look empty