Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Two Read Free Page B

anything else for that matter. It wasn't just the noise either. The sound seemed to pull at the very core of his being, as if whatever it was out there was trying to pull his soul straight out of his body. He shuddered at the very thought of what kind of creature could make him feel that way. Instinctively he knew that it was no creature of this world. His mind raced with any other possibilities, and each were dismissed as impossible as quickly as they materialized.
    As the sounds of the wailing grew nearer, the glow from Renn's swords grew brighter. Lusam was now standing next to Renn, and both of them were bathed in the blue light from his sword. Lusam needed to remove the sword, and bury it under something to hide its light before they were spotted, and fast. He took a quick step towards the sword and stretched out his hand, ready to remove it from the ground. Before he could touch the sword Renn intercepted him, grabbing his wrist and pulling him around to face him. He just shook his head slowly and put his finger to his lips again, signalling that Lusam should remain silent.
    The sword was now glowing so brightly he was sure everything in the forest for at least a mile around would see them for sure. Still they both stood there bathed in its light for all to see. It was then Lusam saw it, and felt it. A huge shadow passed just in front of their camp. No, it wasn't a  shadow, it was far darker than a shadow. It was nothingness. A perfect void. It pulled all light and heat into itself as it moved towards them. All light except the blue glow from Renn's sword that is. The air temperature plunged, and ice formed in its wake as it passed over the floor of the forest. Plants wilted and died as they came in to contact with the hideous creature.
    Lusam fought his instincts to flee with every fibre of his being. Every part of his body screamed out for him to run away from this...thing. Each time he glanced towards Renn he got the same reply; a gentle shake of his head not to do anything. So he stood, and waited. Waited for this creature to notice them, and devour their very souls.  The creature slowly circled their camp, as if it were searching for something it knew should be there, but could not find. Lusam noticed how each time it came close to the blue light it would change direction slightly, and  head away from the light, as if it had decided nothing of interest was there after all.
    The hideous creature circled the camp twice more before it finally decided there was nothing for it to consume in the area, then it headed in the opposite direction from which it had arrived, resuming its search for whatever it was looking for. Lusam's legs felt like jelly. Long after he was sure the creature had gone Lusam collapsed to the ground. He watched Renn once again return to his now normal looking sword and kneel in prayer to Aysha. Lusam also gave thanks to Aysha in his own silent prayers.
    After Renn had finished he stood and turned to Lusam and said, “Well done for controlling yourself like that lad. If you had run, you would surely have died before I could have reached you and killed it.”
    “Killed it? Are you telling me you could have killed that thing, and you didn't? Why?...”
    “Because it will be dark for several more hours yet, and there will be more of them out there, and possibly worse. If you kill a shade it will call to its brethren before it passes from this realm. Although we would be safe within Aysha's light cast by my sword from one or two shades, we wouldn't want to attract too many.”
    “Would the light not protect us against too many?” Lusam asked.
    Renn quietly laughed and replied, “When the shade came close did you feel the temperature drop?”
    “Yes, I did. It got very cold when it came close to our camp.”
    “Indeed it did lad. No amount of shades could ever cross Aysha's light barrier, however, we would surely freeze to death from their close proximity should we attract too many of them