Sorcerer Rising (A Virgil McDane Novel) Read Free Page A

certain amount of decorum from you,” he said, his tone severe but calm. He looked around the warehouse, taking in the sight of the fire. “Would you define this as so, William?”
    He dropped his arm and Cruder fell to the ground. Leo eyed the spiders as they skittered over Cruder’s limp form, then peered into the darkness around him. I took a step back into the shadows, avoiding his gaze.
    Finally, Leo seemed to make a decision. He planted his staff on the ground and wrapped both hands around the top. Smoke poured from the aisles, angry and violent, swirling around him until he disappeared beneath it. As suddenly as it had started, the smoke exploded outward in a gust of wind.
    And he was gone.
    I took a step deeper into the shadow, cradling my swollen arm and ignoring the encroaching fire. Leo was by far one of the most dangerous Wizards I’d ever seen. He’d forgotten more than I knew, which was ironic since I’d forgotten most of what I knew too. Either way, I wasn’t about to just leap into the fray with him.
    Well, that was the smart thing and would have been exactly the approach I would have taken if the roof hadn’t started to cave in. A ten foot wide, flaming, and very solid piece of steel landing behind you will convince you that plans are overrated and running is your best option.
    I took a deep breath and ran for the front as fast as my feet could move. I ignored Cruder, who was starting to moan on the ground. I ignored the spiders, which hissed and spat even as they dissolved back into Aether. And I ignored the disturbing way the air began to swirl and blow around me. That I ignored most of all.
    Above me the lights flickered, sparking and sputtering as the fire grew. A breeze caught me in my legs and nearly toppled me.
    Then the black smoke shifted, coalescing into a column of dark vapor before me, forming into Leo’s lithe frame. His form distorted in the smoke, changing into a primal shape with a large head and arms that were too long.
    Suddenly, he leapt from the cloud, an emaciated cat-like creature, black as night and twice as frightening. It snarled at me through long, saber -shaped teeth and sniffed the air. Where its eyes should have been, there was only smooth skin.
    He dove for me, silent as smoke and quick as air, and I squeezed off two more quick rounds, barely even taking the time to aim properly.
    He covered the distance before the second shot had fired. I dove back, barely avoiding the fine, curved claws he had shape-shifted for himself. Whatever it was in his head that allowed him to become this abomination, it was dark and twisted and scary as hell.
    The next few seconds were quick, chaotic and I barely remember them. He drove me back, ignoring the shots that passed through his body like so much wind. He tore and sliced at me, preventing me from pulling any o f the more interesting talisman from my pockets.
    After dodging those black, cloudy claws enough times, I found my back to the fire, Leo blocking my way to the front.
    Behind me, I could hear Cruder coming to. A quick glance over my shoulder revealed that he was up on one knee, his already ugly face swollen and lumpy. One eye was sealed shut and he looked pissed. He was already pointing his staff at me, angry, red mist coiling around the wood.
    All right, needed to time this closely.
    I ducked just as he threw it at me and had a prime, if not somewhat upside-down view of Leo catching the bolt square in the chest. There was a moment of shocked, heh, no pun intended, confusion as the bolt struck home and he was frozen in place, followed by an ear shattering sonic boom and the delightful memory of his form sailing through the air.
    I was pretty sure Cruder had just made an enemy, but I would savor that small joy later. For now, the fire was growing and Cruder was hobbling my way. I jumped to my feet and sprinted toward the door.
    Teplov’s men were gone and much to my dismay, they had left the ore. Damnation, if Teplov refused to