The Soulblade's Tale Read Free Page B

skewering him like a roast. He stepped back and drew Heartwarden’s power into himself, preparing to attack. 
    Alexius thrust out his palm. 
    Invisible force hammered into Nicodemus, throwing him towards the wall. He fought back with Heartwarden’s magic and managed to cancel the spell, skidding to an awkward stop a few feet from the altar. Alexius had been a Magistrius for years, and his magical strength and skill was considerable. 
    Nicodemus could not match him.
    But Nicodemus was younger, stronger, and a better swordsman. If he could close with the older man, Nicodemus could end the fight.
    Alexius stalked forward, blade drawn back, hand raised in the beginnings of another spell. Nicodemus charged, and leaped forward in a magically-enhanced leap, both hands around the hilt of his sword. Alexius’s eyes widened in surprise, and he only just got his blade up in time to parry. The shock of the blow knocked the older man back on his heels, and Nicodemus struck again and again, putting all his muscle and Heartwarden’s power behind the blows. Alexius’s face tightened with strain, sweat pouring down his face.
    Nicodemus drove Alexius against the far wall, preparing to finish the fight. 
    But Alexius dodged and threw out his hand, unleashing his power. His will struck like a falling boulder, and Nicodemus hurtled backwards to land hard against the altar. He shook off the blow and staggered back to his feet, sword raised to block any following attacks. 
    Green fire crackled around the fingers of Alexius’s outstretched hand, the same green fire Nicodemus had seen the orcish warlock use. 
    “Orcish blood spells, Magistrius?” said Nicodemus. “Have you fallen so far?”
    “I’m sorry it has come to this, Nicodemus,” said Alexius. “In a just world, you would have been my son by marriage. But it is not a just world, is it? If I must choose between your life and Julia’s, I will choose Julia’s. And if I must kill you…then why should your life go to waste, when it might save Julia’s?”
    A chain of green fire erupted from his hand.
    Nicodemus called on Heartwarden’s power, but he had never seen a spell like this. Alexius had taken the warlock’s sorcery and improved it, refined it. The chain of emerald flame wrapped around Nicodemus’s throat, and he fell to his knees, gagging. His stomach churned with nausea, and he felt a horrible cold numbness spread through him.
    Alexius’s spell was draining away his life force, he realized. This was how the Magistrius had created that soulstone, stealing the life energies of his victims one by one and storing them in that stone. Nicodemus fought back, trying to dispel the burning chain, but it sank deeper into his skin.
    “Stop fighting,” murmured Alexius. “It will cause you less pain that way.” 
    The spell’s grip sunk deeper into Nicodemus, and he felt it threaten to rip away his life. He did not have the strength or skill to fight it off. Desperation took hold of him. He would not let his life be used as fuel for Alexius’s crimes. He would not!
    He could not fall upon his sword, not without Alexius stopping him. But he still had the vial of poison in his belt. Better to die quickly than to let Alexius steal away his life.
    Nicodemus snatched the vial from his belt and downed the yellow poison. It tasted horrible, and burned as it dripped down his throat. 
    Alexius frowned. “What is this? Some elixir. Do you…”
    The burning vanished from Nicodemus’s throat and chest. 
    The chain of green flame flickered.
    And then it turned a rancid yellow.
    “No!” shouted Alexius, but the yellow light shot up the chain and drained into him. The chain flickered and vanished, and Alexius fell to his knees, gagging and coughing.
    Nicodemus blinked and got to his feet. Alexius had been draining away his life force, and the spell had suctioned away the poison, channeling it into Alexius’s body. 
    “Nicodemus,” whispered Alexius.
    Nicodemus came closer,