A Dragon's Ascension - Ed Greenwood [72]
" DIV the and of in to as his haste.Something fell from his grasp as he snarled the spell that would take him away, but he cared not. Flight was more important now. Ingryl Ambelter finished the spell, drew in a deep, shuddering breath of the swirling dust as more stones crashed down, somewhere closer-and vanished from Flowfoam.
Four plumes of flame crackled to a halt, hanging like balconies in the lofty vaults of the throne chamber-and on each of them a sorceress stood, more blue flames raging around their hands.
Sarasper started to curse softly, knowing how powerless he was. On the River Throne Embra gasped and twisted under stabbing lightnings, still trapped in torment. The sorceresses looked down at her coldly.
"Slay her?" Ariathe spat, looking to Olone. Craer's daggers were spinning through the air towards the Talasorn sisters, but they paid no heed- and one by one, those spinning blades melted into blue flame ere striking, and fell away into nothing but brief sparks.
Olone shrugged. "If she dies, she dies-but the throne, sisters, strike at the throne! If we shatter it, surely the Sleeping King will be destroyed-and the royal line of Aglirta swept away forever! In the name of our father, striker
"Raevur Talasorn!" three voices shrieked in answer, as balls of blue fire were hurled-
Hawkril struggled to his feet, empty-handed, and stood swaying. Aglirta endangered-but how could he charge someone standing high above, on air?.,
His blade… he needed his blade. He-gods!
Slender Talasorn arms weren't much practiced at throwing things, it seemed-or the four were too enraged to spell-guide their hurled infernos. A whirling sphere of flame spun right at Hawkril; desperately he flung himself to one side, bowling over two Melted, and crashed to the marble floor, skidding a long way-and thankful for it, as blue fire burst on the marble and sprayed hissing streamers in all directions. Melted caught fire and staggered, here and there around the room, and as Hawkril rolled over, new bruises shrieking, he saw Craer snatch up a fallen dagger, and fling it hard at the closest sorceress.
Her head turned, blue fire flashed in her eyes-and the procurer grunted as unseen magic plucked him off his feet and smashed him against the back wall, limbs bouncing wildly.
"Craer!" Hawkril roared, but there was no reply. Aglirta beset… what to do now? He needed sorcery to fight sor-Embra! He had to get Embra off that throne…
"The armaragor struggled up again, ignoring the raging blue fires- Tfvherever Talasorn flame had struck, the marble seemed to be burning like dry fire-tinder-and launched himself towards the throne. It seemed to be the only thing these she-wizards feared, but it was massive; there was no way he'd be able to lift it as a shield against them, or hurl it, or…
Hawkril stopped trying to think about what he'd do when he reached the throne, and just ran. Off to one side, Sarasper, Glarsimber, and the lad were also trotting through the Melted and the fires, heading for the high seat where Embra writhed.
The Talasorn sorceresses were spinning other spells now, launching thin beams of silver and ruby-red rathance that stabbed at the dais and then clawed at the throne itself. These magics seemed to vanish into old, much-enchanted stone without effect-but when one of them strayed across Embra, her shriek smote Hawkril's eardrums like daggers driven into his ears, and she sat bolt upright, clawing at the air as if it was a wall she could climb, raking nothingness with her eyes wide and staring.
"Lady preserve her!" Hawkril swore, terror overmastering his rage. "Embra, I'm coming! I'm coming! Empty-handed in his armor, the armaragor burst right through searing blue flames-an instant so hot that it seemed like the touch of ice, and