The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [97]
Perrilin brings his head back up and continues staring defiantly back at his tormentor while blood drips from the corner of his mouth. The man who struck Perrilin walks over to the fireplace and pulls out a red hot poker lying amongst the coals. He then turns and walks back to stand in front of Perrilin where he holds the poker a few inches from the bard’s face. After giving Perrilin a moment to contemplate the implied threat the poker poses, the man begins speaking once more.
Not waiting to see more, James hurries to the front door and picks up several stones along the way. Steeling himself for what he plans to do, he pauses a moment as he reaches the door. Taking a few deep, calming breaths, he lays his hand upon the door. Words issue forth as he casts a spell, and at the utterance of the final word, the door explodes inward, shards of wood flying everywhere.
The men turn as one to see James standing framed within the doorway as pieces of the door fly about them. He casts another spell and two stones fly with magic induced speed, striking two of the captors in the chest before the men have time to react. Exploding out their backs in a grisly display, the stones embed themselves into the wall.
The one who had been questioning Perrilin reacts first and throws the hot poker at James. He then draws his sword and advances upon him. The remaining two break for other rooms of the house and are soon out of sight.
Jumping to the side to avoid the thrown poker, James takes his last stone and cast his spell as he throws it at the approaching man. By a stroke of ill fated luck, the man moves his sword at just the right time and the stone strikes the blade snapping it in two. Throwing his broken sword to the ground, the man draws his dagger and charges.
Not wanting to stay and withstand the charge of this bull of a man coming straight at him, James turns and runs back out into the dark. When he reaches a point where he is no longer illuminated by the light coming through the door, he turns abruptly and quickly makes his way back toward the side of the house.
He reaches the side of the house just as the man emerges at a run through the doorway. Glancing around, the man tries to determine where James has gone, but his eyes have yet to adjust to the dark. James’ breath freezes in his lungs as the man’s eyes rove over the very spot where he hides. Then the man abruptly turns in the opposite direction of where James stands motionless and runs around the side of the house.
Not able to believe his luck at not being seen, James begins backing away from the door, all the while keeping against the side of the house as he plans his next move. To cast a spell would require him to give away his position as he spoke the words. But he may not have much choice if he wants to survive this encounter.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps comes toward him from out of the dark. He holds still against the side of the house and remains absolutely quiet, hardly daring to breathe.
In the dark not more than a foot away, he discerns a shadow in the form of a man’s silhouette. The shadow slowly makes his way past where James hides in the dark, the light from the stars reflecting off the bare blade of the sword the shadow holds. The man comes to a stop, his head cocking first to one side and then the other as if he’s listening for something.
Then without warning the sword strikes. Dodging the blow, James jumps to the side as the blade comes to within inches of where his head had been but a split second before. Losing his balance, he hits the ground and rolls quickly away. The man turns toward the sound of him rolling on the ground and advances upon him quickly with sword poised to strike.
James rolls several more times, then comes to a stop on his back. Looking up, he sees the man almost upon him, the moonlight glinting off the bare metal raised to end his life. In a moment of panic he thrusts his hand