The Wyvern's Spur - Kate Novak [145]
Flattery stumbled to his feet, a bloodstain spreading on his robe. "After the wyvern!" he screamed.
A swarm of wraiths skimmed around the finder's stone's light, heading for the door, but they all bounced backward, repelled by an invisible barrier.
Satisfied that his aunt would make good her escape, the nobleman turned his full attention to the shadow. He lunged at it with his foil, but the weapon did no more damage to the creature than a stick did to air. The shadow closed on Giogi, its hands outstretched, its body traveling up the length of the foil's blade.
Just as the shadow reached the weapon's guard, Giogi heard Cat cry out the word 'coffin," and the shadow halted. Giogi stepped back and withdrew his foil from the undead. Cat ran to the nobleman.
Flattery turned toward them. "I taught you to hold undead, Cat. But where did you get the wall of force?" the wizard asked. "A scroll, Cat? You've blocked your own exit. Why don't you lower it and flee?"
"No," Giogi whispered to her. "We need to give Aunt Dorath time to reach Redstone."
"You've bought your miserable relatives a few hours," Flattery replied. "I will have the spur from them once I've dispensed with you. Your Uncle Drone is dead. The old woman may be able to wield the spur, but she is the only other one, and she will be too weak to fight me, even if she can resist my magic. If they do not surrender the spur, they all will die."
He doesn't know Uncle Drone is alive, Giogi realized. If I can stall Flattery long enough for Aunt Dorath to reach Redstone, Uncle Drone will come to help.
"Let's see, Catling. Besides holding that undead," Flattery said, motioning to the immobile shadow that had nearly gotten Giogi, "you assaulted me with missiles. You summoned me earlier today with a whispering wind bird. You have more power still. Cast something else at me."
"Why bother? It's obvious you've made yourself invulnerable to my attacks," she said, indicating the reddish glow that outlined his body. "I'll save my attacks for your undead, should any more of them have the courage to brave the light of Giogi's stone."
"I don't think you have any power left," the wizard taunted, "which makes you just a woman." Flattery advanced toward her menacingly.
"A woman under my protection," Giogi said, stepping forward with his foil leveled at the wizard. With the hand that held the finder's stone the nobleman pushed Cat behind him. Without undead to shield him, Giogi wondered, can I run Flattery through before he can cast a spell?
Flattery snorted at Giogi's foil. "So, the men of the clan still learn to use that ridiculous weapon," the wizard said, stepping back and assuming a fencing stance. He snapped his fingers and whispered, "Ward." A foil appeared in his hand.
"Well, Giogioni," Flattery said, saluting with his foil. "Do we fight over the lady's honor? I use the word 'lady loosely, of course."
Giogi returned the salute with a cold anger. "On guard," he replied, crouching into his stance. Behind him he could hear Cat begin whispering another chant. In his back hand, the finder's stone remained bright.
For the first few minutes, Flattery parried Giogi's attacks without attacking back, taking the measure of his opponent. The wizard's parries were flawless.
"I take it," Flattery said, "that beyond defending that witch, your intention is to avenge the deaths of your father and uncle."
"Naturally," Giogi replied. He beat at his opponent's blade, forcing the wizard into a step backward.
"What kind of fool would fight for a doddering old man, a father who'd abandoned him, and a slut without a memory?" Flattery asked, finally making an attack lunge at Giogi's shoulder. Giogi parried high, but Flattery's motion proved to be a feint for a lower attack at his ribs. Giogi was forced to retreat a step.
Giogi fought down the anger the wizard's words ignited in him. It looked as if he might be sorely outclassed in this battle. It was imperative that he remain levelheaded.
It was true that Uncle Drone was a bit of a duffer, and secretly