Magic Spawn Origins

Magic Spawn: Chapter 27

by Meredith Skye

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Slowly, Rian came to ... lying on his back on the ground. His limbs felt like lead. His neck throbbed where he had been stung by the bizarre flying creature. Instinctively, he felt his spine but couldn't sense that the thing had gotten a stinger in him.

Just that movement made him dizzy. "What?" he began but lost focus for a moment. They were still in the glade on the hill near the cemetery. Harlan towered over him.

"Take it easy," said Harlan. "It's okay."

How was it okay? He could see Westin laying face down on the ground, inert. Was he dead? Rian struggled to sit up.

"Westin?" he queried, groggily. Harlan steadied his shoulder as he sat up.

"He doesn't look good," admitted Harlan.

Standing not 10 feet away, Rian saw the hooded woman—the one who had attacked him earlier.

Instantly, Rian sprang to his feet, and nearly fell over. He didn't have his sword. Where was it? His brain still felt fuzzy.

"You!" he said and lunged at her. Harlan caught him, stopping his weak attack.

"Whoa, whoa," said Harlan.

"Let me go!" shouted Rian. But Harlan kept a firm hold on him.

"Just relax!" said Harlan. "She saved you. She shot those things. You'd be dead if it wasn't for her!"

"But ... she's the one who attacked me! She wants to kill Kyran!" accused Rian. His senses were beginning to return now. The woman stayed out of reach, watching Rian warily.

"What did you do to Kyran?" Rian demanded, staring at the woman.

"You mean the magic-spawn?" the woman replied coldly. "Nothing." It maddened him that she refused to call Kyran by name. He wasn't a thing! "I didn't harm the boy," she said. She hadn't put away her bow, but she held it at her side, as if waiting to see the outcome of the conversation. "But I was too late to stop him. He's gone to the crypt to join the wizard."

"Why should I believe you?" demanded Rian.

"Why should I lie?" she countered, short on patience. Her long, silver hair escaped from beneath her hood. Her face was pale and smooth. Pretty, even.

"Who are you?" demanded Rian of the woman, getting back to the subject at hand.

"My name is Ehina. I am ... an Arlunni Enforcer," she said.

Arlunni? Aldena had spoken of them; she had tried to summon them to help, some sort of guardians.

Rian's vision was clearing now. He blinked his eyes open and fought the pain. "And, what were those things?"

"I'm not sure, but they must have been summoned. They don't exist on this plane," she said. "They seem to have returned to their own realm."

"I hope so," said Rian, looking around for his sword.

"The magic-spawn sided with Molan, as I warned you," said Ehina.

"You don't know that!" Rian insisted. "And he has a name." There was a brief lull in the argument. He looked over to Harlan, hoping for advice.

"All I know is—she did save our butts and she healed you ... by the way. We owe her," said Harlan.

"Oh," was all Rian could say. He relaxed his stance a little, losing his will to attack her. Could she be an ally?