The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

of it, it wasn’t enough to make it all the way through.

Once it ended the proud Minotaur rolled out from behind cover and stood tall as she shook her head slowly.

“That’s cheating. But then I guess when you aren’t good at something, you have to cheat huh? Also your hair is dumb.”

It was the closest the gentle creature could come to proper trash-talk.

But the Chimera was not alone, she was never alone.

She is toying with you Evadne. Get a grip and end her or I will.

The demon inside of her was old, but it was not known for its patience. It allowed its host to control her own body only because she was more familiar with its workings, but if the Chimera couldn’t concentrate...

Evadne took the warning to heart.

A cruel smile split her features as she considered their surroundings.

She’d only been in the mess hall for a few minutes before they arrived, but in that time she had killed a dozen humans and half that many monsters.

And she wasn’t stupid; she’d heard the people fleeing down the stairs.

“You’re trying to keep me occupied. It won’t work. I will kill you, and then everyone in this wretched building. Dodge this, if you can.”

Suddenly her entire upper body was suffused with darkness as she cast her arms out to either side, both of her clenched fists gripping cold nothingness.

She laughed at the wide-eyed look on Milly’s face as she instinctively backed away, seeking a means of escape when she realized the scope of the attack.

“Bye bye, little cow, it’s been fun.”

With an aggressive cry the Chimera swung both arms forwards and a massive wave of darkness many times larger than the previous one launching forth, unmaking tables, benches and everything else in its path.

But just as Evadne released the attack she caught a flash of gold out of the corner of her eye as Nameless made his move, his Valkyrie’s shield in hand.

A hollow gong sounded as the might of entropy collided with the light of creation for the second time that day.

And for the second time, the light won.

Blazing gold lit up the ruined chamber, causing Evadne to hiss and flinch back as she looked upon the source of the dreaded radiance.

She was expecting the Valkyrie, but was surprised to see Nameless standing between her and the accursed Minotaur.

With the dark attack over, he straightened from his bracing posture, though he kept the shield pointed at the evil monster.

Five feet tall at best, hardly as intimidating as an armoured Valkyrie, though his eyes were glowing with her golden radiance.

Evadne smiled when she recognized him.

“There you are little meat! Didn’t I throw you out a window once?” She mocked.

It was a challenge for him to keep his breathing even, but with Milly’s courage bolstering him, he managed.

“Can’t recall. Guess you’re just not that memorable. Eva-dine, wasn’t it?”

Cordelia had called her that once, the memory of that night at Paul’s flashing through his mind absurdly.

The Chimera laughed at the obvious farce, seeing him trembling even as he gripped the troublesome shield tight.

“You know, I only really came here to ensure my pet Amazon killed the council. Finding you here was just a bonus.”

Nameless glared at her as he fought to maintain his composure, even with Milly at his back: outside of his nightmares it was the first time he had seen the Chimera since the battle in Divinity Square.

If anything, she was more terrifying now than on the day he had watched her kill Kar.

“Lucky us.” He muttered.

His heart nearly stopped then when Evadne took three rapid steps forwards to close the distance, reaching down and throwing a broken table out of her path before her tail flashed towards him.

As it struck the middle of the barrier though it was forcefully rebounded by the Valkyrie’s magic imbued within it, hissing indignantly.

“A protection charm? How quaint. But where is the caster? Oooh, did I force her back into her shield when I wrecked your dining room?”

Nameless’s blazing gold eyes had yet to look away from her black orbs, struggling to stay focused when he felt all of his other bond-mates become aware of what he and Milly had gotten themselves into.

“We only bring her out when things are serious.” He quipped shakily; “Guess you’re not that important.”

“Master...” Milly said warningly as she gripped his shirt tighter.

Her heart was screaming at her to switch places with him, to be the one shielding him from danger.

But only he could wield Volka’s shield.

Any nerves he had were forgotten in that moment when he remembered what he was protecting.

“Stay behind me baby. I’m on defense. For once we’re doing this shit together.”

The Minotaur shifted her hand up to his shoulder to keep herself in position as she bent into a crouch, her spear held up with one arm, hovering over them both like a scorpion’s tail.

An aggressive fighting stance used by the unyielding Brael Amazons.

“Together.” She echoed as their bond burned fiercely with mutual and unconditional love.

He swallowed back a lump in his throat in the face of her devotion, but remained focused.

“We’re going to be okay.” He turned his head slightly as he spoke, still not daring to take his eyes off of the circling Chimera as he addressed his bond-mate.

“You really aren’t.” Evadne hissed as she stared daggers at him; “Unless you actually believe that your cute little charm will keep you safe from me forever?”

“Yup. Though nothing will save us from your breath. Seriously, when was the last time you brushed your teeth?”

Her rage mounted and her upper lip curled up as she bared her fangs at him, dripping with black venom.

With his right hand Nameless popped one of his canisters off of his