Chronicles of Den'dra: A Land Torn: Ancient Powers Awaken by Spencer Johnson Page B

release was blocked by the man’s hand as he tried to place a bolt in the channel. Bone crunched and rendered the hand useless for the foreseeable future. The other fumbled and dropped his bolt in the ground. Urake took the opportunity to leap closer and bring the flat of his sword down on the back of the man’s head.
    Now the only contender was Emeck. The young man realized that he was the only one still in the fray and began backing up apprehensively while Urake approached him. Putting up his sword Urake drew a throwing knife in preparation. Emeck noticed this and fled. Urake flipped the knife around and flung it at the base of the boy’s head. His aim was true and the handle struck a solid blow. Emeck skidded to a stop on his face and remained motionless.
    Urake turned to survey the battlefield. The archer from the tree was trying to crawl away. The man with the sliced chest wasn’t moving and the other man with the shattered wrist had already fled. Apparently the man with the injured shoulder had managed to walk away or so the trail of blood led one to believe. Urake advanced on the crawling archer and ignoring his pleas for mercy dealt him a blow to the side of the head. Despite the knife wound and broken leg from the fall he would survive. Urake wasn’t so sure about the man with the chest wound. It shouldn’t be too deep but wounds like that could be tricky. Urake pulled his knife free and wiped it off in the man’s cloak. The other two knives were also retrieved and replaced. Emeck was trussed up and Urake departed with his captive over a shoulder.
    Urake followed Skeln’s trail for half an hour before Emeck began waking. At first it was only a little movement of the limbs. This was replaced with violent struggle when the lad recovered full consciousness. Setting him down Urake stepped back to appraise his captive.
    “You killed them all!” Fear and anger warred across Emeck’s face as he shouted out the accusation.
    “ Normally I would have but I doubt that your friends will be telling anyone of consequence about me. I always prefer not to kill everyone that sees me but I do require a certain element of anonymity.”
    “ Who are you?” Now fear was the dominant emotion evident.
    “ No one of great consequence. You on the other hand I have need of.”
    “ W.why?” Emeck was still testing his bonds.
    “ It is all very simple really. I'm looking for someone and you are a tracker telepath. I need you to help me find him.” Emeck turned as white as a bleached sheet and stopped struggling. For a moment Urake was afraid that the lad had also stopped breathing. His faith was restored in the boy’s constitution a moment later.
    “ What are you?” Pure terror turned Emeck’s face into a mask.
    “ An old has been that is failing the one task he set for himself. That is what I am.” Urake required Emeck’s cooperation if he had any hope of catching up to Skeln. Knowing that the lad was useless in his current state Urake smiled.
    “ I trust the lump on the back of your head doesn’t impede your ability to walk. I must admit to growing weary of carrying you.” Digging into a pocket he produced a length of cord and fastened it around Emeck’s waist. The other end went around his own waist. With a pointed glance Emeck gained his feet and a little prodding started him walking. They had been traveling for a time when Urake felt his mental defenses being tested.
    “ Stop it. I can feel it when you do that.” Emeck almost tripped and fell flat on his already skinned face.
    “ Are you going to kill him when you find him? Are you going to kill me?” Emeck quavered and looked at Urake like he expected struck down for the impertinence of the question.
    “ No. He is my son.” Emeck could believe it for the truth or not as far as Urake cared. The statement wasn’t exactly the truth but then again it was a whole lot more complicated than that. What mattered was that Urake needed to find Skeln as soon as